Postgame Quotes – UCLA 74, Pepperdine 63
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 74, Pepperdine 63
Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial)
November 7, 2025
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
opening statement
“I felt we got a lot better tonight, thanks to Pepperdine. They got some big strong guys who are well coached. It was good to get Eric Dailey back out there. Obviously, it goes without saying that Xavier Booker is the MVP of the game. Our guards are a lot better than they played tonight. I don’t worry about their talent level. I'm really happy to see the way Xavier Booker played. I know he's got it in him but he's just got to keep building up his stamina and turn up his motor. “
on Xavier Booker’s performance
“He was the biggest factor in the game and everybody in the arena will tell you that.”
on subbing out Tyler Bilodeau, 30 seconds into the game
“He fouled, so it was strategic. I didn’t want him to get a second foul. I wanted to pick up our intensity defensively, and I told him [Bilodeau] not to do it, and I knew he was going to do it. Tyler doesn’t have a filter, he just goes one way. He means well and is a great kid. It was a complete strategy, if he gets a foul at 19:30, then I leave him, he gets a foul at 17:00, so now he's out the rest of the half.”
on Eric Dailey Jr.’s return to the lineup
“Just having him out there with his presence and attitude, he brings out a lot. You got to have a guy that shows up every day with a smile, a love for the game, and practices hard. He goes full speed and lifts everybody around him. We’ve missed him for that reason. I knew I played him more minutes then I wanted to, so that's the reason he didn't play late. It was great having him back. Are you kidding me?”
on Eric Dailey Jr.’s athleticism and position change
“Yes, with his toughness and size. Look how strong he is. The other piece of it is, you have to remember he is playing the three this year, and he’s been out for a month, so he hasn’t been able to have live practice at that position. It’s still going to be a work in progress for him. When they went zone today, he hadn’t played the wing in our zone offense other than a walk through today. He’s going to get better as time goes on and he gets minutes. With the position switch for him, it's a tough spot for him to miss this October.”
on Trent Perry’s production
“He’s getting better with him, letting the game come to him. Playing off his shot and shot fake, making the easy pass, and he’s getting better defensively. He’s getting better everyday and that’s why I did not want him to transfer. He belongs here and is a UCLA student who could have got in here without athletics. He belongs here from a student standpoint. He’s a great player from around here. If anyone belongs here on this team, that represents what UCLA is about academically and the kind of person he is then it's him [Trent].”
on Xavier Booker’s effort
“I’ve learned he’s extremely intelligent and I’m not talking about books, I'm talking about basketball. He’s also got a huge advantage, he played two years under Tom Izzo. He was getting taught by a Hall of Fame coach.”
UCLA junior forward Eric Dailey Jr.
on returning from his injury
“It’s fun. I mean, I’m glad to be back in Pauley. The fans were rocking tonight. It’s good to have a crowd like that, to get us going early in the season, especially. But it’s good to be back with my team. I was gone for a little minute, but I just thank God honestly, thank God that I get to play with these guys. We have a good offseason when it comes to recruiting. We got guys like Xavier Booker with us. We’ve just been putting it all together and it’s been fun. It’s been fun watching, and now that I’m back out there it’s been fun playing.”
on transitioning to the three position
“It hasn’t been too bad, honestly. It’s definitely just tough not playing basketball, like I’ve been on the side, like, cheering the guys on, but being out there and running through the actions and, you know, competing at that position, I mean, obviously if you take some time off, you’re going to be a little rusty. But I mean tonight, it’s basketball at the end of the day. Like, I’m a hooper. So, I can go out there, play, and figure out my spots, and defensively, like if I go out there and play with a lot of energy, it doesn’t matter what I do offensively. Like I don’t even know what I did offensively tonight. I just play defense and play hard. So, the transition hasn’t been too hard for me, honestly. I know the game of basketball; coach is teaching me a lot of things. And there’s a lot of examples of threes that you can watch. So, it’s been a smooth transition for me.”
on Coach Cronin’s response after Monday’s game
“Yeah, we just stressed deflections. We’re a defensive school, we’ve got a defensive coach. We need deflections, we need stops, we need rebounds. This is what we’ve been stressing in practice, and I’m kind of jealous that [Xavier Booker] got 12 deflections because I was trying to go out there and get that too. But that just shows how competitive we are as a team. I mean, everybody’s trying to beat each other. As long as we keep that defensive mindset, that defensive focus, we’re going to be all right.”
on how many deflections he registered
“I had five tonight. But [Booker] was getting them blocks. That’s what we need. That’s fine. As long as we win the game, I really don’t care.”
on having four Bruins score in double-figures
“When it comes to, like, the type of players we’ve got, it’s like, one of those teams that like anybody can go off any night, which is fun. You don’t need one player to average 20. You can have five players average in double-figures. Like, that’s even better, honestly. Everybody is so versatile on this team, like Book [Xavier Booker] is offensively gifted and defensively gifted. Skyy [Clark] both. Donny [Dent], he’s a juggernaut on offense. Everybody’s just so dynamic, and when we put it all together, it’s like a super team almost. And we’re older, which is good. We’ve got players that have experience college and then do things and know how to fight through adversity. And, if we just keep this, how we are right now, and just keep building on it, it’s only going to get better, and by the time we hit conference, but it’s up.”
on the difference in transition offense from last season to this season
“I think we’re just getting out on the break faster. I mean, he’s [Coach Cronin] not really slowing us down. He’s telling us to go. Like, if I get the rebound, I’m going. Even if he [Xavier Booker] get the rebound, like, take a dribble, look up, see who’s ahead, let’s go. It makes our pace faster, it makes us harder to guard I think. When you play faster you’re going to get more buckets, so we’re going to score more like that. Overall, when you play faster as a team, the defense has to think faster, and we’re not really giving defenses time to think when people are, you know, running back.”
on if he thinks Donovan Dent has changed UCLA’s ability to play faster
“I mean, yeah – when you get an All-American point guard, it obviously makes the game easier for everybody. But it’s really like what Coach is saying. We’re just following his lead. He wanted to play faster, so that’s what he did. He constructed a team that can play fast, and, you know, we’re doing it.”
UCLA junior center Xavier Booker
on what went into his performance tonight
“Yeah, I mean just kind of reflecting off of the game on Monday, watching the film, just seeing things that I could’ve did better. Obviously, defense is one of those things, and coach got on us about that, so I took it a little personal, and I mean, I just went out today being more active on defense today, kind of anticipating everything, and that played a big factor in today’s game.”
on the collective defensive effort from the team
“I mean, like I said, just being more active. I mean there are a lot of opportunities, especially on one day where I could’ve had blocked shots that I’d just be more active on, and like I said, I just watched the film, kind of reflected on it, and kind of thought about things I could’ve did better, and obviously I did today.”
on his 12 deflections
“I mean, yeah – I honestly wasn’t even thinking about it today. I was just going out, like I said just being active on defense, especially when the guys are taking the ball out of bounds, getting some tip outs. So, I mean, like I said, I wasn’t thinking about it too much, just being more active on defense today was my main focus.”
on the most fun part about transitioning teams
“I mean, I’ve enjoyed everything of it. I mean, it definitely hasn’t been easy. It’s been a grand, especially the whole summer just getting better, but, I mean, I’ve definitely enjoyed the whole process. I can’t really think of one thing that I’ve enjoyed the most, just really the whole process of it. I mean, in life you’re going to go through hardships, you know, that’s what life’s all about. Being able to fight through things, you just fight adversity and just get better.
Pepperdine head coach Ed Schilling
opening statement
“For us, obviously, this is a great challenge and dream for some of these guys to play here against UCLA. I’m very pleased that we played hard and that we were competitive. We knew that they [UCLA] would bring it, especially after their last contest. This is a big step for us and this program.”
on which players stood out tonight
“I think Cooley [Javon] and Aaron Clark did some great things out there. They’re two returners who were in the program last year, but they did not play because they were hurt.”
on how they build on this contest
“If we execute like we did today, we can do that against the best. I really feel that if we can do that, we would be in there with anybody. UCLA is a standard in terms of playing hard and competing. Mick does a great job of getting his guys to play hard. To be in there and compete lets us know that if we can bring it, we can do it against the best.”
UCLA 74, Pepperdine 63
Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial)
November 7, 2025
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
opening statement
“I felt we got a lot better tonight, thanks to Pepperdine. They got some big strong guys who are well coached. It was good to get Eric Dailey back out there. Obviously, it goes without saying that Xavier Booker is the MVP of the game. Our guards are a lot better than they played tonight. I don’t worry about their talent level. I'm really happy to see the way Xavier Booker played. I know he's got it in him but he's just got to keep building up his stamina and turn up his motor. “
on Xavier Booker’s performance
“He was the biggest factor in the game and everybody in the arena will tell you that.”
on subbing out Tyler Bilodeau, 30 seconds into the game
“He fouled, so it was strategic. I didn’t want him to get a second foul. I wanted to pick up our intensity defensively, and I told him [Bilodeau] not to do it, and I knew he was going to do it. Tyler doesn’t have a filter, he just goes one way. He means well and is a great kid. It was a complete strategy, if he gets a foul at 19:30, then I leave him, he gets a foul at 17:00, so now he's out the rest of the half.”
on Eric Dailey Jr.’s return to the lineup
“Just having him out there with his presence and attitude, he brings out a lot. You got to have a guy that shows up every day with a smile, a love for the game, and practices hard. He goes full speed and lifts everybody around him. We’ve missed him for that reason. I knew I played him more minutes then I wanted to, so that's the reason he didn't play late. It was great having him back. Are you kidding me?”
on Eric Dailey Jr.’s athleticism and position change
“Yes, with his toughness and size. Look how strong he is. The other piece of it is, you have to remember he is playing the three this year, and he’s been out for a month, so he hasn’t been able to have live practice at that position. It’s still going to be a work in progress for him. When they went zone today, he hadn’t played the wing in our zone offense other than a walk through today. He’s going to get better as time goes on and he gets minutes. With the position switch for him, it's a tough spot for him to miss this October.”
on Trent Perry’s production
“He’s getting better with him, letting the game come to him. Playing off his shot and shot fake, making the easy pass, and he’s getting better defensively. He’s getting better everyday and that’s why I did not want him to transfer. He belongs here and is a UCLA student who could have got in here without athletics. He belongs here from a student standpoint. He’s a great player from around here. If anyone belongs here on this team, that represents what UCLA is about academically and the kind of person he is then it's him [Trent].”
on Xavier Booker’s effort
“I’ve learned he’s extremely intelligent and I’m not talking about books, I'm talking about basketball. He’s also got a huge advantage, he played two years under Tom Izzo. He was getting taught by a Hall of Fame coach.”
UCLA junior forward Eric Dailey Jr.
on returning from his injury
“It’s fun. I mean, I’m glad to be back in Pauley. The fans were rocking tonight. It’s good to have a crowd like that, to get us going early in the season, especially. But it’s good to be back with my team. I was gone for a little minute, but I just thank God honestly, thank God that I get to play with these guys. We have a good offseason when it comes to recruiting. We got guys like Xavier Booker with us. We’ve just been putting it all together and it’s been fun. It’s been fun watching, and now that I’m back out there it’s been fun playing.”
on transitioning to the three position
“It hasn’t been too bad, honestly. It’s definitely just tough not playing basketball, like I’ve been on the side, like, cheering the guys on, but being out there and running through the actions and, you know, competing at that position, I mean, obviously if you take some time off, you’re going to be a little rusty. But I mean tonight, it’s basketball at the end of the day. Like, I’m a hooper. So, I can go out there, play, and figure out my spots, and defensively, like if I go out there and play with a lot of energy, it doesn’t matter what I do offensively. Like I don’t even know what I did offensively tonight. I just play defense and play hard. So, the transition hasn’t been too hard for me, honestly. I know the game of basketball; coach is teaching me a lot of things. And there’s a lot of examples of threes that you can watch. So, it’s been a smooth transition for me.”
on Coach Cronin’s response after Monday’s game
“Yeah, we just stressed deflections. We’re a defensive school, we’ve got a defensive coach. We need deflections, we need stops, we need rebounds. This is what we’ve been stressing in practice, and I’m kind of jealous that [Xavier Booker] got 12 deflections because I was trying to go out there and get that too. But that just shows how competitive we are as a team. I mean, everybody’s trying to beat each other. As long as we keep that defensive mindset, that defensive focus, we’re going to be all right.”
on how many deflections he registered
“I had five tonight. But [Booker] was getting them blocks. That’s what we need. That’s fine. As long as we win the game, I really don’t care.”
on having four Bruins score in double-figures
“When it comes to, like, the type of players we’ve got, it’s like, one of those teams that like anybody can go off any night, which is fun. You don’t need one player to average 20. You can have five players average in double-figures. Like, that’s even better, honestly. Everybody is so versatile on this team, like Book [Xavier Booker] is offensively gifted and defensively gifted. Skyy [Clark] both. Donny [Dent], he’s a juggernaut on offense. Everybody’s just so dynamic, and when we put it all together, it’s like a super team almost. And we’re older, which is good. We’ve got players that have experience college and then do things and know how to fight through adversity. And, if we just keep this, how we are right now, and just keep building on it, it’s only going to get better, and by the time we hit conference, but it’s up.”
on the difference in transition offense from last season to this season
“I think we’re just getting out on the break faster. I mean, he’s [Coach Cronin] not really slowing us down. He’s telling us to go. Like, if I get the rebound, I’m going. Even if he [Xavier Booker] get the rebound, like, take a dribble, look up, see who’s ahead, let’s go. It makes our pace faster, it makes us harder to guard I think. When you play faster you’re going to get more buckets, so we’re going to score more like that. Overall, when you play faster as a team, the defense has to think faster, and we’re not really giving defenses time to think when people are, you know, running back.”
on if he thinks Donovan Dent has changed UCLA’s ability to play faster
“I mean, yeah – when you get an All-American point guard, it obviously makes the game easier for everybody. But it’s really like what Coach is saying. We’re just following his lead. He wanted to play faster, so that’s what he did. He constructed a team that can play fast, and, you know, we’re doing it.”
UCLA junior center Xavier Booker
on what went into his performance tonight
“Yeah, I mean just kind of reflecting off of the game on Monday, watching the film, just seeing things that I could’ve did better. Obviously, defense is one of those things, and coach got on us about that, so I took it a little personal, and I mean, I just went out today being more active on defense today, kind of anticipating everything, and that played a big factor in today’s game.”
on the collective defensive effort from the team
“I mean, like I said, just being more active. I mean there are a lot of opportunities, especially on one day where I could’ve had blocked shots that I’d just be more active on, and like I said, I just watched the film, kind of reflected on it, and kind of thought about things I could’ve did better, and obviously I did today.”
on his 12 deflections
“I mean, yeah – I honestly wasn’t even thinking about it today. I was just going out, like I said just being active on defense, especially when the guys are taking the ball out of bounds, getting some tip outs. So, I mean, like I said, I wasn’t thinking about it too much, just being more active on defense today was my main focus.”
on the most fun part about transitioning teams
“I mean, I’ve enjoyed everything of it. I mean, it definitely hasn’t been easy. It’s been a grand, especially the whole summer just getting better, but, I mean, I’ve definitely enjoyed the whole process. I can’t really think of one thing that I’ve enjoyed the most, just really the whole process of it. I mean, in life you’re going to go through hardships, you know, that’s what life’s all about. Being able to fight through things, you just fight adversity and just get better.
Pepperdine head coach Ed Schilling
opening statement
“For us, obviously, this is a great challenge and dream for some of these guys to play here against UCLA. I’m very pleased that we played hard and that we were competitive. We knew that they [UCLA] would bring it, especially after their last contest. This is a big step for us and this program.”
on which players stood out tonight
“I think Cooley [Javon] and Aaron Clark did some great things out there. They’re two returners who were in the program last year, but they did not play because they were hurt.”
on how they build on this contest
“If we execute like we did today, we can do that against the best. I really feel that if we can do that, we would be in there with anybody. UCLA is a standard in terms of playing hard and competing. Mick does a great job of getting his guys to play hard. To be in there and compete lets us know that if we can bring it, we can do it against the best.”