University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes - UCLA 107, Cal 84
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 107, California 84
Berkeley, Calif. (Haas Pavilion)
Jan. 6, 2018
ย
UCLA head coach Steve Alford
opening remarks
โI think we had 12 turnovers and something like 22 assists, or right around that, so that is what youโd like, especially when you are on the road. I was really pleased with our defense in the first half. But the defense in the second half looked like the defense weโd played at Stanford in that second half. You know, we got a split, which Iโm pleased about, because anytime that you lose that first game, youโre got less than 48 hours to return and come back. I thought that our energy and effort was great. We shared things and our guys were very unselfish. Weโll just have to really look at these tapes. We averaged 103 points on this trip, and we got a split. When you average 103 [points], you should get two wins. So, itโs still a growing process and these guys are learning. Every game this year, these guys have given everything that theyโve got. Theyโre fighting and theyโre trying. From a coaching standpoint, thatโs all you can ask. Our two road losses, we had Michigan beat and we had Stanford beat, but we just couldnโt finish it. Today, we took a pretty good run from Cal in the second half, and we were able to finish it.โ
ย
on losing his voice
โYeah, I think that my voice is gone from Stanford.โ
ย
on Thomas Welsh, Alex Olesinski and G.G. Golomanโs ability to make three-pointers
โWell, our bigs can shoot it. And Alex and G.G. havenโt shot it the way that they are capable of shooting it, and tonight they did. All three of those guys are able to stretch defenses and shoot the basketball. I thought that they really worked defensively and on the glass, too. Our guards have been able to get rebounds. But we havenโt been getting enough rebounding out of our guards, and weโve got some big guards. Our guards have got to do a better job of rebounding.โ
ย
on UCLAโs guards being able to drive and kick on offense
โOffensively, itโs very hard for me to โ you know, you get 107 points on the road, and youโve been pretty efficient, offensively. But, the thing that we have to look at on tape and keep improving, is being able to defend for 40 minutes like we did in the first half. Our first half, we had an efficiency of about 83. So, we were really good defensively in the first half. In the second half, it was a lot like Stanford. We just did not get stops.
ย
on the technical foul committed by Ikenna Okwarabizie
โIke said something to one of their players. He was just protecting, and he just went to protect his teammate [Jaylen Hands]. I was upset early, but I do like that. I donโt like what he said, I told him that. But, I do like the protection of a teammate.โ
ย
on Jaylen Hands helping UCLA to get through the press break
โYeah, he had eight assists and one turnover. Thatโs an efficiency that Jaylen Hands is capable of. I thought that he was really efficient in this game.โ
ย
on UCLAโs defense playing a 3-2 zone and issues with rebounding
โRegardless of whether you are in zone or man, youโve got to rebound. So, we did zone. We have zoned some this year. We felt that the zone was going to be good for us against this team. And it was. Theyโve averaged making around four threes per game this season. We thought that was what our plan would be. For the most part, it worked. To their credit, they made some adjustments and started to hurt us a little bit. But our glaring weakness tonight was offensive board play. Other than that, I thought we played very well.โ
ย
senior center Thomas Welsh
on being able to make a career-high four three-pointers
โItโs always good to be able to make shots, especially from three. Iโve been fortunate, for sure.โ
ย
on other UCLA big men making three-pointers
โThatโs huge. We have three bigs who can all shoot the ball pretty well, so that was a good job of spacing the floor like that and being able to knock them downโ
ย
on how UCLA bounced back from a difficult double overtime loss at Stanford
โI think it was great, right from the jump. We really focused on coming out strong to begin the game. I think that we did exactly that. I think thatโs key when you are on the road in the Pac-12, to come out and just jump on a team. You want to get up ahead early. So, yeah, we did a great job of that tonight. Now we have got to get ready for our next homestand.โ
ย
on playing with the face mask
โI actually had a mask that was made because I had got hit in the nose against Washington State [Dec. 29]. We had this protective mask and I had been wearing it in practice but did not wear it in our last game. But then, yeah, we had it here with me. After I got hit, it has worked well.
ย
on adjusting to playing with the mask
โI think that it is a little bit of an adjustment to have the mask on. Itโs something that you are wearing on your face. Now, of course, I canโt say that I missed shots because I had a mask on. But, yeah, it definitely is a slight adjustment.โ
ย
on UCLA being able to move its defense to a 3-2 zone against Cal
โYeah, that was key for us. If you can get in a 3-2 zone like that, you can cause a team a lot of problems. One thing that we gave up was the offensive glass. I think that they had a lot of offensive rebounds there, so that will be something we need to focus on. But if we can run a zone like that, I think that itโs good for us.โ
ย
on having to wear a face mask as the season continues
โIt depends, really. At this rate, I got hit in the face again today, so I probably will.โ
ย
on being able to play more aggressive when wearing a face mask
โSure, I think so, I mean Iโve been popped a few times and thatโs just something that happens in the game. Iโm still going to be aggressive, whether or not I am wearing it. But it definitely is comforting to know that Iโve got something there to help protect in case I get hit again.โ
sophomore forward Alex Olesinski
on hitting a career-high four three-pointers
โMy teammates found me and have confidence in me being able to make that shot. Luckily, today I did.โ
ย
on the gameplan, of hitting three-pointers against Cal
โWell, weโre a good three-point shooting team. But, honestly, it just unfolded that way. We came in knowing that they were going to zone us. We didnโt know that we would have that many opportunities to take threes. We did take advantage of it.โ
ย
on how tough Coach Alford was on the team after losing at Stanford on Thursday
โYeah, we had a long film session yesterday. Today, we had a walkthrough, and he kept emphasizing the importance of getting a split on the road. We canโt go back home down 0-and-2 on this road trip. So, it was big to get the win.โ
ย
on whether doubt crept in when Cal cut UCLAโs lead to 11 points in the second half
โNot really, honestly. We just kept on playing like we did. We knew that we had to get some stops, to cut down on their offensive rebounding. We basically just had to keep playing like we had been playing offensively.โ
ย
on how UCLA tried to shut down Marcus Lee in the post and adjusting with a 3-2 zone
โFirst of all, Marcus Lee, he did a great job with offensive rebounding against us. So, in the first half, he made a killing doing that so we tried to limit him in the second half. And then, after that, with the 3-2 zone, we just know that he is a talented and quick player. So whenever he got the ball, we knew that we just had to help in that 3-2 zone to really bunker in and to limit that inside game, hold them to threes.โ
ย
Junior guard Aaron Holiday
on UCLA securing a bounce-back win after having lost at Stanford on Thursday
โNot so much making everything feel right again, because we did get that loss and it becomes a split [on the road], but it does make you feel better going back home, thatโs for sure.โ
ย
on UCLAโs ability to hit three-pointer against Cal
โWe just went through our normal gameplan. We shot them, we hit them and that was it.โ
ย
on UCLAโs big men being able to knock down their three-point attempts
โItโs always good when your bigs can make threes, because bigs donโt usually want to come out. So, if I see a big and theyโre wide open, theyโll hit their shot and thatโs really good for us.โ
ย
on being pressured when he has the ball and whether he likes that type of pressure
โI mean, I donโt really notice. Iโm just out there trying to play. If they do, Iโll do what I can to use my quickness to go by them, or just see who is open.โ
ย
on UCLA really using a 3-2 zone on defense
โWe just wanted to play him one-on-one [Marcus Lee] down low. We were just trying to make sure that he couldnโt pass down into the paint or a kick-out three, and I messed up on a couple of those. But, yeah, we just wanted to guard him straight up, pretty much.โ
ย
on what UCLA did on Friday to prepare for Cal on Saturday
โWe just watched film. We obviously let one get away at Stanford, and we just did everything we could โ coaches, as well โ to fix that. And he went over defensive schemes and how we are supposed to play defense and just teaching. Obviously, that really helped with the game that we just played.โ
ย
on Calโs intensity in the second half and what his coaches told him as the game got closer
โHe just said that this has happened before, pretty much. Obviously at Stanford and in our game at Michigan, it happened. We just did our best to not let that happen. He obviously gave us confidence, but he made sure that we knew what was going wrong, at the time.โ
ย
ย
UCLA 107, California 84
Berkeley, Calif. (Haas Pavilion)
Jan. 6, 2018
ย
UCLA head coach Steve Alford
opening remarks
โI think we had 12 turnovers and something like 22 assists, or right around that, so that is what youโd like, especially when you are on the road. I was really pleased with our defense in the first half. But the defense in the second half looked like the defense weโd played at Stanford in that second half. You know, we got a split, which Iโm pleased about, because anytime that you lose that first game, youโre got less than 48 hours to return and come back. I thought that our energy and effort was great. We shared things and our guys were very unselfish. Weโll just have to really look at these tapes. We averaged 103 points on this trip, and we got a split. When you average 103 [points], you should get two wins. So, itโs still a growing process and these guys are learning. Every game this year, these guys have given everything that theyโve got. Theyโre fighting and theyโre trying. From a coaching standpoint, thatโs all you can ask. Our two road losses, we had Michigan beat and we had Stanford beat, but we just couldnโt finish it. Today, we took a pretty good run from Cal in the second half, and we were able to finish it.โ
ย
on losing his voice
โYeah, I think that my voice is gone from Stanford.โ
ย
on Thomas Welsh, Alex Olesinski and G.G. Golomanโs ability to make three-pointers
โWell, our bigs can shoot it. And Alex and G.G. havenโt shot it the way that they are capable of shooting it, and tonight they did. All three of those guys are able to stretch defenses and shoot the basketball. I thought that they really worked defensively and on the glass, too. Our guards have been able to get rebounds. But we havenโt been getting enough rebounding out of our guards, and weโve got some big guards. Our guards have got to do a better job of rebounding.โ
ย
on UCLAโs guards being able to drive and kick on offense
โOffensively, itโs very hard for me to โ you know, you get 107 points on the road, and youโve been pretty efficient, offensively. But, the thing that we have to look at on tape and keep improving, is being able to defend for 40 minutes like we did in the first half. Our first half, we had an efficiency of about 83. So, we were really good defensively in the first half. In the second half, it was a lot like Stanford. We just did not get stops.
ย
on the technical foul committed by Ikenna Okwarabizie
โIke said something to one of their players. He was just protecting, and he just went to protect his teammate [Jaylen Hands]. I was upset early, but I do like that. I donโt like what he said, I told him that. But, I do like the protection of a teammate.โ
ย
on Jaylen Hands helping UCLA to get through the press break
โYeah, he had eight assists and one turnover. Thatโs an efficiency that Jaylen Hands is capable of. I thought that he was really efficient in this game.โ
ย
on UCLAโs defense playing a 3-2 zone and issues with rebounding
โRegardless of whether you are in zone or man, youโve got to rebound. So, we did zone. We have zoned some this year. We felt that the zone was going to be good for us against this team. And it was. Theyโve averaged making around four threes per game this season. We thought that was what our plan would be. For the most part, it worked. To their credit, they made some adjustments and started to hurt us a little bit. But our glaring weakness tonight was offensive board play. Other than that, I thought we played very well.โ
ย
senior center Thomas Welsh
on being able to make a career-high four three-pointers
โItโs always good to be able to make shots, especially from three. Iโve been fortunate, for sure.โ
ย
on other UCLA big men making three-pointers
โThatโs huge. We have three bigs who can all shoot the ball pretty well, so that was a good job of spacing the floor like that and being able to knock them downโ
ย
on how UCLA bounced back from a difficult double overtime loss at Stanford
โI think it was great, right from the jump. We really focused on coming out strong to begin the game. I think that we did exactly that. I think thatโs key when you are on the road in the Pac-12, to come out and just jump on a team. You want to get up ahead early. So, yeah, we did a great job of that tonight. Now we have got to get ready for our next homestand.โ
ย
on playing with the face mask
โI actually had a mask that was made because I had got hit in the nose against Washington State [Dec. 29]. We had this protective mask and I had been wearing it in practice but did not wear it in our last game. But then, yeah, we had it here with me. After I got hit, it has worked well.
ย
on adjusting to playing with the mask
โI think that it is a little bit of an adjustment to have the mask on. Itโs something that you are wearing on your face. Now, of course, I canโt say that I missed shots because I had a mask on. But, yeah, it definitely is a slight adjustment.โ
ย
on UCLA being able to move its defense to a 3-2 zone against Cal
โYeah, that was key for us. If you can get in a 3-2 zone like that, you can cause a team a lot of problems. One thing that we gave up was the offensive glass. I think that they had a lot of offensive rebounds there, so that will be something we need to focus on. But if we can run a zone like that, I think that itโs good for us.โ
ย
on having to wear a face mask as the season continues
โIt depends, really. At this rate, I got hit in the face again today, so I probably will.โ
ย
on being able to play more aggressive when wearing a face mask
โSure, I think so, I mean Iโve been popped a few times and thatโs just something that happens in the game. Iโm still going to be aggressive, whether or not I am wearing it. But it definitely is comforting to know that Iโve got something there to help protect in case I get hit again.โ
sophomore forward Alex Olesinski
on hitting a career-high four three-pointers
โMy teammates found me and have confidence in me being able to make that shot. Luckily, today I did.โ
ย
on the gameplan, of hitting three-pointers against Cal
โWell, weโre a good three-point shooting team. But, honestly, it just unfolded that way. We came in knowing that they were going to zone us. We didnโt know that we would have that many opportunities to take threes. We did take advantage of it.โ
ย
on how tough Coach Alford was on the team after losing at Stanford on Thursday
โYeah, we had a long film session yesterday. Today, we had a walkthrough, and he kept emphasizing the importance of getting a split on the road. We canโt go back home down 0-and-2 on this road trip. So, it was big to get the win.โ
ย
on whether doubt crept in when Cal cut UCLAโs lead to 11 points in the second half
โNot really, honestly. We just kept on playing like we did. We knew that we had to get some stops, to cut down on their offensive rebounding. We basically just had to keep playing like we had been playing offensively.โ
ย
on how UCLA tried to shut down Marcus Lee in the post and adjusting with a 3-2 zone
โFirst of all, Marcus Lee, he did a great job with offensive rebounding against us. So, in the first half, he made a killing doing that so we tried to limit him in the second half. And then, after that, with the 3-2 zone, we just know that he is a talented and quick player. So whenever he got the ball, we knew that we just had to help in that 3-2 zone to really bunker in and to limit that inside game, hold them to threes.โ
ย
Junior guard Aaron Holiday
on UCLA securing a bounce-back win after having lost at Stanford on Thursday
โNot so much making everything feel right again, because we did get that loss and it becomes a split [on the road], but it does make you feel better going back home, thatโs for sure.โ
ย
on UCLAโs ability to hit three-pointer against Cal
โWe just went through our normal gameplan. We shot them, we hit them and that was it.โ
ย
on UCLAโs big men being able to knock down their three-point attempts
โItโs always good when your bigs can make threes, because bigs donโt usually want to come out. So, if I see a big and theyโre wide open, theyโll hit their shot and thatโs really good for us.โ
ย
on being pressured when he has the ball and whether he likes that type of pressure
โI mean, I donโt really notice. Iโm just out there trying to play. If they do, Iโll do what I can to use my quickness to go by them, or just see who is open.โ
ย
on UCLA really using a 3-2 zone on defense
โWe just wanted to play him one-on-one [Marcus Lee] down low. We were just trying to make sure that he couldnโt pass down into the paint or a kick-out three, and I messed up on a couple of those. But, yeah, we just wanted to guard him straight up, pretty much.โ
ย
on what UCLA did on Friday to prepare for Cal on Saturday
โWe just watched film. We obviously let one get away at Stanford, and we just did everything we could โ coaches, as well โ to fix that. And he went over defensive schemes and how we are supposed to play defense and just teaching. Obviously, that really helped with the game that we just played.โ
ย
on Calโs intensity in the second half and what his coaches told him as the game got closer
โHe just said that this has happened before, pretty much. Obviously at Stanford and in our game at Michigan, it happened. We just did our best to not let that happen. He obviously gave us confidence, but he made sure that we knew what was going wrong, at the time.โ
ย
ย