Postgame Quotes -- UCLA vs. USC
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 75, USC 68
Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
March 5, 2022
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
on the win
“To be honest with you, I didn’t like the way we finished the game. We got March coming up, I come here to try to get the 12th Championship, and we had some egregious errors down the stretch where we went for rebounds instead of getting back on defense. We don’t believe in giving and-1’s, that is a cardinal, cardinal, sin on our team, if you can't foul him enough to stop the layup, you gotta let it go. I really have tried to train myself as I’ve gotten older to stay focused on coaching and what we are trying to accomplish to get better”
on USC as an opponent
“They were ready to win, their energy and attitude was great all week. We have a lot of respect for them. Andy is a great coach, Isaiah is a tremendous leader for them, there was no doubt they were going to come out and respond. He [Andy] has done such a good job building that program.”
on Johnny Juzang
“If you think I care how many minutes a player wants to play … you're either healthy or you're not, he said he was healthy, I knew he was going to be rusty. I didn’t expect him to have a big night. I knew these two guys (Jules Bernard and Jaime Jaquez Jr.) were going to have to give us scoring, and Tyger, and Tyger didn’t have his best offensive night, but I knew it was going to have to come from them”
Andy Enfield, USC Head Coach
on forcing just one turnover
“One turnover is a low number for sure in a college basketball game. They’re an experienced team. Very good offensively. Very efficient. A lot of isolation plays and their one-on-one play was very good tonight. They made a lot of tough shots and they did a good job taking care of the basketball.”
on the final stretch of the game
I thought we did a good job making it a two-point game with a minute left. (Cody) Riley made that turnaround jump shot in the lane. It was a tough shot. Then Isaiah (Mobley) got down and we got him the ball and he missed a three-foot jump hook. Those were crucial shots, and then Max (Agbonkpolo) stepped out of bounds. Those were two plays – Isaiah always makes those jump hooks, at least 90 percent of them and he missed it. And he stepped out of bounds. That was tough too because it was still a four-point game at the time. We just couldn’t make a shot.
on how he feels the team is playing going into the Pac-12 Tournament
“I was very proud of our players today. They played very hard and shared the ball offensively for the most part. We played pretty good defense. (UCLA) hit some tough midrange shots in the first half, (Jules) Bernard and (Jaime Jaquez Jr.) especially. We held them to two three’s made in the game. And we put them on the foul line too much. There was a lot of touch fouls down there, so we have to do a better shot not touching them.”
junior guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
on thoughts coming into the game
“I thought about it the whole week going into it. We’re at home; it’s our last home game, senior night. I really wanted to do whatever I could to help win for the seniors, honestly. It’s their last night here and there’s no way we were going to let it happen here on our court, against USC. So, just happy we got the win.”
on scoring 57 points in the last two games and if he feels like he’s in “March mode”
“I just think I’ve been feeling a lot better. We’re in March, so I guess you can say that. Honestly, I’ve just been feeling really good. As far as my body, my ankles are doing a lot better right now. I’m excited. It’s time to turn it up to another gear.”
on how team managed to commit just one turnover
“I think just sharing the ball, not trying to force anything. Ball movement, I think, was really good. I think we ran our offense really well tonight. We were able to get open shots and move the ball with ease. I think [it was] just playing good offense.”
senior guard Jules Bernard
on how the team managed to get the win and how it feels
“Obviously, we know the history of the rivalry. It’s not a secret, but the last five games, we were 0-5 against USC. So, this definitely meant a lot to end the regular season on a good note against a team that we, in the last few games, haven’t had some success against. It was definitely a meaningful win.”
on his future plans and the environment inside Pauley
“It was amazing. The environment was amazing. It was great to walk out with my family, my loved ones. It always means a lot to have those close to me at the games. It was definitely a memorable night. As for your first question, I’m not sure. I’m just taking it one day at a time. I’m more focused on our games ahead. I know we have a lot of basketball ahead of us, so just trying to get rest, prepare for the games ahead, and be there for my team so we can win games.”
on if he feels like the team is ready for the NCAA Tournament
“I think we are ready, but, obviously, we know the tough road. Being that we’ve been there before and we know how hard it is to win in those environments. We’re definitely focused and locked in going into both the Pac-12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. We’re definitely all in-tune and ready for these tournaments.”
UCLA 75, USC 68
Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
March 5, 2022
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
on the win
“To be honest with you, I didn’t like the way we finished the game. We got March coming up, I come here to try to get the 12th Championship, and we had some egregious errors down the stretch where we went for rebounds instead of getting back on defense. We don’t believe in giving and-1’s, that is a cardinal, cardinal, sin on our team, if you can't foul him enough to stop the layup, you gotta let it go. I really have tried to train myself as I’ve gotten older to stay focused on coaching and what we are trying to accomplish to get better”
on USC as an opponent
“They were ready to win, their energy and attitude was great all week. We have a lot of respect for them. Andy is a great coach, Isaiah is a tremendous leader for them, there was no doubt they were going to come out and respond. He [Andy] has done such a good job building that program.”
on Johnny Juzang
“If you think I care how many minutes a player wants to play … you're either healthy or you're not, he said he was healthy, I knew he was going to be rusty. I didn’t expect him to have a big night. I knew these two guys (Jules Bernard and Jaime Jaquez Jr.) were going to have to give us scoring, and Tyger, and Tyger didn’t have his best offensive night, but I knew it was going to have to come from them”
Andy Enfield, USC Head Coach
on forcing just one turnover
“One turnover is a low number for sure in a college basketball game. They’re an experienced team. Very good offensively. Very efficient. A lot of isolation plays and their one-on-one play was very good tonight. They made a lot of tough shots and they did a good job taking care of the basketball.”
on the final stretch of the game
I thought we did a good job making it a two-point game with a minute left. (Cody) Riley made that turnaround jump shot in the lane. It was a tough shot. Then Isaiah (Mobley) got down and we got him the ball and he missed a three-foot jump hook. Those were crucial shots, and then Max (Agbonkpolo) stepped out of bounds. Those were two plays – Isaiah always makes those jump hooks, at least 90 percent of them and he missed it. And he stepped out of bounds. That was tough too because it was still a four-point game at the time. We just couldn’t make a shot.
on how he feels the team is playing going into the Pac-12 Tournament
“I was very proud of our players today. They played very hard and shared the ball offensively for the most part. We played pretty good defense. (UCLA) hit some tough midrange shots in the first half, (Jules) Bernard and (Jaime Jaquez Jr.) especially. We held them to two three’s made in the game. And we put them on the foul line too much. There was a lot of touch fouls down there, so we have to do a better shot not touching them.”
junior guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
on thoughts coming into the game
“I thought about it the whole week going into it. We’re at home; it’s our last home game, senior night. I really wanted to do whatever I could to help win for the seniors, honestly. It’s their last night here and there’s no way we were going to let it happen here on our court, against USC. So, just happy we got the win.”
on scoring 57 points in the last two games and if he feels like he’s in “March mode”
“I just think I’ve been feeling a lot better. We’re in March, so I guess you can say that. Honestly, I’ve just been feeling really good. As far as my body, my ankles are doing a lot better right now. I’m excited. It’s time to turn it up to another gear.”
on how team managed to commit just one turnover
“I think just sharing the ball, not trying to force anything. Ball movement, I think, was really good. I think we ran our offense really well tonight. We were able to get open shots and move the ball with ease. I think [it was] just playing good offense.”
senior guard Jules Bernard
on how the team managed to get the win and how it feels
“Obviously, we know the history of the rivalry. It’s not a secret, but the last five games, we were 0-5 against USC. So, this definitely meant a lot to end the regular season on a good note against a team that we, in the last few games, haven’t had some success against. It was definitely a meaningful win.”
on his future plans and the environment inside Pauley
“It was amazing. The environment was amazing. It was great to walk out with my family, my loved ones. It always means a lot to have those close to me at the games. It was definitely a memorable night. As for your first question, I’m not sure. I’m just taking it one day at a time. I’m more focused on our games ahead. I know we have a lot of basketball ahead of us, so just trying to get rest, prepare for the games ahead, and be there for my team so we can win games.”
on if he feels like the team is ready for the NCAA Tournament
“I think we are ready, but, obviously, we know the tough road. Being that we’ve been there before and we know how hard it is to win in those environments. We’re definitely focused and locked in going into both the Pac-12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. We’re definitely all in-tune and ready for these tournaments.”