Colorado-Oregon State Quotes
Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle
Opening Statement
“Another really good win. Workmanlike effort I thought our guys were pretty dialed in on the defensive end, which is what we've been challenging about over the last week and a half of practice or so. So you know, to hold the team and Pac-12 to three point field goals. Guarding the three point lines is something we've talked about. We haven't done a great job of, you know, at times, but tonight we were terrific. We had some really good defensive efforts. I thought Bilodeau, Pope and Akanno were the guys that we were really worried about on the scouting report. Bilodeau got some of his late. Tristan did a terrific job on him, you know, every time he was on him I thought his post defense was like a clinic tonight. KJ was terrific on Pope got through screens contested every shot. And Cody was great on Akanno. He really was so and then the other guys played really good team defense. It was and that's something we've challenged our guys about as well. So good, good effort. We're back to 19 assists 8 turnovers , offensively sharing the ball, six guys and double figures. so not a lot to complain about as a coach and this one.”
KJ’s Defense
“Yeah, absolutely. KJ is a competitor and that's something he wants, you know, and he wants to make that (Pac-12 All-Defense) team. I just think, you know, as opposing coaches look towards the end of the year at that. Now, these are kind of performances, Pope has, what, 10 points on 11 shots, it's pretty good defense. We've got multiple guys, you know, obviously J’Vonne Hadley wasn't in there tonight, but he's a good defender. Tristan showed what he can do tonight and he does a good job. So now we encode he's a terrific defender and we got the ability to be a great defensive team. And we're working towards that. And now we gotta go do it on the road. That's the ultimate challenge.”
On Assane Diop’s performance
“It's great. I'm number one. I'm so happy for him because you see day to day how hard Assane works. You see how selfless that he is. He's all about the team. He's not about himself. And he just worked his tail off and to see him have success. His growth has come incrementally in practice. This is the first time he's really experienced it in a game. A lot of it's because of the fact that he doesn't get extended minutes. You know, he's in there for a minute or two and then he's out he's in for a minute or two and he's out and it's hard to get into a rhythm that way tonight. He got some extended minutes. I thought his rim run was great. He caught the ball. He finished and rebounded. He defended. I've said that Assane, Joe, Ben, and Bangot Dak are both going to be really good players In this program. It's the big, long, athletic guys. And I think you saw just a glimpse of that Assane tonight and BD is going to be there right with him. I really believe that it might take a little bit of time for both of them. But that's, that's what it's all about.”
Where have you seen this team progress
“Well, I think defensively, our energy on defense or commitment to it. The guys talking about it in huddles, we got back offensively kind of back on track as well. So now it's time to take it on the road. You know, now it's time to say okay, can we sustain it? Can we learn from that road trip route from you know, the Arizona's and take it to the Washington's into Utah? What we'll find out here in a couple of weeks, but we have to be ready to go by Wednesday night.”
On how this team takes advantage of the home court:
“I think the way they play, the way they share the ball, the way they move the ball. I think it really allowed our fans to enjoy it. I think our fans have been great. We always play a few when over Christmas break or when students aren't here. It's a combination of how we play, altitude and wearing people down, and the confidence they play with at home. Now, we must transfer that confidence to the road because it's no different. It's just different venue, but it's people cheering against you versus cheering for you and to me that should motivate you just as much.”
On J’Vonne Hadley injury:
“I do not know. His knee was sore. It was sore yesterday. It was sore today. As a coach in today's day and age, you have no say and no opinion on whether kids can play or not. A lot of times it's up to them. Sometimes it's up to the doctor, sometimes it's a combination of both. So, I don't have any update. We'll see.”
On what specific things the team should bring on the road:
“Our guys are making simpler plays. We had some silly turnovers, we had a silly one obviously, Joe's at the end there was silly. Eddie tried to thread the needle one time. It's getting rid of the silly ones. Against Oregon, the two that we stepped out of bounds in the first half without those we're less than 11 against Oregon. It’s absolutely mental, midget plays. It's just making simple plays and being aware of taking what the defense gives you. We're making progress in that area to over the last two, three weeks.”
On how J’Vonne being out allows other players more playing time and how he feels baout it:
“Luke's a senior. Having both Luke and Julian and having a guy like Assane step up like he did tonight. It was fantastic. So, it's really the quality of some teams today. They're deep. We have quality depth, we have depth with experience. First, certainly one through seven, but one through six tonight with Javon out, but yes, it was good.”
On Julian Hammond lll finally becoming himself on the court:
“He's getting there. He needs practice time and it's a short week. We only get two days of practice this week. We're off tomorrow. He's come along. He's a veteran guy. The last thing I worry about with Julian is a shot and shooting the ball. He had not shot the ball well here since he's come back but that'll come. It'll come with time, repetition, and getting back into flow things. I thought his floor game tonight was getting great. He took care of the ball. He had five assists.”
On how important it is to not have to rely on just one or two players:
“It's key because when teams prepare for us it's not like oh, we got to just shut down this guy and this other guy, and then we're good. There are many teams that say, ‘Okay, they got a big two, or get these two guys or three.’ Very few teams have five or six guys that can get double figures any night. We're one of them. And that makes it difficult to prepare for us and that's what I want our players to understand. It's going to be somebody else's night on different nights and you have to understand that but you can still chip in and be a part of it. But the 19 assists and eight turnovers is probably the statistic I'm most pleased with looking at this stat sheet, in addition to the defensive football percentage and the rebounding margin.”
Colorado Players
Tristan da Silva, Sr. F
On Assane Diop’s first double-figure game in scoring
“It is huge for his confidence. He has all the tools, so I feel like he's just got to go out there, play and play free, and make the right plays, and that's what he did tonight. He's soaking up knowledge like a sponge. So we just try to help him as much as possible. We know he will be helpful for us as we move forward.”
On team consistency
“We can't be lackadaisical with certain opponents. We have to make sure that we dig in every single time we step on the floor, whether it's one after another or from one game to another. We are about to go on the road. So I feel like this little momentum we have going right now will be good for us on the road, too. We just got to keep doing what we're doing.”
On sustaining the big lead so other players could play
“I'm just happy for the guys who got in. Guys like Jack Pease have been a walk-on here for two years. I'm happy for them and that we built up that lead-up for the last three minutes and then let them get a little time, too.”
On defending 3 point line
“We've been struggling with that defensively and being consistent with it. If you look back at the Cal game, that's what struggled with, so that was a huge emphasis for us making sure that we defend a three-point line, guard the ball, and we did that tonight.”
On keeping turnovers down
“It’s about making the right play, not forcing things, and not trying to make a home run play right away. But also moving the ball and making a simple play will lead to easy buckets as well.”
On building a first-step lead in the first half
“That is what we've been talking about all along. So it was huge for us to take that step in the right direction finally. And we got just to continue to do so.”
Cody Williams, Fr., F
On tonight’s dunk
“Tristan opened up the lane. So then I just went up, and it is always nice to get those kinds of dunks, and the crowd gets into it. Those are momentum shifts. So I feel like that helped keep the momentum up and kept us rolling.”
On playing at high altitude
“I'd say first and second half. Towards the end of the first half, you'll hear guys talking about how the altitude is no joke. So, in the second half, it starts to kick in. We're a team that likes to get up and down the floor. So, as the game goes on, I see we start getting more layup transition buckets. And I think the altitude is something that wears down teams. Then, when we go to a lower altitude, like in Arizona, you could just tell guys are just flying around and aren't getting tired. So I think we do have a great advantage.”
On where the team is mentally
“I think it's just nice because we know how to play, and it gives us something to take on the road. It’s the kind of energy we need to bring on the road because we're not going to have the crowd cheering for us like we do at home. But it shows how good we can be defensively and offensively. It sets the standard before we go on the road to carry it over and do the same things we do here.”
Opening Statement
“Another really good win. Workmanlike effort I thought our guys were pretty dialed in on the defensive end, which is what we've been challenging about over the last week and a half of practice or so. So you know, to hold the team and Pac-12 to three point field goals. Guarding the three point lines is something we've talked about. We haven't done a great job of, you know, at times, but tonight we were terrific. We had some really good defensive efforts. I thought Bilodeau, Pope and Akanno were the guys that we were really worried about on the scouting report. Bilodeau got some of his late. Tristan did a terrific job on him, you know, every time he was on him I thought his post defense was like a clinic tonight. KJ was terrific on Pope got through screens contested every shot. And Cody was great on Akanno. He really was so and then the other guys played really good team defense. It was and that's something we've challenged our guys about as well. So good, good effort. We're back to 19 assists 8 turnovers , offensively sharing the ball, six guys and double figures. so not a lot to complain about as a coach and this one.”
KJ’s Defense
“Yeah, absolutely. KJ is a competitor and that's something he wants, you know, and he wants to make that (Pac-12 All-Defense) team. I just think, you know, as opposing coaches look towards the end of the year at that. Now, these are kind of performances, Pope has, what, 10 points on 11 shots, it's pretty good defense. We've got multiple guys, you know, obviously J’Vonne Hadley wasn't in there tonight, but he's a good defender. Tristan showed what he can do tonight and he does a good job. So now we encode he's a terrific defender and we got the ability to be a great defensive team. And we're working towards that. And now we gotta go do it on the road. That's the ultimate challenge.”
On Assane Diop’s performance
“It's great. I'm number one. I'm so happy for him because you see day to day how hard Assane works. You see how selfless that he is. He's all about the team. He's not about himself. And he just worked his tail off and to see him have success. His growth has come incrementally in practice. This is the first time he's really experienced it in a game. A lot of it's because of the fact that he doesn't get extended minutes. You know, he's in there for a minute or two and then he's out he's in for a minute or two and he's out and it's hard to get into a rhythm that way tonight. He got some extended minutes. I thought his rim run was great. He caught the ball. He finished and rebounded. He defended. I've said that Assane, Joe, Ben, and Bangot Dak are both going to be really good players In this program. It's the big, long, athletic guys. And I think you saw just a glimpse of that Assane tonight and BD is going to be there right with him. I really believe that it might take a little bit of time for both of them. But that's, that's what it's all about.”
Where have you seen this team progress
“Well, I think defensively, our energy on defense or commitment to it. The guys talking about it in huddles, we got back offensively kind of back on track as well. So now it's time to take it on the road. You know, now it's time to say okay, can we sustain it? Can we learn from that road trip route from you know, the Arizona's and take it to the Washington's into Utah? What we'll find out here in a couple of weeks, but we have to be ready to go by Wednesday night.”
On how this team takes advantage of the home court:
“I think the way they play, the way they share the ball, the way they move the ball. I think it really allowed our fans to enjoy it. I think our fans have been great. We always play a few when over Christmas break or when students aren't here. It's a combination of how we play, altitude and wearing people down, and the confidence they play with at home. Now, we must transfer that confidence to the road because it's no different. It's just different venue, but it's people cheering against you versus cheering for you and to me that should motivate you just as much.”
On J’Vonne Hadley injury:
“I do not know. His knee was sore. It was sore yesterday. It was sore today. As a coach in today's day and age, you have no say and no opinion on whether kids can play or not. A lot of times it's up to them. Sometimes it's up to the doctor, sometimes it's a combination of both. So, I don't have any update. We'll see.”
On what specific things the team should bring on the road:
“Our guys are making simpler plays. We had some silly turnovers, we had a silly one obviously, Joe's at the end there was silly. Eddie tried to thread the needle one time. It's getting rid of the silly ones. Against Oregon, the two that we stepped out of bounds in the first half without those we're less than 11 against Oregon. It’s absolutely mental, midget plays. It's just making simple plays and being aware of taking what the defense gives you. We're making progress in that area to over the last two, three weeks.”
On how J’Vonne being out allows other players more playing time and how he feels baout it:
“Luke's a senior. Having both Luke and Julian and having a guy like Assane step up like he did tonight. It was fantastic. So, it's really the quality of some teams today. They're deep. We have quality depth, we have depth with experience. First, certainly one through seven, but one through six tonight with Javon out, but yes, it was good.”
On Julian Hammond lll finally becoming himself on the court:
“He's getting there. He needs practice time and it's a short week. We only get two days of practice this week. We're off tomorrow. He's come along. He's a veteran guy. The last thing I worry about with Julian is a shot and shooting the ball. He had not shot the ball well here since he's come back but that'll come. It'll come with time, repetition, and getting back into flow things. I thought his floor game tonight was getting great. He took care of the ball. He had five assists.”
On how important it is to not have to rely on just one or two players:
“It's key because when teams prepare for us it's not like oh, we got to just shut down this guy and this other guy, and then we're good. There are many teams that say, ‘Okay, they got a big two, or get these two guys or three.’ Very few teams have five or six guys that can get double figures any night. We're one of them. And that makes it difficult to prepare for us and that's what I want our players to understand. It's going to be somebody else's night on different nights and you have to understand that but you can still chip in and be a part of it. But the 19 assists and eight turnovers is probably the statistic I'm most pleased with looking at this stat sheet, in addition to the defensive football percentage and the rebounding margin.”
Colorado Players
Tristan da Silva, Sr. F
On Assane Diop’s first double-figure game in scoring
“It is huge for his confidence. He has all the tools, so I feel like he's just got to go out there, play and play free, and make the right plays, and that's what he did tonight. He's soaking up knowledge like a sponge. So we just try to help him as much as possible. We know he will be helpful for us as we move forward.”
On team consistency
“We can't be lackadaisical with certain opponents. We have to make sure that we dig in every single time we step on the floor, whether it's one after another or from one game to another. We are about to go on the road. So I feel like this little momentum we have going right now will be good for us on the road, too. We just got to keep doing what we're doing.”
On sustaining the big lead so other players could play
“I'm just happy for the guys who got in. Guys like Jack Pease have been a walk-on here for two years. I'm happy for them and that we built up that lead-up for the last three minutes and then let them get a little time, too.”
On defending 3 point line
“We've been struggling with that defensively and being consistent with it. If you look back at the Cal game, that's what struggled with, so that was a huge emphasis for us making sure that we defend a three-point line, guard the ball, and we did that tonight.”
On keeping turnovers down
“It’s about making the right play, not forcing things, and not trying to make a home run play right away. But also moving the ball and making a simple play will lead to easy buckets as well.”
On building a first-step lead in the first half
“That is what we've been talking about all along. So it was huge for us to take that step in the right direction finally. And we got just to continue to do so.”
Cody Williams, Fr., F
On tonight’s dunk
“Tristan opened up the lane. So then I just went up, and it is always nice to get those kinds of dunks, and the crowd gets into it. Those are momentum shifts. So I feel like that helped keep the momentum up and kept us rolling.”
On playing at high altitude
“I'd say first and second half. Towards the end of the first half, you'll hear guys talking about how the altitude is no joke. So, in the second half, it starts to kick in. We're a team that likes to get up and down the floor. So, as the game goes on, I see we start getting more layup transition buckets. And I think the altitude is something that wears down teams. Then, when we go to a lower altitude, like in Arizona, you could just tell guys are just flying around and aren't getting tired. So I think we do have a great advantage.”
On where the team is mentally
“I think it's just nice because we know how to play, and it gives us something to take on the road. It’s the kind of energy we need to bring on the road because we're not going to have the crowd cheering for us like we do at home. But it shows how good we can be defensively and offensively. It sets the standard before we go on the road to carry it over and do the same things we do here.”