University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes - UCLA 98, Washington 66
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 98, Washington 66
Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion)
March 1, 2017
UCLA head coach Steve Alford
opening statement
"Really proud of the guys. Weโve practiced well all week since getting back from the Arizona trip. Weโve really tried to tell themโitโs one of the hardest things in sportโyou have to come back and you have to play, whether itโs home-road, home-home, road-road, you get a big win over a top-five team and then come back and get that next one. I think thatโs one of the hardest things to do in basketball. We were pretty impressive tonight. We were engaged right from the beginning, we really talked about concentration all week. I thought our guys really concentrated well. Lopsided game, to only have eight turnovers. I thought we were just really good in a lot of areas. We took good shots, we made shots, we shared it. Twenty-three assists again. This team just continues, regardless of what the circumstance is, we play awfully hard and we play together. I thought we were really good at both ends tonight."
on how TJ Leaf's injury looks
"Well, we hope good. Heโll be crutches, boot, trying to get that thing rest and a lot of treatment. I told him five minutes, two (points), one (rebound) and one (assist)โthatโs not a bad line in five minutes. Weโre having fun with him and thatโs who he is. We obviously have to get him back as soon as we can, but it was just a sprained ankle. Itโs not a bad one. Weโll have to wait and see what the next 48 hours look like as far as his availability for Saturday."
on Bryce Alford's performance
"I think he came into the game around 50% from three in Pac-12 play. Goes eight-for-14 tonight. Heโs really good with moving off the ball and his teammates found him tonight. Found him in transition, found him in halfcourt. Then youโve got to make them and he did a really good job of knocking down shots. We made 14 threes. When our team does that, weโre going to score a lot of points."
on teamโs defense
"We had a lot of deflections. I donโt know how many we ended up with for the game. We had 15 at half and six minutes into the second half, we had seven, so we were at 22. I donโt know where the total was, but weโve talked all along the whole year about our basketball IQ, and the guys are starting to figure that out defensively, too. Weโve seen that over the course of the last eight games. Just a gradual confidence thatโs been building at the defensive end. All of a sudden, now weโre seeing guys anticipate plays defensively. Weโve always shared it, weโve always made the extra pass, the best play possible on offense. Defensively, weโve kind of been stuck to our own guy. Now, all of a sudden, theyโre starting to figure things out and really anticipating well. I thought tonight, we really anticipated well. Whether we were in zone or man, we did a lot of good things that helped one another."
on how Washington played without Markelle Fultz
"I think theyโre playing hard, and thatโs a credit to Lorenzo (Romar) and his staff. Obviously, you lose a player like thatโthatโs a lot of points that he gets, a lot of points that he distributes, too. Both games were very similar from our standpointโone with him, one without him. Youโve got to take your hat off the Lorenzo, getting these guys to play that hard. When you had, obviously a tough conference season and your best playerโs out. Weโve seen that on tape. They played really hard up in Pullman a few nights back. They got our attention coming into this and they got our playersโ attention. I think you saw how hard our players played. When youโre missing a player like that, about all you could do is try to get your guys playing hard, and I thought they did."
UCLA guard Bryce Alford
on TJ Leaf's injury
"Heโs such a positive, uplifting dude that itโs hard to tell what happened. Weโre not sure about his status for the upcoming game so weโll have to adapt and itโs 'next man up'."
on his hot shooting night
"Itโs cool. Once you see your first couple go in, you can kind of get in to a rhythm. I saw my first two go down and then I got cold there for a minute. [Isaac and I] had some good ones that we felt were going in but they didnโt. When you see a couple go in as a shooter, youโre just trying to get the ball for the next one."
on upcoming Senior Night
"Iโm trying not to think about it, itโs going to be bittersweet. Itโs been an unbelievable four years here. Obviously, playing for my dad has been very, very special. Playing alongside Isaac [Hamilton] has been awesome. Weโre just going to try to cherish it and try to end Senior Day with a win. The NCAA tournament will be special. You canโt take it for granted because itโs so hard getting to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, not getting there was such a bad feeling as a competitor. Knowing that we are getting there this year, we couldnโt be more excited or ready. This is the most tournament ready of any team Iโve been on. We just have to continue to work hard and take care of the next couple of games."
UCLA guard Isaac Hamilton
on upcoming Senior Night
"I kind of want it to go by slow. You know, savor every moment. Itโs going to be bittersweet as Iโve enjoyed every minute here at UCLA. Playing under Coach Alford has been truly been a blessing. He keeps me going."
on highlight plays
"When we play defense, itโs easier to get opportunities like that in transition. With Lonzo, Bryce and I on the wings, its so hard for them to choose [who to defend]. So we just kind of make plays and take what the defense give us."
UCLA guard Lonzo Ball
on TJ Leaf's injury
"Itโs tough to lose him but heโll be all right. A lot of guys on this team care for him. We went to the training room afterwards to see how heโs doing. Now is the time for other guys step up."
on the four-guard lineup
"The first thing is just rebound. Once we get the ball, we can push against their bigs. Itโs just faster and the game is a little easier."
Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar
overall statement
"I really donโt want to add any additional pressure, but that UCLA team could win a National Championship. They are very long and they have great length and they can be disruptive. You just canโt come out on the road and turn over the ball and give up 34 points (on turnovers)."
on freshman guard Markelle Fultz
"We were told before the game that he couldnโt go and he probably wonโt be able to go against USC. (Is he out for the season?) We just donโt know at this point."
on their turnovers
"On some we were negligent, but they were great in anticipation. They are 6โ4โ, 6โ5โ and 6โ6โ on the perimeter and (Lorenzo) Ball is as crafty as the seniors (Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton). They also have seven-footers around the rim, so they do a good job of disrupting the passing lanes."
on this game versus the first meeting at Washington
"I thought we really fought tonight. We didnโt quit. We just donโt play against somebody like that every day. Throughout the game, we have to be alert. We have to be alert for 40 minutes and we have to see what a detriment turning over the ball is"
on preparing for the Pac-12 Tournament
"Itโs been a long time since weโve won a game, but these guys come to practice prepared and ready to compete."
Washington forward Noah Dickerson
overall statement
"I think I really had a strong game today. I scored often down low and my jumper was falling. I felt like I really rebounded well on the defensive and offensive end."
on the tough season
"We just have to keep doing what weโve been doing. We want to finish the season strong. Also, at the PAC-12 Tournament we want to have a strong showing."
on preparing for their next game at USC
"Their squad is really long and athletic and they bait passes. They also do a back-tip really well, so we have to be ready. They are long and athletic and they can get in our passing lanes."
UCLA 98, Washington 66
Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion)
March 1, 2017
UCLA head coach Steve Alford
opening statement
"Really proud of the guys. Weโve practiced well all week since getting back from the Arizona trip. Weโve really tried to tell themโitโs one of the hardest things in sportโyou have to come back and you have to play, whether itโs home-road, home-home, road-road, you get a big win over a top-five team and then come back and get that next one. I think thatโs one of the hardest things to do in basketball. We were pretty impressive tonight. We were engaged right from the beginning, we really talked about concentration all week. I thought our guys really concentrated well. Lopsided game, to only have eight turnovers. I thought we were just really good in a lot of areas. We took good shots, we made shots, we shared it. Twenty-three assists again. This team just continues, regardless of what the circumstance is, we play awfully hard and we play together. I thought we were really good at both ends tonight."
on how TJ Leaf's injury looks
"Well, we hope good. Heโll be crutches, boot, trying to get that thing rest and a lot of treatment. I told him five minutes, two (points), one (rebound) and one (assist)โthatโs not a bad line in five minutes. Weโre having fun with him and thatโs who he is. We obviously have to get him back as soon as we can, but it was just a sprained ankle. Itโs not a bad one. Weโll have to wait and see what the next 48 hours look like as far as his availability for Saturday."
on Bryce Alford's performance
"I think he came into the game around 50% from three in Pac-12 play. Goes eight-for-14 tonight. Heโs really good with moving off the ball and his teammates found him tonight. Found him in transition, found him in halfcourt. Then youโve got to make them and he did a really good job of knocking down shots. We made 14 threes. When our team does that, weโre going to score a lot of points."
on teamโs defense
"We had a lot of deflections. I donโt know how many we ended up with for the game. We had 15 at half and six minutes into the second half, we had seven, so we were at 22. I donโt know where the total was, but weโve talked all along the whole year about our basketball IQ, and the guys are starting to figure that out defensively, too. Weโve seen that over the course of the last eight games. Just a gradual confidence thatโs been building at the defensive end. All of a sudden, now weโre seeing guys anticipate plays defensively. Weโve always shared it, weโve always made the extra pass, the best play possible on offense. Defensively, weโve kind of been stuck to our own guy. Now, all of a sudden, theyโre starting to figure things out and really anticipating well. I thought tonight, we really anticipated well. Whether we were in zone or man, we did a lot of good things that helped one another."
on how Washington played without Markelle Fultz
"I think theyโre playing hard, and thatโs a credit to Lorenzo (Romar) and his staff. Obviously, you lose a player like thatโthatโs a lot of points that he gets, a lot of points that he distributes, too. Both games were very similar from our standpointโone with him, one without him. Youโve got to take your hat off the Lorenzo, getting these guys to play that hard. When you had, obviously a tough conference season and your best playerโs out. Weโve seen that on tape. They played really hard up in Pullman a few nights back. They got our attention coming into this and they got our playersโ attention. I think you saw how hard our players played. When youโre missing a player like that, about all you could do is try to get your guys playing hard, and I thought they did."
UCLA guard Bryce Alford
on TJ Leaf's injury
"Heโs such a positive, uplifting dude that itโs hard to tell what happened. Weโre not sure about his status for the upcoming game so weโll have to adapt and itโs 'next man up'."
on his hot shooting night
"Itโs cool. Once you see your first couple go in, you can kind of get in to a rhythm. I saw my first two go down and then I got cold there for a minute. [Isaac and I] had some good ones that we felt were going in but they didnโt. When you see a couple go in as a shooter, youโre just trying to get the ball for the next one."
on upcoming Senior Night
"Iโm trying not to think about it, itโs going to be bittersweet. Itโs been an unbelievable four years here. Obviously, playing for my dad has been very, very special. Playing alongside Isaac [Hamilton] has been awesome. Weโre just going to try to cherish it and try to end Senior Day with a win. The NCAA tournament will be special. You canโt take it for granted because itโs so hard getting to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, not getting there was such a bad feeling as a competitor. Knowing that we are getting there this year, we couldnโt be more excited or ready. This is the most tournament ready of any team Iโve been on. We just have to continue to work hard and take care of the next couple of games."
UCLA guard Isaac Hamilton
on upcoming Senior Night
"I kind of want it to go by slow. You know, savor every moment. Itโs going to be bittersweet as Iโve enjoyed every minute here at UCLA. Playing under Coach Alford has been truly been a blessing. He keeps me going."
on highlight plays
"When we play defense, itโs easier to get opportunities like that in transition. With Lonzo, Bryce and I on the wings, its so hard for them to choose [who to defend]. So we just kind of make plays and take what the defense give us."
UCLA guard Lonzo Ball
on TJ Leaf's injury
"Itโs tough to lose him but heโll be all right. A lot of guys on this team care for him. We went to the training room afterwards to see how heโs doing. Now is the time for other guys step up."
on the four-guard lineup
"The first thing is just rebound. Once we get the ball, we can push against their bigs. Itโs just faster and the game is a little easier."
Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar
overall statement
"I really donโt want to add any additional pressure, but that UCLA team could win a National Championship. They are very long and they have great length and they can be disruptive. You just canโt come out on the road and turn over the ball and give up 34 points (on turnovers)."
on freshman guard Markelle Fultz
"We were told before the game that he couldnโt go and he probably wonโt be able to go against USC. (Is he out for the season?) We just donโt know at this point."
on their turnovers
"On some we were negligent, but they were great in anticipation. They are 6โ4โ, 6โ5โ and 6โ6โ on the perimeter and (Lorenzo) Ball is as crafty as the seniors (Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton). They also have seven-footers around the rim, so they do a good job of disrupting the passing lanes."
on this game versus the first meeting at Washington
"I thought we really fought tonight. We didnโt quit. We just donโt play against somebody like that every day. Throughout the game, we have to be alert. We have to be alert for 40 minutes and we have to see what a detriment turning over the ball is"
on preparing for the Pac-12 Tournament
"Itโs been a long time since weโve won a game, but these guys come to practice prepared and ready to compete."
Washington forward Noah Dickerson
overall statement
"I think I really had a strong game today. I scored often down low and my jumper was falling. I felt like I really rebounded well on the defensive and offensive end."
on the tough season
"We just have to keep doing what weโve been doing. We want to finish the season strong. Also, at the PAC-12 Tournament we want to have a strong showing."
on preparing for their next game at USC
"Their squad is really long and athletic and they bait passes. They also do a back-tip really well, so we have to be ready. They are long and athletic and they can get in our passing lanes."