Colorado-Utah Quotes
Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle
Opening Statement
“Well hard-fought win for us. Wasn't easy. We didn't play our best basketball but we ran into a Utah team that I talked about early this week they're better than the record indicates, they have not lost their fight. They're well-coached. They've got good players. And we found a way to win tonight. Those two guys that were here, Evan and Jabari, made some big-time plays down the stretch. Especially Jabari, he made our free throws. We executed down the stretch, we had to. Many breakdowns defensively. For us to think that we're going to go on the road and beat anybody so we have to shore that up. Some of its is our scouting report stuff, but some of its in game adjustments that our guys have to do a better job of, and again, I'll say this after a win I'll never say it after a loss: We've got a young team that's learning on the fly. You know, one senior out there battling with a bunch of freshmen and sophomores that are growing up and it's not easy to win games in February. We just want to and now we got. We know the road trip that faces us and how this thing plays out but we just have gotta be ready to go on Tuesday. My job is to get them physically and mentally ready, and emotionally ready. Their job is to make sure they're understanding the game plan, taking it with them. Like we've had three teams now that we've beaten the first time and beaten us the second time we saw them and in here we got a chance to the Oregon State. That's going to be a different team in Corvallis than we saw here last week. No doubt in my mind. We've had to prepare for that. The Washington team we saw in Seattle was different than the one in Boulder. Washington State State team was different. The UCLA team is always solid and good, but we got to do a better job.”
On the last seven minutes + Jarbari’s foul trouble early in the second
“That's a little earlier than normal. We played him in the first half off of two foulds. He did a good job there. I trust you Bari to play smart and play without fouling. And he did a good job of that. You really he really did. And so that that shows the growth that shows maturity, it shows development, because you don't want to lose him but, we had: number one, Tristan was exhausted. Number two: Evan was exhausted. I don't want to put well Laughlin in that position, in the second half. I would have done it in the first half, but not the second half. And so Jabari handled it well, and we're just trying to steal a few minutes. We went zone a couple of times at a time. Our guys did a good job at that. We're just trying to steal minutes down from that seven-minute mark in and then we started with a couple of minutes ago we started going offense-defense to make sure he was in the game when we had the ball and out of the game when they had the ball so he didn't pick up that fifth.”
The primary difference in being able to stop Carlson
“I think he got tired. I really do. I mean, the first basket he made was off a ball screen at the elbow that we were supposed to switch aggressively. He should never get the ball below the foul line. Well not only to get the ball below the foul line, but you also got it right in the middle of the paint. These up and under and just scored on us. It's like that's not part of the game plan. Like we're supposed to be aggressively switching on that guy and so we gave him too many easy looks. The pick and pop is not we're taking that part out of the equation. That was the game plan. Now we didn't take the pick and pop out he made two threes. So we had too many defensive breakdowns in the first half. And we had too many defensive breakdowns in the second half. We got let Madsen get four threes in the second half. He's not supposed to get any and they were all off you know just stuff that we understand and we know how to garden. That’s what I'm talking about in terms of we have to get better with the scouting report part of our defensive gameplan because you can talk to four tweeze threes or 12 points. Carlson made some tough shots. I can live with tough shots. I really can't live with the ones that the game plan is supposed to take away and we had 20 plus points in that regard. Easy. And I'll go watch the film and it probably might be more so but it costs us a good player. So but that's down the road tonight. We figured out a way to win our team has done that time and time again this year. But we have to continue to get better with our defensive gameplan.”
On Nique’s rebound to three play
“That was a big play in terms of changing momentum is a big-time play by Nique. Great aggressiveness. We want him to go the offensive glass. As part of the again defensive game plan, Marco Anthony had eight offensive rebounds against Oregon. It’s 10 Tonight our whole team is at eight. Big-time plays. I thought those plays really kind of kept us in the game got us back in the game got our mojo going. And those are the plays you have to have the long rebounds. You have to get the 50-50 balls that Nique went and got and saved it: big-time play. Big-time play the game you look at his I mean look at his you ever lied tonight and before for from field two for two from three you know he only had one offensive rebound was a huge one. I think KJ made some big-time plays down the stretch but your best players have to carry it on stretching. Tonight our best players are carriers. Jabari did a great job. Evan, Keeshawn made plays you know, Tristan made plays. It's what you have to have you have to make plays down the stretch to win games like this and we did that tonight.”
On KJ being able to breakdown on offense and defense
“Defensively he's got to keep getting better. He's got to guard the ball better. He’s got around him. I'm not worried about KJ offensively. He is a good player and will continue to get better and will eventually be a great player at Colorado, offensively. My challenge with him is you got to guard for the same kind of mentality you play offense with because his offensive mentality is aggressive. fearless. He did some good things defensively, he just got to become more consistent. So he's growing up quickly. And as much of a big part of our futures any player we have we got a lot of guys they're a big part of our future but he's a big one.”
On free throw importance
“They got to the line much more than we did in the first half because they were the more aggressive team. Now, we dodged a bullet with Utah. They're the number one free-throw shooting team in our league, almost 80% and they shot 52% tonight or whatever it was. We dodged a bullet. Because if they shoot free throws at their normal rate, we're not down three at the half. We're down like 10 So we got lucky. In the second half, we were the aggressor. We got in the bonus early. We got to the free-throw line. It's a big part of what we do. Colorado is one of the top teams in the country in a free throw, you know, efficiency in terms of getting to the line. Given the possessions that we have, we do a really good job of getting in line. There's been a couple of games where we didn't and you kind of scratch your head, maybe it's on us not being aggressive enough. Maybe it's the way the game is being called you know because that changes night tonight so I you know I'm I don't talk about free-throw shooting when we shouldn't well I don't talk about when we shouldn't probably that's an individual thing. You step up there and knock them down. I got confidence in our guys they got confidence in themselves. Big betters big part of the game night.”
On Buffs in the NBA
“I've reached out to him have not heard back. I actually reached out to him before he got traded, haven't heard back. Sometimes he takes a little while to do that. But, you know, it's a new beginning for him, which I think is healthy for him to you know, the Washington situation might not have been the best situation for him, for whatever reason, maybe both ways. So he got a new beginning. That's one nice thing about being traded. Derrick was a little bit of a shock to him, I think to everybody, maybe the NBA but Boston really came after him. And because they think so highly of him. So I'm happy for both of those guys. You know, it's part of the business. I did talk to Derrick and he understands that he's a professional. So I just hope those guys can take their new environments and just continue to be who they are and be great NBA players, which they both are and I'm proud of both of them and I'm really proud.”
Colorado Players
Sr., G, Evan Battey
On the second half defense
In the second half we started to lock in and started being more of a team defensive mindset and that allowed us to get some stops and run.
On Nique’s big rebound and three
It was a good play. I mean it was kind of a scramble and kind of just making a play for your teammates. I saw him and made the pass and thankfully he knocked. That's what good players do. He's a great player and hits big time shots.
On a big win before the long road trip
I look at every game like it’s the biggest game of the year, this was a big time win for us. A win in the standings and good momentum going on the road so I'm happy.
On what was learned from the last road trip
I think some things I learned is just our fighting. Never stop no matter the score in a very competitive situation our fight should never leave us. And that's something I'm going to be preaching to our team this coming week. You know we're on the road and stuff is not always going to be easy.
So., F Jabari Walker
On his second half mentality
“I was just trying to stay solid and make them shoot over my length defensively. I was playing a little handy at first and I picked up some unnecessary fouls so just trying to play solid and making them shoot over me. Offensively just trying to knock down shots and catch every ball that was going to me and put in the basket.”
On the difficulty of playing aggressive with four fouls
“It’s difficult, especially with the game that close you don't want to sit the bench for the rest of the game. It is definitely in the back of my mind and I had to play smart.”
On the defensive and rebounding strategy against Carlson
“Yeah, just box out. They have some great offensive rebounders. But we were trying to force Carlson over to his right shoulder. So when I did that I was successful on the defensive end.”
On the teams improved free throw shooting
“We practice it a lot. In practice really just time and possession. We try to simulate as best as possible the pressure and the setting of games like this in practice so I just try to work on my free throws after practice while I'm tired. I try to shoot at least 21 out of 25 before I leave practice and it's paid off really well.”
On the big shots falling
“The big shots are really a byproduct of playing for each other and playing loose, moving the ball and making plays to your teammates. Like we talked about with Nique’s play, that's just passing, catching and shooting the ball. If we look for each other and play for each other we’re a really good team offensively.”
On scoring in transition
“We try to set a goal of getting two baskets running in transition. We preach that in film and practice so my goal was to just run as fast as I could and set up in the middle of the floor and wait for my guards to deliver the pass score. So I just wanted to sprint and get different baskets.”
On what was learned from the last road trip
“I didn't realize how tiring those stretches would be really so now that I'm prepared and experienced that, I think first I have to mentally prepare for this trip. Take care of my body tomorrow, get some recovery. And I think it starts with that.”
Utah Head Coach Craig Smith
On the Loss
“Colorado played really well and responded well. We had our moments. They were a lot more aggressive and physical. It was a different type of game all the way around. I thought (Colorado) adjusted better to that. They were able to get downhill and transition. They did a much better job taking away (Branden) Carlson. Carlson was elite in the first half. He's a good player. He's been out with a lot of injuries. You could see what he can do, but (Colorado) did a way better job of taking him away. We had that stretch late in the game where we had a hard time putting the ball in the hole. Normally, we're an excellent free throw shooting team. We're sixth in the country (in free throw shooting) coming into the game, and we were 5-for-14 in the first half. For us, that’s insanity. We missed a couple front-ends (of one-and-ones). (We) had an opportunity to be up more at halftime. (Colorado) made a few more plays than us. When you get into lead play like this, a lot of times it comes down to one play here, one play there. At the end of the day, we gave up too many points in transition. (Colorado) got 20 points from their transition offense. When you give up 20 points because of poor transition defense, that's usually going to be a problem. At the end of the day, that's what got us beat.”
On G Gabe Madsen’s Missed Three-Pointer with 17 Seconds Left
“We called the full time out there. We used our last one to give ourselves a chance to get our legs under us. (Colorado) did a good job. They took it away. He still came off (the elevator) and got a clean look. (Madsen’s) an excellent shooter, as we all saw tonight, but he's a freshman. You get those in those moments, and he was maybe a little bit rushed, and it was (from) deep too. We didn't want it to be quite that deep. He's going to be in those moments a lot as a Runnin’ Ute. He's going to make that shot.”
On Madsen’s Make With Eight Seconds Left to Cut the Deficit to 79-76
“We executed it. They did a great job of defending it. Gabe always gets his legs under him. He is a lethal shooter. We saw that all night. When it got to (a) six (point deficit) with nine seconds, we ran a play live in the middle. They lost them and he stuck it. Rarely does (the game) come down to one play. You’ve got to give (Colorado) credit. They made all their free throws, except for (Keeshawn Barthelemy) missing those two (with 37 seconds left). Other than that, they made them all down the stretch. That's how you put teams away.”
On the Close Losses as of Late
“Losing sucks, but we have great resolve and mental and physical fortitude. We have a great fortitude and resolve about us. When you look over the last roughly four weeks or so, we've had four-to-five games now come down to literally the last possession. We’ve got a lot of young guys (and) a lot of new guys. We're getting close. We're so close. It doesn't show in the win-loss column, but our guys can see it. We can feel it. We're competing with everybody in our league, whether it's at home or the road. It's just a matter of time. You’ve got to keep giving yourselves chances and keep knocking on the door and pretty soon that door will hopefully burst open.”
On Finishing the Season Strong
“We finish the year now with three home games and two road games. Next weekend, we're back on the road again. We've not been great on the road, but we're playing way better. We had a double-overtime loss to Washington, (and) tonight comes down to the last 15 seconds, but we want to play our best basketball at the end of the year. We clearly are playing our best basketball right now. We’ve got to keep seizing momentum and keep pushing that way. Getting Carlson back -- he's missed a lot of time -- this week was his first full week of practice since November. He's a big piece of what we do. (Tonight) was the level he was playing at before his first injury. He's had a series (of injuries, including) an appendicitis attack. Getting him back really helps us. It gives us confidence and then you see other guys developing. (Lazar) Stefanovic has been playing a lot of minutes. It wasn't great tonight in terms of the stat sheet, but (he) still makes a lot of winning plays. Madsen has really come on in the last two to three weeks. Those guys are freshmen. (Rollie) Worster is playing his best basketball as his career. We’ve got to keep on going. (Marco) Anthony's got back-to-back double-doubles. We’ve got to keep on going, keep pressing, and keep mastering simplicity. (We need to) understand and learn how to win. It is a process of learning how to win, but I like where we're going. We’ve got to find a way to get that win column.”
On Branden Carlson’s First-Half Performance
“(Colorado is) a little bit thin in terms of their true five spot right with (Lawson) Lovering out, but Brandon's a really good player. Before his rash of injuries and lack of practice and all those kinds of things, we were playing through him. He was playing at an all-league level. He's had (to go through) health and safety protocols and appendicitis amongst other injuries. He lost about 12 pounds (so he lost his) conditioning. I thought he got tight. I overextended him. I should have given him a few more breaks (during the game) because clearly, he was gassed. I overextended him in minutes and that's on me, but he's an elite player. I don't know that it's anything so much as he has that versatility and skill set. You saw him really scoring around the basket early. He hit back-to-back threes, which gave him 18 when (CU) called the timeout (with 8:17 remaining in the first half). I thought they were a lot more locked into him (after the timeout), then some other guys got going there for a stretch. (Carlson)'s a guy that makes everybody better because of his versatility and his mindset. He's very unselfish. He's going to be a good (player).”