Postgame Quotes – UCLA 76, Chaminade 48
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 76, Chaminade 48
Honolulu, Hawaii (at the Allstate Maui Invitational)
Nov. 21, 2023
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
opening statement
“It’s always good to see [Chaminade head coach Eric Bovaird]. They epitomize what is good about college basketball. We were talking before the game. They only get 10 scholarship guys. They are missing three guys due to health issues for various reasons. As the game has evolved, especially the college game, to such a commercial entity on every end it’s just refreshing to see those kids competing the way they do. [Bovaird has] got to deal with this every year. We come once every four years. He’s got to deal with playing three of these type of games every year. He’s doing it. We all got 13 [scholarships] and he’s got 10 scholarships and he’s down guys. It’s refreshing to see the way their kids compete and what they’re all about. My hats off to their kids, their program, Eric and what they stand for, and really all of the kids at that level that are playing the game for the right reasons.”
on if he’s happy with UCLA’s performance despite its 14 turnovers in the first half
“I just wanted to get a win. We’re so young, Ben, I don’t know what I’m going to get from anybody at any given time. We’re still settling in. I know what I’m going to get from Lazar [Stefanovic]. We’re plus 39 in his 31 minutes. But, right now, with the seven freshmen, you just don’t know what you’re going to get. I was up all night watching them. That’s just how I do things. Our preparation, I was concerned. Trap game [and] all that type of stuff. Losing an emotional game yesterday with a young team that’s never been through that. I’ll give you my synopsis of the game. We came out with the right approach and we looked literally unbeatable. Then, our approach changed and we started playing for ourselves instead of our teammates. And then our opponent stepped up their intensity and their help on the paint and we were soft. Very soft with the ball. Our post guys got stripped seven or eight times in the first half. Excuses are for losers. I know this a long time ago when I had a full head of hair and was in better shape – I couldn’t play golf at all, though – but I coached a guy Kenyon Martin. Nobody ever took the ball from him. Ever. Or they would have had no teeth. At some point, you’ve got to have some pride. I just thought we started playing for ourselves instead of each other. This happens to all teams, right? You got a lead and it all goes on. But also credit the other team. Their spirit to come in here every year at this tournament and compete the way they do, it’s something I have a lot of respect for.”
on the team being ranked No. 12 in KenPom’s defensive rankings with seven freshmen
“Well, we got length. We got size. Adem [Bona] is such an elite defensive player. I’m not surprised about that. I’m really not surprised, to be honest with you. I’m going to be really honest. I take it as an insult that people are surprised that our team is going to play hard and play defense. I personally take it like an insult. People thought we shouldn’t be ranked [even] with the recruiting class we had. To me, it’s insulting that people are surprised the way we played last night. I’ve been doing this a long time. It is what it is, though. Nobody cares what I think and I don’t care what they think.”
on the lineup combinations
“Well, obviously [I’m] trying to get guys rest. When you do that as a coach, you mess up the flow of the game. Bill [Self] did it yesterday trying to get guys some rest, and you screw up the whole flow. I’m trying to get guys in there who didn’t play the night before, so it’s kind of your fault as a coach when you do that. Guys want to play more. Well, when you get your chance, you better be ready at gametime. And at practice, you better earn minutes. Young kids don’t come from that. This is a new thing for young kids. They were so much better than the kids they were around that they were given everything. They haven’t had to earn minutes.”
on the quality of UCLA’s games versus Gonzaga, and what he expects on Wednesday
“That’s for you to judge. My job is to try to win. I mean, it would shock me if it wasn’t the same competitive game. It would shock me if it wasn’t. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t compete. I’d be shocked if they didn’t.”
UCLA freshman guard Sebastian Mack
on stopping Chaminade’s momentum and his five steals
“It starts out with the defensive end. Without those steals, we don’t get those buckets. I feel like once I turned it up on the defensive end is when we were able to get on that run.”
on how he feels after playing later last night and at noon today
“It’s fine. I do treatment every day. Shoutout to T-Lesh [trainer Tyler Lesher]. He gets us right before every game. He helped me out a lot, so I’ll be prepared.”
on what kept UCLA motivated after last night’s 71-69 loss to No. 4 Marquette
“Sometimes, you just got to let things go. The ball doesn’t always fall in every time. Today, coach told us, ‘Out with the old, in with the new, pretty much.’ New game today. Just start it off and get that W.”
on if he’s familiar with the recent history between UCLA and Gonzaga
“Yeah, most definitely. I watched those games a lot. It’s a big game, but it starts with us. As a team, listening to coach’s gameplan and going from there. That’s all I’m really worried about.”
on how much playing defense helps keep UCLA in games
“Just listening to what [Cronin] says. He starts everything on the defensive end. We don’t start our run, and even in the beginning in the first seven minutes of the first half, we had to play defense in order to get that lead. I feel like everything just starts on the defensive end for us.”
UCLA 76, Chaminade 48
Honolulu, Hawaii (at the Allstate Maui Invitational)
Nov. 21, 2023
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
opening statement
“It’s always good to see [Chaminade head coach Eric Bovaird]. They epitomize what is good about college basketball. We were talking before the game. They only get 10 scholarship guys. They are missing three guys due to health issues for various reasons. As the game has evolved, especially the college game, to such a commercial entity on every end it’s just refreshing to see those kids competing the way they do. [Bovaird has] got to deal with this every year. We come once every four years. He’s got to deal with playing three of these type of games every year. He’s doing it. We all got 13 [scholarships] and he’s got 10 scholarships and he’s down guys. It’s refreshing to see the way their kids compete and what they’re all about. My hats off to their kids, their program, Eric and what they stand for, and really all of the kids at that level that are playing the game for the right reasons.”
on if he’s happy with UCLA’s performance despite its 14 turnovers in the first half
“I just wanted to get a win. We’re so young, Ben, I don’t know what I’m going to get from anybody at any given time. We’re still settling in. I know what I’m going to get from Lazar [Stefanovic]. We’re plus 39 in his 31 minutes. But, right now, with the seven freshmen, you just don’t know what you’re going to get. I was up all night watching them. That’s just how I do things. Our preparation, I was concerned. Trap game [and] all that type of stuff. Losing an emotional game yesterday with a young team that’s never been through that. I’ll give you my synopsis of the game. We came out with the right approach and we looked literally unbeatable. Then, our approach changed and we started playing for ourselves instead of our teammates. And then our opponent stepped up their intensity and their help on the paint and we were soft. Very soft with the ball. Our post guys got stripped seven or eight times in the first half. Excuses are for losers. I know this a long time ago when I had a full head of hair and was in better shape – I couldn’t play golf at all, though – but I coached a guy Kenyon Martin. Nobody ever took the ball from him. Ever. Or they would have had no teeth. At some point, you’ve got to have some pride. I just thought we started playing for ourselves instead of each other. This happens to all teams, right? You got a lead and it all goes on. But also credit the other team. Their spirit to come in here every year at this tournament and compete the way they do, it’s something I have a lot of respect for.”
on the team being ranked No. 12 in KenPom’s defensive rankings with seven freshmen
“Well, we got length. We got size. Adem [Bona] is such an elite defensive player. I’m not surprised about that. I’m really not surprised, to be honest with you. I’m going to be really honest. I take it as an insult that people are surprised that our team is going to play hard and play defense. I personally take it like an insult. People thought we shouldn’t be ranked [even] with the recruiting class we had. To me, it’s insulting that people are surprised the way we played last night. I’ve been doing this a long time. It is what it is, though. Nobody cares what I think and I don’t care what they think.”
on the lineup combinations
“Well, obviously [I’m] trying to get guys rest. When you do that as a coach, you mess up the flow of the game. Bill [Self] did it yesterday trying to get guys some rest, and you screw up the whole flow. I’m trying to get guys in there who didn’t play the night before, so it’s kind of your fault as a coach when you do that. Guys want to play more. Well, when you get your chance, you better be ready at gametime. And at practice, you better earn minutes. Young kids don’t come from that. This is a new thing for young kids. They were so much better than the kids they were around that they were given everything. They haven’t had to earn minutes.”
on the quality of UCLA’s games versus Gonzaga, and what he expects on Wednesday
“That’s for you to judge. My job is to try to win. I mean, it would shock me if it wasn’t the same competitive game. It would shock me if it wasn’t. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t compete. I’d be shocked if they didn’t.”
UCLA freshman guard Sebastian Mack
on stopping Chaminade’s momentum and his five steals
“It starts out with the defensive end. Without those steals, we don’t get those buckets. I feel like once I turned it up on the defensive end is when we were able to get on that run.”
on how he feels after playing later last night and at noon today
“It’s fine. I do treatment every day. Shoutout to T-Lesh [trainer Tyler Lesher]. He gets us right before every game. He helped me out a lot, so I’ll be prepared.”
on what kept UCLA motivated after last night’s 71-69 loss to No. 4 Marquette
“Sometimes, you just got to let things go. The ball doesn’t always fall in every time. Today, coach told us, ‘Out with the old, in with the new, pretty much.’ New game today. Just start it off and get that W.”
on if he’s familiar with the recent history between UCLA and Gonzaga
“Yeah, most definitely. I watched those games a lot. It’s a big game, but it starts with us. As a team, listening to coach’s gameplan and going from there. That’s all I’m really worried about.”
on how much playing defense helps keep UCLA in games
“Just listening to what [Cronin] says. He starts everything on the defensive end. We don’t start our run, and even in the beginning in the first seven minutes of the first half, we had to play defense in order to get that lead. I feel like everything just starts on the defensive end for us.”