POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 91, Long Beach State 80
November 9, 2018
Steve Alford, the Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
opening statement on local wildfires and the tragedy in Thousand Oaks earlier this week
“First, I appreciate the school doing the moment of silence for those out in Thousand Oaks. It’s close to home for me, I live up that way. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and now with the firefighters and all those affected by the wildfires. It really puts things in perspective. Those that are hurting and have lost, UCLA basketball is thinking of them right now.”
opening statement on the game
“Long Beach is a tough one and [head coach] Dan Monson does a great job with his team. They had a good game plan, they did a really good job coming in. These early games really can test you on what you need to work on. I thought a huge key for us was our second unit. They came in and really gave us energy in the second half because we got stops, and we’ve been talking about that from a defensive standpoint. That group did a tremendous job with stops, they got us out into transition, they got the ball to Moses [Brown, freshman center]. Our team is still learning to play though [Moses] and around him, guys will start to understand that it will help them if they get the ball to him.”
on freshman center Moses Brown
“We’ve always said he’s got a high motor. When you’ve got a motor like that and play as hard as he does, you can’t help but improve and get better. We’re seeing that. Nobody’s worked harder on their free throws than him. That doesn’t mean he’s going to go 7-11 every game, but Long Beach State would have probably have given him 11 free throws to start the game if you asked them, because they think he’s only going to make three or four. He’s learning and working. Terrific individual, he really cares, wants to win, wants to get better, and I think as our team continues to learn to play through him, we’ll be able to capitalize on that presence.”
on UCLA’s late-game turnovers
“A lot of our issues were with our veterans not taking care of the basketball. They’ve got to look at tape, but I think some of it is on me too. Because of our injuries, the last few practices have been all drills but very little contact because we’re not in a position where we can afford more injuries. Sometimes it’s hard to emulate a full-court press in those situations. I thought they [Long Beach State] did a good job. They came at us hard and we didn’t handle it very well. I think through film and some practice, we’ll be better next time.”
UCLA freshman Moses Brown
on Long Beach State trying to take him out of the paint
“Being that I had such an outstanding rebounding game last game, I think they did a little bit of scouting and tried to keep me out of the paint. They did a pretty good job in the first half, but I felt that I wasn’t doing enough in the first half, so I came out in the second half and picked up the intensity a little bit.”
on what he focuses on to pick up his intensity
“Just initiating going for the rebounds and just knowing where the ball is going to go before – not letting the ball come and [then] go get it. That’s really how I picked it up. Mentally, physically, just going out there and giving my all.”
UCLA sophomore Chris Smith
on what the 18-3 run in the second half with the second unit says about depth of team
“I’d say we always have guys, no matter what group is in, that are ready to pick up the intensity, the energy, whatever it is that we need on the court. Whenever Coach [Alford] calls our names, we’re always ready to be in there, get in there, and do whatever we have to do to pick it up. This day was defense, intensity, and energy. When we got down, we made sure did all of those [things].”
UCLA freshman David Singleton
on what the 18-3 run in the second half with the second unit says about depth of team
“When we’re on the bench, we pick up our squad. We pick up the starters. We try to motivate them. When we get in, we just play hard. Chris [Smith] and me—we’re always together in practice. We’re always communicating and talking to each other, so we come out and we’re telling each other, ‘Let’s play hard. Let’s play our hearts out.’”
on Long Beach State cutting into the lead late in the second half
“We just came out [and] we did what we had to do. Then, obviously, they cut the lead short. We just came together as a group and said we have to finish this game out. That’s what happens. This game is about runs, so we have to close games once we’re ahead.”
on whether Coach Alford has discussed his family’s fire evacuation with the team
“No, he’s not letting us in on it, but I hope his family is OK and I pray for his family’s well-being.”
on limiting Deishuan Booker’s production in the second half
“We just made adjustments. We saw how he came out of the gate. He was lighting us up. He’s a good player and [Long Beach State] is a great program. We just had to make adjustments, put some more pressure on him, and kind of shade him a little bit. We just had to shut him down in order to win.”
Long Beach State Head Coach Dan Monson
opening statement
“Tonight really looked like a first game, but at the end of the day you can’t make mistakes against a top twenty-one team on the road. It’s a long season and I really appreciate UCLA giving us the opportunity. They really don’t gain anything by playing us, so we really appreciate the opportunity. We would definitely benefit from this and I really appreciate that. Also, with the flagrant fouls and a technical, we gave them ten free throws and we lose by eleven, so we will learn from this.”
on the team’s plan headed into the game at Pauley Pavilion
“When we came into the game today, we wanted to focus on three things. We wanted to focus on our rebounding, setting our defense and our transition D (defense). I thought we did a good job with those things tonight.”
on the performance of Deishuan Booker
“I was really pleased with Booker. We always knew he could make shots, but tonight he led. Tonight he was playing against UCLA and I thought he was the best player on the floor.”
Long Beach State senior Deishuan Booker
on tonight’s game
“The effort was there, but I think what hurt us was that we didn’t make shots. But then we came out in the second half and started hitting shots. My teammates look at me as a leader, so I was fortunate to hit a shot early. It really got us going and gave our guys confidence.”
on what he learned from tonight’s contest
“We’re going to watch film and learn how to capitalize on our D [defense]. We had some opportunities to score, so we have to take advantage of that. Tomorrow is a new day, so we have to take it a day at a time.”
UCLA 91, Long Beach State 80
November 9, 2018
Steve Alford, the Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
opening statement on local wildfires and the tragedy in Thousand Oaks earlier this week
“First, I appreciate the school doing the moment of silence for those out in Thousand Oaks. It’s close to home for me, I live up that way. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and now with the firefighters and all those affected by the wildfires. It really puts things in perspective. Those that are hurting and have lost, UCLA basketball is thinking of them right now.”
opening statement on the game
“Long Beach is a tough one and [head coach] Dan Monson does a great job with his team. They had a good game plan, they did a really good job coming in. These early games really can test you on what you need to work on. I thought a huge key for us was our second unit. They came in and really gave us energy in the second half because we got stops, and we’ve been talking about that from a defensive standpoint. That group did a tremendous job with stops, they got us out into transition, they got the ball to Moses [Brown, freshman center]. Our team is still learning to play though [Moses] and around him, guys will start to understand that it will help them if they get the ball to him.”
on freshman center Moses Brown
“We’ve always said he’s got a high motor. When you’ve got a motor like that and play as hard as he does, you can’t help but improve and get better. We’re seeing that. Nobody’s worked harder on their free throws than him. That doesn’t mean he’s going to go 7-11 every game, but Long Beach State would have probably have given him 11 free throws to start the game if you asked them, because they think he’s only going to make three or four. He’s learning and working. Terrific individual, he really cares, wants to win, wants to get better, and I think as our team continues to learn to play through him, we’ll be able to capitalize on that presence.”
on UCLA’s late-game turnovers
“A lot of our issues were with our veterans not taking care of the basketball. They’ve got to look at tape, but I think some of it is on me too. Because of our injuries, the last few practices have been all drills but very little contact because we’re not in a position where we can afford more injuries. Sometimes it’s hard to emulate a full-court press in those situations. I thought they [Long Beach State] did a good job. They came at us hard and we didn’t handle it very well. I think through film and some practice, we’ll be better next time.”
UCLA freshman Moses Brown
on Long Beach State trying to take him out of the paint
“Being that I had such an outstanding rebounding game last game, I think they did a little bit of scouting and tried to keep me out of the paint. They did a pretty good job in the first half, but I felt that I wasn’t doing enough in the first half, so I came out in the second half and picked up the intensity a little bit.”
on what he focuses on to pick up his intensity
“Just initiating going for the rebounds and just knowing where the ball is going to go before – not letting the ball come and [then] go get it. That’s really how I picked it up. Mentally, physically, just going out there and giving my all.”
UCLA sophomore Chris Smith
on what the 18-3 run in the second half with the second unit says about depth of team
“I’d say we always have guys, no matter what group is in, that are ready to pick up the intensity, the energy, whatever it is that we need on the court. Whenever Coach [Alford] calls our names, we’re always ready to be in there, get in there, and do whatever we have to do to pick it up. This day was defense, intensity, and energy. When we got down, we made sure did all of those [things].”
UCLA freshman David Singleton
on what the 18-3 run in the second half with the second unit says about depth of team
“When we’re on the bench, we pick up our squad. We pick up the starters. We try to motivate them. When we get in, we just play hard. Chris [Smith] and me—we’re always together in practice. We’re always communicating and talking to each other, so we come out and we’re telling each other, ‘Let’s play hard. Let’s play our hearts out.’”
on Long Beach State cutting into the lead late in the second half
“We just came out [and] we did what we had to do. Then, obviously, they cut the lead short. We just came together as a group and said we have to finish this game out. That’s what happens. This game is about runs, so we have to close games once we’re ahead.”
on whether Coach Alford has discussed his family’s fire evacuation with the team
“No, he’s not letting us in on it, but I hope his family is OK and I pray for his family’s well-being.”
on limiting Deishuan Booker’s production in the second half
“We just made adjustments. We saw how he came out of the gate. He was lighting us up. He’s a good player and [Long Beach State] is a great program. We just had to make adjustments, put some more pressure on him, and kind of shade him a little bit. We just had to shut him down in order to win.”
Long Beach State Head Coach Dan Monson
opening statement
“Tonight really looked like a first game, but at the end of the day you can’t make mistakes against a top twenty-one team on the road. It’s a long season and I really appreciate UCLA giving us the opportunity. They really don’t gain anything by playing us, so we really appreciate the opportunity. We would definitely benefit from this and I really appreciate that. Also, with the flagrant fouls and a technical, we gave them ten free throws and we lose by eleven, so we will learn from this.”
on the team’s plan headed into the game at Pauley Pavilion
“When we came into the game today, we wanted to focus on three things. We wanted to focus on our rebounding, setting our defense and our transition D (defense). I thought we did a good job with those things tonight.”
on the performance of Deishuan Booker
“I was really pleased with Booker. We always knew he could make shots, but tonight he led. Tonight he was playing against UCLA and I thought he was the best player on the floor.”
Long Beach State senior Deishuan Booker
on tonight’s game
“The effort was there, but I think what hurt us was that we didn’t make shots. But then we came out in the second half and started hitting shots. My teammates look at me as a leader, so I was fortunate to hit a shot early. It really got us going and gave our guys confidence.”
on what he learned from tonight’s contest
“We’re going to watch film and learn how to capitalize on our D [defense]. We had some opportunities to score, so we have to take advantage of that. Tomorrow is a new day, so we have to take it a day at a time.”