“Well I think the key for us is to just play hard and compete, to play with a level of effort and energy. I think that's our main focus as a team, it doesn't matter who we're playing against. We always try to approach it the same way. A couple things we talk about as a team- we always have to have passion when we play, we have to play together, and have to shove the ball offensively. We talk about these things and it just worked out tonight, but we did a poor job I think in boxing out our guards have to do a better job of getting long rebounds. Overall, I thought we did a solid job.”

On the play of your point guards

“They weren't bad, they have to run the team, they have to direct traffic. I think they did a great job of pushing the transition but sometimes we have to do a better job in areas with decision making in areas where guys are flowing. It has to do a lot with the guys making passes too, to make the right decision, but I thought they did a great job with pushing especially on defense.”

On the pace of the game

“We like to push the ball, we got opportunities to transition- we like to push the ball. But the key is you want to score but you also want to defend the ball at a high level. You want to be able to play on both ends of the floor That's conditioning your body, being able to play a lot of minutes, and ready when your number is called.”

 

Tyrone Wallace, Junior Guard

On focusing on getting to the basket more

“I think I was able to take what the defense was giving me. When I am open and there are shots there then I take it. I think we managed the game well and I think I did a pretty good job of choosing my shots.”

On your performance

“Yeah I was happy to be at the point position. I feel like I did pretty well. I missed some guys on open shots and open rolls but overall I think I did a pretty good job. No turnovers. I would like to see more assists, but it's going to come as the games keep coming.”

On emphasizing getting out in transition

“Our guards are one of our strengths so, whenever we can, Coach wants us to be aggressive and attack. We don't want to get out of control though so, if it's not there, we bring it back out and basically the point guard has to the run team so I have to know when to press it and when to kick ahead to the guards like Jordan [Mathews] and Jabari [Bird] and let them play off of it. I have to know when to pull it out and set up something too.”

 

Jordan Matthews, Sophomore Guard

On your first game with Coach Martin

“It was pretty intense. I feel like it's going to be intense all year. He's very similar to how he is in practice. He's very intense in practice and that intensity carries over to us. He tells us 'if you aren't going 100 percent the whole game you are coming right out.”

On playing with Kingsley Okoroh

“He's young but he has a really good feel. He can really pass. There was this one play where got the offensive rebound tipped it back to Jabari [Bird] for a three. That just shows what type of court awareness he has. I feel like he's going to be really good for us as the season goes on.” 

 

“I felt like in terms our stats, offensively we were really affective, not so much our defense, but our confidence in getting the right shot. I didn't think that we stopped defending, but offensively we started forcing. We started going one-on-one too much and we needed to move the ball, get the ball inside and we got a little bit frustrated and started forcing our shots.”

On what you saw in Cal

“I was really impressed with Coach Martin's team. They were up 20 plus points at some times and I looked over and they were really guarding the entire time. You can tell they are going to be really physical. They can compete. He has them going in the right direction for sure.”

On what you will take away from this game

“Well one, to start the season off against a team like that is great for us. It allows us to see the level that we need to get to, it allows us to see the really good things we did, but also some glaring weaknesses we need to improve. If we are going to be a good team, we have to improve daily, and this is going to help us for the future.”