Colorado-Cal Quotes
Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle
Opening Statement
“It was a workmanlike effort and a good win. We didn't come out of the shoot playing extremely well. We started to string together some stops there at the end of the first half. We expanded our lead and then the same thing in the second half. Overall I am pleased. Obviously it is a great day for McKinley Wright breaking Jay Humphries’ 37 year old career assist record. That is a long time to hold a record. McKinley has gotten a chance to realize, over the last week or two as he has approached this milestone, how good Jay was. He is on our NBA wall upstairs in our office. Jay is a terrific person and was a terrific player here. I can attest that the guy that broke his record is deserving and equally a great human being. I am really happy for McKinley and his teammates. It is a special, special milestone for him and our program.”
On Their Defense
“It was key. We talked with our team. You noticed after free throws we tried to press. Now you know why we are not a great pressing team. We are going to continue to work on that. We felt like Cal was going to come in and try to shorten the game and have longer possessions on offense. We really wanted to press and pressure them when we could to create offense with our defense. We were able to do that during that stretch you were talking about. Jabari was a big part of that, (along with) McKinley and the whole group who was on the floor. That was a big part of the game.”
On Looking Back At McKinley Wright IV As A Freshman
“I had never seen the kid play. Think about that. I had seen him on tape after we started recruiting him but we weren't recruiting point guards in the early period when he signed to Dayton. Later, we watched some film on him. I never saw the kid play. I didn't know what we were getting. I knew his reputation and what the people in Minnesota said about him and his coaches and that sort of thing. In terms of knowing what we were getting, I had no idea. You talk about a pleasant surprise. I am not sure you can have a better one. I think it has been such a win-win. It has been a win for Colorado basketball, but I also think it has been a win for McKinley Wright. Every player that has come through this program and stayed for four years and exhausted their eligibility, every single player has graduated from this university. For McKinley Wright to come from where he came from in Minneapolis and to graduate from an institution like the University of Colorado is another accomplishment that is, to me, probably more important than the assist record. He has some work to do this semester and a little this summer to get that done, but we are going to stay on him. Before it's all said and done, McKinley Wright is going to go down as one of the all-time greatest players ever to play at this university.”
On Jabari Walker
“Josh Scott came in here as a really good low post scorer. Josh was 6’9” and Jabari is 6’8”. Josh had the big broad shoulders. Jabari is a little more slender. His physical development needs to continue. Steve Englehart’s, our strength and conditioning coach who does a great job, plate is full with Jabari and Tristan (da Silva) as the rest of this season unfolds and certainly into the spring, summer, and fall of next year. Jabari is kind of different from Josh. Josh came in as a low-post scorer and expanded his game from there. Jabari came as a face-up guy who can put the ball on the floor. He is very skilled and we want to develop his low post game. I have a whole laundry list of things for Jabari and for Tristian when the season is over with to continue to get better at. It is going to be a big offseason for them, but let's not wait until the offseason. We are going to start working on those things now. This year for the freshman is so valuable and they are able to not have the weight of the world on their shoulders. There is no pressure on Jabari. There is no pressure on Tristan right now. Evan (Battey) is carrying that loud for them (and so are) McKinley, D'Shawn, and Jeriah. Those freshmen are coming to play. That is what they are doing and they are doing a good job of it. The key is learning so that when those guys leave you are ready to step in, are battle tested and ready to go.
Colorado Players
McKinley Wright IV, G, Sr.
On Breaking The Assist Record“It is a blessing. I just want to thank God, a big shout out to God. My teammates and my coaching staff for believing in me. I said this from day one and i say it all the time, you are probably tired of me saying this but, when you have teammates like my teammates over the last four years and the coaching staff, when they believe in you, trust you, and put you out there to play it makes my job so much easier. My teammates believe in me every day. They have been helping me and I have been helping them throughout my four years here. It is a blessing. And a huge shout out to Jay Humphries. He set the tone early and had a record that was here for 37 years which was way before I was thought about. It is a big-time blessing to be in this position today.”
On His Goals Coming In As A Freshman
“I didn’t think about that (assist record) from day one. When I came here my head was everywhere. The assist record was the last thing on my mind. I was just trying to establish myself and figure out a way I could help this team win. It is a different transition coming from high school to a power five conference. I wasn't thinking about assists. I was trying to find a way to do what I have to do to win games. Freshman year, when I broke Chauncey's (Billups) assist record, I remember coach Boyle telling me that I had a chance to be the all-time assist leader here. He told me this summer when I came back to school that the award would be named after me once I leave. It is a big-time blessing to be in this position. “
On Jabari Walker
“That kind of made my job easy. Coming off the screen with Ev (Battey), he is such a threat to the point that they were worried about me throwing it into him. They were attacking with two people. It was an easy read to throw it back to Bari. We are confident in his shot. We know he can shoot the ball. I told him, ‘Keep letting it fly, man.’ He is special. Number 12 is special.”
On What They Changed At The End Of The First Half
“Limit them to one shot and close out on their shooters. We let number 10, (Makale) Foreman, get a couple easy looks. We talked about it in the scouting report yesterday and talked about it today in pregame that when he is dribbling with his left hand he is a really good shooter. He made three in a row like that. Coach got on us about it and ever since then we didn't look back.”
Jabari Walker, F, Fr.
On The Game Slowing Down
“The game is feeling like it is starting to slow down for me a little bit. I'm just taking the advice the coaches are giving me and applying it. Everything else will work itself out. Just consistency and working in practice and applying it to the game.”
On Playing With Confidence
“I am definitely a little more confident now that I see how the game is played. I am figuring out the game a little more. I know what to expect now. The nervousness is out the window in the beginning of games. I am learning how to play without fouling and applying the techniques and everything I have worked on leading up to this. Just confidence in myself knowing I can compete with anybody on the floor is key for me.”
On Playing With McKinley Wright IV
“It is great. I love playing with Kin. I know that if i am open he is going to find me. You can't ask for much more from a point guard who can score and open up the floor for you. With him doing that, the game is going to open up and you are going to end up open. It is my job to knock down those shots which I am glad I did.”
On Making 3’s
“I know it is coming back to me if I am open. It is just a matter of time. I try to get my feet ready, stay low, and get mentally ready to shoot the ball. It is my job to hit the shot because I know he is going to find me. I just want to repay him for that.”