Men's Basketball Media Day Quotes

Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle

Opening Statement
"I'd just like to say that I'm so excited for this upcoming basketball season. This team this year is going to be a lot of fun to watch for our fans. It's going to be a team that I think you see grow and develop as the season progresses. Nine of our 13 scholarship players are freshmen or sophomores so we're still young but we have a fair amount of experience coming back. We have four new players, three new walk-ons. It is a team that as I come to the gym and arena every day, I really look forward to working with. They're a terrific group of young men."

On Dallas Walton's injury
"I do have one piece of news that I'm going to share with you. We lost Dallas Walton yesterday to an ACL in practice. He went down and unfortunately we got the news confirmed in the afternoon. So we will not have him or his services this year. My heart goes out to him and his family. He's worked so hard to come back from two previous ACL's in high school. He had such a promising freshman year and we were expecting some great things. I just want to let people know that this is not the end of the road for him by any means. He's going to come back stronger than he was before and in the big picture of things it could be a good thing for him and for our program but in the short run it's difficult, it's no fun, and I just feel sick to my stomach for him and for how hard he's worked and for what we had in front of him this year. We'll just delay it a year and everybody else will have to step up. We'll become a little bit thinner up front but we still have enough bodies to be successful. It should be a great year to be a Colorado Buffalo."

On if Dallas' hobbled offseason contributed to ACL injury
"We'll never know that. I wish I knew the answer to that. I'm not a doctor. That's a question that I don't think there's an answer to and it would be pure conjecture to say something like that. You never know. I think the offseason for every one of our players is critically important in the weight room and to get stronger. Dallas' upper body strength was probably ahead of his lower body strength. This injury is going to allow him to rehab and the one thing Dallas knows because he's been through it before is what the rehab is going to be like. It's going to allow him to rehabilitate his lower body over the next nine months before he gets back. From everything people have told me is when young men come back from ACL surgery, their knees are sometimes stronger and more stable than they were even before the injury. I'm looking at this as a positive thing as best I can. For this season and this year it's not a positive thing for our team and for Dallas but he'll get through it and we'll get through it together."

On the status of the front line with Walton out
"It puts us one man down and we're not as deep as we once were. We certainly can't afford another injury to our front line. We'll see how Jakub (Dombek) comes along. The other person is Alex Strating. He's played very well for us in the first 11 practices that we've had. We know Tyler (Bey) is capable of playing on the front line. We know Lucas (Siewert) is capable and we know Evan (Battey) is capable even though he hasn't played. Alex is showing some signs and Jakub keeps getting better and better too."

On if it feels like his ninth season at CU
"Nine years. No, it does not seem like nine years. I'm as excited as I was year one. I really am and I think if you're not excited this time of year you should get out of coaching and it's time to hang it up. I'm not even close to being there. I'm really excited. It does not seem like year nine. I do have to pinch myself every day I come to work because to be the head coach at the University of Colorado I never take it for granted. I certainly don't have a sense of entitlement or I belong. I want to continue to push this program to new heights and I think this year's team has a hunger and a chip on their shoulder that hopefully we can display as the season unfolds and we can do some special things."

On importance of Lucas Siewert's role this year
"Lucas's role becomes really paramount; it was going to be big before (Walton's injury). I think with Lucas Siewert, you saw in the second half of the season last year come into his own and start developing. He's shooting the ball with unbelievable confidence. He shot 44 percent from three last year. Every time he shoots it he thinks it's going in. He's really improved his low block game. He's getting better defensively. He looks like a legitimate Division I front court player now. Again, much like Tory's (Miller-Stewart) injury last year kind of opened the door for Dallas, I think Dallas' injury this year opens the door for Lucas and Evan to get more significant minutes."

On what he expects to improve on this year
"I expect us to take care of the ball better. I expect for our turnover numbers to go down. I expect us to continue to become a better defensive team and I think right now guarding the ball and guarding the three point line is something that we have to get better at. I think we can show major improvements defensively and hopefully major improvements of taking care of the ball better and not turning it over as much. I think if we do those things, offensively we have some weapons. Shane Gatling shoots the ball extremely well from three. D'Shawn Schwartz we know is a good shooter. Namon Wright is a good shooter. We've got some guys that can put the ball in the hole. Our two freshman guards have shown some significant flashes. I think they're both hopefully going to be able to help us as well this year. I like the balance of this team and I like the ability for us to score inside and outside. We've got McKinley Wright who's a proven point guard who kind of makes everything happen."

On what McKinley Wright brings to his team …
"McKinley is a terrific leader. He's a guy that it just comes innately to him. People, whether its media, teammates, coaches, or opponents, they are drawn to McKinley Wright. He's like a magnet. People like him and like being around him. That comes naturally for McKinley. The two areas that he really spent a lot of time in the offseason is shooting the basketball from the perimeter and really improving his three point shooting ability, his mid-range game, and the other part is limiting those turnovers. He had a respectable assist to turnover ratio for a freshman point guard but I believe McKinley Wright can be an elite level point guard and for him to do that his assist to turnover ratio needs to get to two to one, three to one, and maybe even four to one. Turnovers and shooting the basketball from the perimeter. He's got the rest of the package so to speak. He gained strength. We're going to need McKinley to motivate his teammates. His teams usually come up on the winning end in practice, I want that to translate to the games now."

On impact of Chauncey Billups working with McKinley Wright …
"Chauncey Billups is such a knowledgeable guy. We know Chauncey's career and it speaks for itself. I just wanted them to develop a relationship where Chauncey could help him. I know McKinley is open to that. What I love about McKinley Wright is that he is very coachable. Any words of wisdom or advice he can give him can only benefit McKinley. That's really the culture that we want to build within Colorado Basketball. I think to really make some strides there we have to connect the former players. Whether it's Chauncey or whoever; Marcus Hall or Dwight Thorne, you name it. Those former players coming back and building relationships with our current players. We've really made some significant attempts to make that happen. For him to be in the gym with Chauncey and to learn from a guy like that could do nothing but benefit him."

On rotation possibilities and potential big play lineups without Dallas
"There definitely are rotation possibilities, we are going to be able to play small and play big. Obviously, we can't play as big without Dallas as we could with Dallas as we don't have a 7-footer now, so it limits us that way. But I still think with Lucas, Evan and Tyler in there, kind of a three-post rotation you can play big. The beauty of Tyler Bey, and really Evan, Lucas and Alex Strating I'll throw him in there, and Jakub Dombek, whoever our post guys are now, we are very versatile and will be able to play big lineups and small lineups, just not as big a lineup that we could have when we had Dallas, and his services available to us."

On figuring out playing the right players for the right opponents
"We know in the pre-season with the non-conference portion of our schedule, you play against some of these smaller schools and smaller programs and they don't have the plethora of big guys. So, playing small is certainly an option against those opponents. Once you get into league play the size gets a little bigger and a little stronger and you're going to have to play bigger as most Pac-12 play rolls around. But, if you can figure out how to guard and rebound with a small lineup even when you get into conference play now your opponents have to adjust to you, you don't have to necessarily have to adjust to them. We will see how that plays out as the season goes."

On Pac-12 Conference this year
"I think the Pac-12 has a lot of good teams. We know there's a lot of talent coming back, and a lot of talent coming in. I don't know if there's a clear-cut favorite like there has been in years past. Oregon certainly has recruited very well, UCLA did recruit well and had some players sitting out that are coming back. Arizona State had some guys sitting out, USC is going to be talented. I think we have a lot of good teams, I don't know if we have that preseason top 10 program right now, but I think as you see non-conference play its way out and certainly getting into conference play, you can see a team emerge. Last year it was Arizona State, nobody was even talking about ASU this time last year, they go 12-0 non-league and then they end up making the NCAA Tournament. They struggled a little bit in league play, but then they had a tremendous conference schedule and that's what we need multiple teams to do this year, and if we do, we will play ourselves into that national talk if you will. Right now I think we've got a lot of good teams, but I don't know if we have a great team at least on paper. I think a great team from our league or maybe two or three could emerge."

On Tyler Bey's jump from Freshman to Sophomore season as someone who has shown flashes of huge potential
"Tyler's the guy that has worked extremely hard on his game and I mentioned it I think earlier, he's had as good as an off season - and I'm talking about the spring and the summer - as any player I've coached in the last 25 years. He's really made great strides physically he's gotten stronger in the weight room. One thing we know about Tyler is that he's extremely athletic, he can make plays physically that other players can't make and so what I want to see him make is that jump from a mental standpoint you know of consistency and focus on the floor and be an everyday every position type player. We know he's got flashes of brilliance as a freshman, now it's can he make that a consistent thing as a sophomore. That's going to be a challenge for him but he's capable of it, because physically he's as gifted as a guy as we have on our team."

On staying competitive day in and day out
"There's an edge no doubt, and Coach English, one of our assistant coaches, has a saying that I think our players appreciate and I know I do: "iron sharpens iron." If you bring that mentality, that workman like mentality, that competitive spirit to the gym every day to practice every day you're going to make yourself better; but your also going to make your teammates better. I think McKinley Wright and Evan Battey, they bring it every day. They are competing, and their teammates feed off of that, they are not the only two that have done it, but they are the most consistent day in and day out of bring that fight to the floor, because you have to have that. For us to get better in practice we have to have that, and we've had it so far."

On how Evan has changed since his health scare
"Evan's health scare I think was a shock to all of us, it was a shock to him, his family, his teammates, his coaches; how he's handled it has been unbelievable. I've never been around a young man that's been as positive and outgoing. The thing I really appreciate about Evan is how open he is, he's not trying to hide it. He is also not using it as a crutch or an excuse, he just comes to work every day. He's got extra conditioning in with Steve Englehart our conditioning coach. He is open about talking about it, he's just going to continue to get better. His speech is better and his hand eye coordination is better. The only thing that has changed about Evan is that he has more of an appreciation for his health and his ability to play college basketball now then he had before. We knew he was going to have it this year because he had to sit out the last two years and you put on top of that his health issues, he's really really appreciative of the opportunity and he's not afraid to talk about it."

On potential rust on Evan's play
"There might be a little rust; we've seen it in practice in terms of finishing around the rim, and some of it is conditioning. Some of it is rust but that is what practice is for and he did have a chance to go to Italy this summer and play in four games. The one thing about Evan is that he's going to be fun to watch, he's fun to coach and he's fun to play with."

On expectations for Lucas Siewert on the court
"What I hope to see from Lucas on the court is just a commitment to rebounding the ball, I know he can shoot the ball and every time Lucas is open I want him shooting it; but a commitment to rebounding, a commitment to be a great post-defender. When we do set some ball screens with Lucas and they switch, because he will be playing the four as well as the five, he's got to be able to roll and punish people inside on the block as well. He's showing that ability in practice and now it's just got to translate to the games and be a consistent thing in the games. if you look at this team and say give me one or two x-factors Lucas is a x-factor for us."

On potential starters as of today
"I don't know the answer to that. McKinley Wright would be our point guard; that much I know and beyond that I'm not 100 percent sure. I still think that's something we will figure out between now and November 13^th, we have a scrimmage coming up this weekend and we will have an open scrimmage before the Oregon State game (football, Oct. 27), that one will be Buffs against Buffs, so everybody will get a chance to play in that one. Other than McKinley at the point, spots are still up for grabs."

On playing zone defense after last years success
"We will see some zone, I don't know how much. We will play some zone this year, we will need to be active in it and rebound out of it and losing George King on the parameter who's a tall wing who can rebound the ball and place shots we will have to replace that, but we will replace that with something."

On shooters this season
"When I think a knockdown shooter in Colorado since I've been here I think of guys like Levi Knutson, Askia Booker; Askia was a little bit streakier but Levi was always a consistent shooter. I see Shane Gatling being able to become one of those guys, he's got to prove it. There are practice shooters and game shooters and he's proven he can make shots in games but at this level you know athletes are a little bit bigger, stronger, faster at closing out. I think D'Shawn Schwartz can become that guy to a knockdown shooter, when he's open you feel like it is going in, so we've got some guys, Daylen Kountz has really shot the ball well too as a freshman."

On what made Shane special to bring him on as a transfer
"Well we were losing Dominique Collier and were losing George King, so two of our best three point shooters from last year. So we needed a guy that could shoot so that was number one, and the fact that he could play a little bit of point guard. Kind of a combo guy but could really make shots is what elevated him to the top of our list recruiting wise and he has the ability to go make shots and spell McKinley at the point some. Not that he's the only one, Del (Brown) can do it and hopefully one of those freshman can to. His ability to make shots was the key."

On expectations from freshman who played minutes last season
"The freshman that started and got some time and minutes last year, that's why I'm sick about Dallas. Because he was one of those guys that could benefit from that experience. Having that experience when they step on the floor, the bright lights, league play, conference tournament they've experienced all that before, there's no teacher, no coach, nothing in life can teach you better than experience, so how they use those experiences to their benefit, if that's the case, they will be better because of it. If they don't, they will be the same players and we don't want that. They have all had great off seasons and hopefully they can make tremendous strides for us this year."

Colorado Players

Tyler Bey, So. G

On how he thought his freshman year went
"I think that my freshman year was just a learning experience. I was just getting used to the gameplay; how Pac-12 schools are, and how competition is in Division I basketball. I need to work on being a better ball handler, because sometimes I know I'm going to be playing at the three spot this year. I've got to be able to know every play, know every position, and rebound a lot.

On if he gained confidence last year
"My last couple games I started to feel more comfortable, and at practice I feel a lot more comfortable than I did last year.

On if consistently playing well will be a challenge this year
"Definitely, and that starts in practice. I have to be able to be consistent at practice every day.

On if he is excited for the season
"I'm very excited, We have Evan (Battey) now, and you guys have seen him out destroying the rebounds, he is a big difference for this team. I'm excited for everybody, everybody's great, and everybody's been getting better this summer.

Evan Battey, Fr. F

On how he's feeling
"I'm feeling great. Last year was a scary time for my family, my teammates, friends, everybody."

On his injury
"I was playing basketball and the whole right side of my body, from head to toe, fell asleep. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't move my arm, then my mom took me to the hospital, we went to the ER, it was scary."

On how long it took to recover
"I took like five months. From my last practice on December 21^st to my first practice being like in May sometime. I took like five months off, just recovering, speech therapy, physical therapy, all that. It's basically like being a toddler once again, like the fundamentals, chewing, talking, pronouncing syllables; it's just like being a toddler."

On how important basketball was
"Coach Boyle said I didn't have to play basketball to still go to school here and I'd have my scholarship either way and I really came to the decision to play again on my own, he gave me time for that and I knew that my teammates were behind me the whole way."

On what his teammates mean
"They mean the absolute world to me, we have a special bond off the court, on the court, in donor meetings, everything like that. They're in my heart."

On where his enthusiasm comes from
"I had this enthusiasm since I was a little kid. Just that fire whenever I score, whenever I block a shot, just the passion I guess."

On being a leader
"I feel like I was one of the team leaders last year from a different standpoint, off the bench and not playing but being like a player coach in a way, and now with me playing I feel like I can help my teammates more that way."

On what CU fans can expect from him
"A lot of inside-outside. Inside if I have a smaller dude on me, outside if I have a bigger dude on me, so just a lot of versatility in my game."

On what it will take to get back to tournament
"Defense, competing, rebounding. The offense will take care of itself, McKinley (Wright IV) is a special point guard and we have shooters, we have length, athleticism, so just defense and mentality is the key for us."

Namon Wright, Sr. G

On leadership
"It's a little bit different at the college level, I always felt like I was a leader. It's a little easier to be a leader in high school when you're the best player, biggest guy, in college it's a little bit different with the faster style of play, you're a little bit more tired but you still got to speak up for everybody and that's what I'm learning now, even when I'm tired making sure everybody's in the right positions, small things like that."

On what it will take to win Pac-12
"Road wins is a big thing for any team that wants to win. It sounds simple but you take care of non-conference a majority of the time, you split road games, and you take care of home games, and that's kind of how it works to win 20-plus games."

On what it would mean to get Buffs back in tournament
"It would mean everything to me. That's the only thing that I really crave right now as a basketball player, I'm not really looking for anything else right now, I just want to be a winning college player and go to the tournament. I know that's all that guys like (former Buff) Nate (Tomlinson) and (assistant coach) Kim English talk about when they come back and I know its special."

On what needs to get done to get there
"Comradery, leadership, togetherness, just everybody knowing their roles and buying into our coaches."