CU-Cal Post Game Quotes

Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle

General
“I first want to say how much respective for Cal and their program and their players. I think the world of them, all of them. But I couldn't be more proud of our team and the way they played today and how they've represented this university and our program. You could tell from the start that our players really wanted this game and they had that intensity about them that was pretty evident. It was to a man. It wasn't just one guy; it was the whole group. We were cut up with a lot of 50‑50 balls and long rebounds and all the plays that we talk about that win basketball games. These two guys to my left made big time plays after big time plays, especially on the offensive end for us. We talked about it yesterday how in March it gets a little tougher to score, every game you're scouted. They know your sets. We ran our motion offense today a lot in the second half because that's something that they can't scout, and it's just basketball players making basketball plays. Our guys did a terrific job of it. Really proud of them.”

On Defense Not Giving Up The Lead In The Second Half
“Well, again, I think it's a testament to what our guys have really bought into since I looked back at the Arizona loss at home and the Utah loss on the road since that game, and we went on the Bay Area trip, and really played with an intensity on defense, and we really played well defensively on that trip. We've played well defensively since we've been here. It's a mentality. You know, they've got good players. Kravish is a good player. You can play great defense on him and he can make the shot. Justin Cobbs is a great player. They've got good players. They make tough shots. We just wanted to make them earn everything. We still gave up a few too many lay‑ups; but, again, we got stops when we had to get stops. When you come down the stretch of games like this, it's the teams and the players that make plays that win. Our guys did it today.”

On Rebounding Being The Key To The Game
“Yeah, we talked about it before the game and we talked about it at timeouts. For the most part our guys battled. Richard Solomon is a beast on the board. He's one of the best rebounders in our league, if not the best this year. So all you can ask for out of your team is that they battle and they compete, and our guys did that today. You just asked about X's (Xavier Talton) three, and that was a huge three in the game. One of the things he does for our team is help space the floor because you've got to be able to make shots at some point. I mean, your offense is only as good as the shots you make, whether that's in the Lane or at the rim or from behind the arc. I know we'll probably talk about it tomorrow a little bit, but we're going to need to make some shots tomorrow. These guys need to get some rest and pack their jumpers.”

On Team Making Clutch Free Throws Down The Stretch
“Well, it's been tough, yesterday's game and today's game. We haven't gotten to the free‑throw line like we normally do. It's a different game out there. So when you get there, you have to make the most of it. I thought Ski's [Askia Booker] two free throws gave our team a lot of confidence. We wanted to corral [Cal guard Justin] Cobbs a little better than we did, and he scored quicker than we wanted him to score. We wanted to slow him up and keep him in front of us. But those two free throws were big. Eli [Stalzer], that is a tough position he hadn't played all second half. I stick him in there and he makes a front end of the one and one, which is the hardest one, and so I've got confidence in all of our players at the line but big time plays. I would add, getting back to your question about guys stepping up, Jaron Hopkins I thought was really big tonight. I've seen a big growth in his game. He got in some foul trouble tonight, but his energy, effort and intensity and just his focus on defense has really helped his team these last two games, and we need that again tomorrow.”

University of Colorado Student-Athletes

So., G, Xavier Talton

On His Three-Pointer With 4:37 Remaining To End CU Scoring Drought
“That's something that I've come to do. I try to spark us and give us a little energy on the offensive end as well as the defensive end. As far as that three, I think it probably came at one of the big times. My teammates also gave me confidence in making the shots.”

On Feelings When Opponent Looks To Tie The Game On The Final Play
“It's a scary feeling knowing that there are good players out there and they can make shots over hands. It really comes down to us not having to get to that point and not having them get the last shot.”

Jr., G, Askia Booker

On Other Teammates Stepping Up And Making Big Plays
“Yeah, I think Xavier Johnson and Wesley Gordon and Josh Scott, I think they did a terrific job tonight on the boards, and we talked about that last night. Richard Solomon and Kravish, those two are going to jump over your back, and if they don't call the foul, you're going to have to keep playing through it. I think the guards, whether Wesley or X or Josh got a hand on the ball, we cleaned it up sometimes. Those are the winning plays that you need to have down the stretch to get your team extra possessions.”

On Feeling There Is A Rivalry Between CU And Arizona
“Yeah, it's a great rivalry in my eyes. They have great guards. I mean, when I was a freshman, Josiah Turner was still there, and that was a guard I competed with in (California as a high school player), and he's not there anymore. So Nick Johnson, he's a great guard, may be one of the best in our conference, may be one of the best in the country. So I'm going to take on that challenge and try to compete as much as I can with him. But it's not just about me and my rivalry. It's about the team. We're going to have to keep them off the boards and take away their second chance points because that's where they're really good at. If we do that, I think we're giving our team a good chance to win.”

On Making His Free Throws With 12 Seconds Remaining
“They just needed to go in. Coach told me to go get the ball, and that's what I did. Thank God he had confidence in me and I have confidence in myself. I just tried to take my time and knock them in, and that's what I did.”

So., G, Eli Stalzer

On The Difference Playing Cal Last Week And Today
“We finished a lot of 50-50 balls and those kinds of plays. It seemed like we wanted it more today. Cal is a good team but it came down to us being determined to get this win.”

On Making It To The Semi-Finals Of The Pac-12 Tournament
“It feels really good getting to this point. Last year we lost in the second round so it feels great to advance. Our team has worked hard all season and it's great to get a run in the post-season.”

So., F, Josh Scott

On Defeating Cal
“It was just a couple of days that we lost to Cal by a point and today we were able to come out and beat them by three. It was a tough game but we pulled it out and I'm really proud of this team.”

On Facing Arizona Tomorrow
“They are a good team. Everyone in this locker room is excited to play them tomorrow. We want to win.”

On Advancing In The Tournament
“It's really exciting. It was upsetting last season losing in the second round. It was nice to come out and get a win against a team we had just lost to less than a week ago. You survive and you advance, that's how this works. We're happy that we've advanced.”

*Some quotes contributed by FastScripts by ASAP Sports

-COLORADO-