University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes - UCLA 75, CSU Bakersfield 66
UCLA 75, CSU Bakersfield 66
Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion)
November 29, 2017
UCLA head coach Steve Alford
opening remarks
โIt was pretty ugly offensively for us tonight. 2-for-17 from three tonight and the only ones we hit were from our two bigs so thatโs unusual for us. I told the team that we showed growth defensively. Coming back from Kansas City that was probably our glaring weakness and that shouldnโt be because we should not be bad defensively. We guarded UC Irvine well and I thought we guarded well again tonight. We held them to 29 percent shooting so we did a lot of good things tonight on a day which is by far, in seven games, the worst weโve played offensively. I have to give Bakersfield credit. They are extremely well coached. I have so much respect for coach [Rod] Barnes and he does just a terrific job. It was good to play them because it was the first team where we had to play against pressure. Whether it be pressing or what we call man-oriented defense which is just all up in you. We didnโt see that from Creighton, Georgia Tech or Wisconsin. No one else we have played was able to pressure on us like them. We got a lot from this offensively that we will learn from them. But Iโm very pleased with the way we play defensively because we won the game because of that and thatโs the brightest part.โ
on more ball movement in the second half
โWe talked at the second media timeout that we did not have an assist until the second media timeout. So we played eight minutes with no assists and thatโs just not who we are. I think it was playing against that pressure because they were in us and denying the ball and we havenโt played against that. So itโll be really good for our guys to see that on tape on how the ball really got stuck. This was a game where the ball really stuck. We talked about it at halftime. We were much better in the second half of moving the ball and got most of our assists in the second half. We shot it a lot better in the second half than we did in the first half. We had some little bouts of turnovers that we donโt normally do against the press but this is really the first team that pressed us like that. But this will be a learning experience from an offensive standpoint. The other thing that I really liked is that I think three weeks ago we lose this game because so much of what our defensive was about three weeks ago was how we were doing offensively. And tonight, for how bad we were doing offensively at times, our defense was consistently pretty good. And thatโs a positive thatโs growth defensively.โ
on 3-point shooting
โI think we ended up just missing a lot of them. We hit one off the side of the backboard and I think we air balled one or two. Iโll have to look at the tape to see how many of them were contested. We got to the free throw line again so I thought we did a good job of that. We donโt want to get into the habit of losing the 3-point game 10-2. If thereโs a glaring stat that is a negative that would be it.โ
on points in the paint
โThatโs something that this team has to continue to do is attack the paint. I think we can be a good driving team, I think we can be a good team in transition and getting to the rim and we have good bigs who can post and finish inside. They did a very good job of taking Thomas [Welsh] out as I donโt think he had a shot through the first part of the game. Thatโs not a trend we want. The more the ball can go inside out, that will our shooting. I think in the second half we ran the floor a lot harder and got to our spots in transition. We werenโt jogging, but we didnโt get to our spots in transition or get into our lanes in the first half.โ
on Prince Ali staying in starting lineup
โJaylen [Hands] hadnโt practiced at all. We found out late Tuesday that he was available and cleared by the doctors. He was day-to-day so for most of Tuesday it was a no until late that night it became a yes. He didnโt practice either Monday or Tuesday after our Sunday game. As far as the starting situation, it could fluctuate all year long. Itโs going to be something that depends on how the team is playing more than anything else. I thought Prince did not have one of his best games tonight but he did some good things that helped us.โ
UCLA freshman guard Kris Wilkes
on improving ball movement in second half
โBeginning of the first half, we just didnโt swing the ball enough. You see we didnโt have assists until the last 10 minutes or so, I think. The second half, we got more focused and swung it more, got more assists and I think that helped out a lot.โ
on if CSU Bakersfield did anything specific defensively
โI think we just couldnโt knock down shots. I think we forced it too many times because they were up in us. They made us want to go to the right more, shoot more threes and contested stuff. Really, I think our defense helped us out in the first half a lot and so we stuck with it.โ
UCLA junior guard Aaron Holiday
on ball movement
โWe just needed to settle in, which we did toward the end of the first half when we started moving the ball in. It obviously wasnโt an assist because we didnโt pass the ball well in the first half and we got it going in the second half.โ
on cold shooting from three
โFor me, personally, it was just an off night, I guess. I got open shots and shots I wanted, just couldnโt make them. We canโt let that affect how we play defense and obviously other things on offense, which is get to the basket, cutting and all that. It doesnโt really matter, though. Itโs going to be alright.โ
on preparing for Detroit Mercy
โWe expect ourselves to come out and play, just like any other game. We obviously like to run and if they like to run, weโll obviously have a very quick game. Weโre just going to come out and play our game and just see what happens.โ
UCLA senior center Thomas Welsh
on ball movement
โIt was huge. When the ballโs moving, you get good looks, you get good shots from everybody. Thatโs the thing. You canโt let the ball stick on offense. When weโre starting to find people, we get good looks, get good shots and good things happen for us.โ
on defense picking up for offense
โI think thatโs a huge key [because] some nights, shots arenโt going to fall. We were 2-for-17 from three, I think. Thatโs not what you want, but itโs great when you can still win and shots arenโt falling like that. Thatโs going to be a big point for us going forward as we continue to improve. Iโm just really happy with the way we played defense tonight.โ
on his role in the offense
โI just try to get every rebound I can offensively and defensively because I know itโll finish a stop for us or get a good look for us on the offensive end. Iโm just trying to be aggressive. Iโm just trying to play hard and give it everything Iโve got every game and thatโs just what Iโm focusing on going in.โ
CSU Bakersfield head coach Rod Barnes
opening statement
โThis has been hard after a two-week road trip, but Iโm really happy with our heart and effort.ย These guys really gave a valid effort and made us really proud.ย We just tried to make some adjustments and play as well as we could.โ
on controlling the tempo
โThey came out like they were supposed to and they hit some shots.ย We came out like we were supposed to as well, but we missed some shots.โ
on 3-point shooting between halves
โIt really wasnโt different.ย We really got better, but we missed some shots.ย We might have gotten tired, but weโre not a program to make excuses.ย Weโll come back to the gym and figure it out.โ
on where team goes from here
โUCLA is very talented team and they really caused problems at the rim.ย Not only were their centers tall, but their wings are also long and I believe it disrupted our offense.ย They are a very offensive team, but like I said, we felt good because we controlled the tempo in the first half.ย If we have a game thatโs in the seventies, we would have had a chance to win. Thereโs no way we can run and score with them in the eighties.ย I expected a run when they came out in the second half because of their talent.ย It really got too much ahead of us and it was hard to catch up.โ
CSU Bakersfield redshirt junior guard Damiyne Durham
opening statement
โThere is really no moral victory here.ย Iโm really happy about how we played, but it wasnโt good enough.ย I really have to hit more shots and get more people involved.ย I also have to get to the line more.โ
on Jarkel Joinerโs performance
โThatโs my guy.ย I really want to roll with him and I have a lot of confidence in him.โ
on UCLAโs length
โTheyโre definitely longer than weโre used to playing, but we were ready to roll with them.ย We just have to get ready to work.ย Iโm ready to work, but itโs also feels good to go home after this road trip.โ