University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes
February 15, 2016 | Men's Basketball
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 78, Arizona State 65
February 14, 2016
UCLA head coach Steve Alford
on being able to contain Arizona State from the three-point line
“That is a big strength of theirs. I thought the key was that we did a nice job on [Tra] Holder. We did a nice job of controlling him. Our bench was terrific. We practically had two guys who had double-doubles. Bryce had a double-double, and Jonah almost had a double-double. Prince was huge off our bench. I just thought that we got a lot of good play from a lot of people. This was a great road trip for us. We played really well, really well for 70 of the 80 minutes, even in Tucson. Tonight, we did a much better job at the foul line. We didn't get out-shot at the foul line like we did down in Tucson. I thought that it was a really good road trip for us. We needed this win, and I'm proud of our guys.”
on the progress of sophomore Jonah Bolden
“Beyond mid-season, we have had to change how we play because of injuries. I've said it before that I thought G.G. [Goloman] was going to be out for no more than six weeks, and it ended up being 13, 14 weeks. So, that's affected how we play. We don't like playing with two centers. We were somewhat forced into doing that. I thought our guys did as well as they could in that, especially in the non-league. But, we are trying to play a different way and they're doing a good job for us. That's what I couldn't be happier for them. It's not easy when you're about 20 some-odd games in, to change how you want to play. Our guys have really responded well to it.”
on being able to get a win after losing back-to-back games
“We knew that it was going to be a tough stretch playing on the road. When you are playing three in a row on the road and you have lost the first two, there is even more pressure on that third one. I thought we played well enough to win in Tucson and we didn't. I thought we played well enough to win today, and we did. I'm really proud of our guys. This was a good road trip for us, as far as how we played.”
on UCLA receiving 25 points off the bench at Arizona State
“I can't predict that [we're going to score 25 off the bench]. But, Prince had a big night off the bench. Tony will always be a scorer for us, off the bench. And then G.G. is very capable of scoring. Those are kind of the eight in our rotation right now. Noah came in and got us a late bucket. When you look at our starting five, they are all averaging in double figures. Any time that you can get points from your bench, that will make us that much harder to guard.”
junior guard Bryce Alford
on containing Arizona State from the perimeter
“They shot a lot of threes and they're a very good three-point shooting time. I believe that they lead the Pac-12 in three-point attempts. We knew that taking away the three-point line was going to be a big key. It kind of got away from us in the first half. That's why it was a really close game, and then in the second half, I thought we did a better job of contesting. Sometimes, too much, where we were fouling them. But, a big key was to run their shooters off the three-point line.”
on being aggressive in the first half
“I just try to be aggressive as often as I can. I know that the team can benefit when I'm aggressive, and that doesn't so much mean that it's me looking for my shot, but also trying to get others involved. Tonight, we had a lot of other guys step up and make a lot of big shots. So, it's a credit to them for getting open and making it very easy on me.”
on how important this win was after having lost at Arizona on Friday
“It was tough. That was a very tough game for us to lose down in Tucson. We thought that we had them, and we kind of let that one slip. It would've been a big, big game for us. We knew that this was a big game for us. We needed to get this road win. Now, we get to go home and try to get two more.”
on whether he was thinking that a loss in Tempe would've resulted in a three-game losing streak
“No. You never want to think with an if-you-lose type of mentality. We just try and go win every single game. We never want to think of the consequences if you lose, because you don't plan on it. This team, we believe that we can beat anybody. We just have to show up and play the way that we can. Tonight, we did that.”
sophomore guard/forward Jonah Bolden
on what adjustments he has made in the last several games
“Ever since the game at USC, I've felt that I just needed to change my ways and start fresh with a clean slate to get things going.”
on any specific things that he's changed to improve
“Just getting extra shots up. In practice, we have worked on getting a lot of extra shooting – working on pick and pops, stuff like that, and just having fun. I just changed my mindset.”
on whether he's had to adapt since being inserted into the starting lineup
“Not now. It's been about four or five games in, so I'm a little more used to it now. But, it really hasn't been too big of a change. Tony still comes in and plays the same way – he's playing hard and aggressive. I feel like I've been more comfortable with more experience.”
on whether he has been looking to shoot more or less from three-point range
“If I have it [open]. Tonight, I had one and then I had another one. But, I mean, if it's there, I'll shoot it. There's no doubt about that.”
