Colorado-Oregon Quotes

Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle

General
"That was a big time win for our program, against a quality team and a team I have a lot of respect for. When you put this one in the win column you feel like you've done something. I've been telling the team all year that I didn't think we've beaten a legitimate NCAA tournament team yet, but tonight we did. Now we have to take our show on the road, but we will enjoy this one to at least midnight tonight."

On Play from the Bench

"It was the difference in the game. Not only did the bench play well in the first half, but they played well in the second half. Those guys have proven that they can, but they haven't done it yet for a full game this year. We had some guys tonight, George King and Josh Fortune, that didn't have their best night, but are capable of playing better. Thomas (Akyazili), Tre'Shaun (Fletcher), and Xavier (Talton) came in and gave us great minutes and really played well. I look at the numbers our three guards put up tonight, combined they had 12 assists and two turnovers. When it's that way, good things happen for us. We had to grind this one out, Oregon is a good team and they weren't going to go away. We had some defensive lapses, which we can't let happen. Our guys were gritty enough to win this game, but the bench was the key."

On Playing Three Guards at Once

"They were just playing the best. They were taking care of the ball and they were making their free throws. You have to keep the ball down the stretch and they were doing that for us. It's one of those night-to-night decisions depending on how your team is playing, and we went with the guys who were playing well. We've been on Fletcher about rebounding all year, and he missed a shot and got his own rebound on one big play. He also had a put back and a huge tip-in for us. He hasn't been making those plays all year. So you have to stick with whose playing well and that's what we did."

On the Play of Xavier Talton and Tre'Shaun Fletcher

"The way they played tonight shows the type of character and toughness they have. That's what you have to have in league play. You're going to have bad games and bad practices, but you need to bounce back and treat every day as a new day. The two of them know they are capable of playing better then they have and tonight they came out and did it. That's why I'm so proud of them. It's easy to get down on yourself but it's hard to bring yourself out of that. Now we have to do it when we are on the road, but tonight was a good win."

On Winning Two Out of Three on the Home Stand

"I'm very proud, since we beat two good teams. You have to hold serve at home. The Utah loss probably hurts more now than it did a week ago. You've got to win the close ones and tonight we did. But to separate yourself in this league you have to win on the road. So we have to go on this road trip with mindset that we're going to compete in both games and if we do that I think we can win some games in this league."

On Josh Scott

"With his 17 points and 11 rebounds, it's almost like you take the guy for granted. He had a big time dunk for us when we needed it. There was a stretch in the game where Oregon faced foul trouble and had a small lineup out there, and we have to jam the ball inside to him. That's one thing Oregon did well on their end of the floor, which was take advantage of the mismatches."

On the Play of Dominique Collier

"He showed his character and toughness tonight. I love the six assists from him tonight, but I really love the zero turnovers."

Colorado Players

Josh Scott, Sr., F

On Feeling Hype After Oregon Beating Utah

"It wasn't about what they did to Utah as much as we know we need to hold our home court. We don't want to lose at home. Our goal is to win championships. To do that, you can't drop them at home."

On Turnout Of Home Crowd

"Honestly, I was a little shocked at the start. I get that the Broncos are king in this state in terms of it being important; it's playoffs, but I would've liked to have more fans out there. We really appreciate the fans that showed up on time for the game, then it got more packed as the game went along. We're going to need all our fans going forward. Hopefully they'll be there a little sooner."

On Increased Bench Scoring

"It was big time. I'm really happy for these guys; they work really hard. They work at their game. I know it's not going to be every night we're going to get this sort of thing, but I'm pretty happy when these guys play really well. It makes us an even more dangerous team."

On Making Key Plays In The Final

"I know these guys have a trust in me to make big plays and it's my job to deliver. You can do that through rebounding, blocking shots and hitting free throws. For me, it's that they have a trust in me, so I need to make a big play to help this team get the win."

Xavier Talton, Sr., G

On Increased Bench Scoring

"It's about constantly being in the gym and keep working on your game. Coaches are always telling us to practice how we're going to play. Being in the gym helps give you confidence and helps build it up. That's all it takes I guess."

On Having Support From Head Coach Tad Boyle

"It's big. Just the fact that he has my back just gives me confidence in itself. For me to be able to perform like this tonight is worth it."

On Playing Differently In The Game

"I just try to stay aggressive. Sometimes the shots go in and sometimes they don't. That's what the gym's for, to practice on that. Staying consistent is what I need to do."

On Breaking Oregon's Press

"I think we had a couple turnovers off of it – which were silly ones we should've taken care of ourselves – but for the most part we handled it pretty well and attacked off of it."

Tre'Shaun Fletcher, Jr., G/F

On Increased Bench Scoring

"I just try to focus on affecting the game without scoring by getting tips and rebounds. When my shot's not falling, the main thing I wanted to focus on coming into this game was doing the little stuff."

On Picking Up Key Loose Ball And Converting It Into A Score

"Honestly, I don't even remember. I knew the shot clock was low or was getting close to five, four, three, two, one. I tried to hurry up and put it in. I was just trying not to miss it. I'm glad it went in."

Oregon Head Coach Dana Altman

ON Points and Rebounding

"It's rebounds, they really beat us on the boards, second chance points 26-12 makes a difference in a game."

ON Foul Trouble and Bench Points

"A little bit, it is what it is. We've got 9, 10 guys that can play that wasn't it. We got in foul trouble, but we didn't rebound from the start, we didn't rebound before we got in foul trouble."

ON Defending Josh Scott

"He's a good player, he does a good job. He's strong and makes plays."

ON Playing Utah

"We didn't take away their tendencies and then rebounding was tough on us."

ON Difficulty Playing Here

"Tad does a good job they have a good team. You're on a road trip and out for a while. We scored enough points we just didn't guard anybody, obviously 26 second chance points is a difference in a game."

Oregon Player Dillon Brooks

ON What Worked and What Didn't

"We had our chances to win early in the game, we weren't focused. We knew their tendencies and we knew what they wanted to do on offensive rebounds and just bully. We never stopped them and gave them what they wanted."

ON Defending Josh Scott

"Right before the game, scouting reports to know their tendencies. Everyone needs to focus in and get ready for the game because they were ready to play. They saw us smack Utah and they just really wanted this win to get back on track. I already looked at Scott's game. I knew if I kept in front of him and using my quickness and stuff that he would get tired."