University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes: UCLA 95, CSLA 57
October 31, 2015 | Men's Basketball
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 95, Cal State Los Angeles 57 (Exhibition)
October 30, 2015
UCLA Head Coach Steve Alford
“First of all, I want to thank the students for coming out to an exhibition game. I wish we could do this on homecoming weekend every year. It was a really good crowd for an exhibition game and the students helped with that. It means a lot because were trying in an exhibition game to make it as close to how it's going to be when we go against Monmouth as possible. You saw some of the young guys get a little fast and the crowd makes that happen. So, I really appreciate our crowd and especially our student body.”
On the overall performance
“We got in a little bit of a hurry tonight. It goes back to Coach Wooden, we want to be quick, but we can't get in a hurry. I thought we were in a little bit of a hurry in the first half especially in the half-court offense. Our transition game was really good and we saw a little bit of our versatility, and that was without GG [Goloman] and Prince [Ali]. I liked our depth and combinations and we're trying to figure that out. The coaches are trying to figure out that versatility in lineups as well. It's good to have that depth; we had about seven guys get 20 minutes or more. Jonah [Bolden] and Alex [Olesinski] had never played a college game and they combined for 20 points and 19 rebounds. You saw what [Aaron] Holiday could do, especially at the defensive end. I liked what we saw out of the new guys and the veterans really showed a calming force. As we continue through this process, I think it's going to be a good blend that's working for us.”
On Thomas Welsh and Tony Parker starting together
“We've been practicing that, not a lot, but it's been one of the variables we've been looking at. We really couldn't do that at all last year because of no depth and now we have depth there. A month from now when we get GG back that depth gets even more so. Tony really established himself to where now he's being doubled. So now, you can come out of a media timeout and switch their roles. You're worried about doubling Tony, but now Thomas in the post. That's the unique versatility that hopefully we can build upon.”
On Aaron Holiday getting the start
”We're just messing with the starting five right now. Aaron has done an awful lot this month to where a month ago we were probably not leaning that way, but what he's done has changed that. He had a chance to see what it was really like starting a game. He was a little anxious and got in some foul trouble, but he'll learn. In the second half, I told him to let them make the mistakes, just be a pest and they handed it to him one time. Those are all the things that he'll learn, but he brings such energy and toughness. I think that really solidifies what we're trying to do in the backcourt and when we go big-big, it allows us to be very quick in the backcourt.”
Junior guard Isaac Hamilton
On playing both bigs (Tony Parker & Thomas Welsh) at the same time
"It really helps us a lot because Thomas is the pop guy. With the two bigs, it gives us options. It really helps us having both guys in at the same time.”
Freshman guard Aaron Holiday
On his first collegiate game
"I think the game went really well. I tried to play with high tempo, especially on the defensive end. I wanted to dictate what they wanted to do.”
On handling the ball
“I felt very comfortable out there, whether I'm handling the ball or playing off the ball. We've been practicing for awhile, so I felt very comfortable.”
