CALIFORNIA HEAD COACH CUONZO MARTIN

On the game
“It was a tough one for our guys. We obviously couldn't make enough shots. Their bigs made timely post opportunities, making plays, probing the defense, getting the ball to the rim and making baskets when they needed them. [DaVonte] Lacy didn't have a lot of points, but he did a good job of attacking off the pin down, finding his big guys and getting to the free throw line when the opportunity presented itself and doing just enough for his team to win. I thought [Josh] Hawkinson played a really good game on both ends of the floor. It was a great win for their guys.”

On not doubling the post
“I think with them [Washington State] they have more perimeter guys who can spot up and shoot the ball. Then with [Josh] Hawkinson making shots, I just thought it was tough. I really would like to spend more time doubling the post, but then all of the sudden you're leaving guys open for wide open layups and wide open three point shots, and then it becomes a long night. I don't think we did a great job defending. I didn't think Christian [Behrens] did a great job of defending the post in certain situations. I thought Kingsley [Okoroh] did a solid job making them work and making them take tough shots. But you're also talking about a guy who is probably your fifth option on the offensive side of the ball.”

On Jordan Railey
“I thought he did a good job taking his time and backing down. The thing in the scouting report is not to let him go over the left shoulder. That's where he scored his baskets was over the left shoulder. I saw Christian [Behrens] foul him on what I thought was a good block in the first half and then over the right shoulder. I thought it was good defense.”

On the difference between last game and tonight
“I look at David's [Kravish] numbers, and I've got to watch film to know exactly, but he was 2-of-9 from the field. I don't think it's 2-of-9 where he's just missing wide open shots because I think it was so congested for him and the other big guys. They were not guarding one or two guys on the floor so it was hard to make plays and make moves. A lot of times for him he just passed the ball out or he'd get a shot but it wasn't a clean look because everyone was around him. It's just really hard to gauge…. I think it was just too congested and it didn't flow.”

On creating more options on offense
“We're going to continue to work in practice. I think to those guys' credit, and I think you're talking about Sam [Singer] and Roger [Moute a Bidias], they spent a lot of time in the gym. It's a matter of confidence. We will continue to work on it, but they put the time into it. That part is what it is…. I think the biggest key for those guys… is to get offensive rebounds and to rely on defending, rebounding and playing hard…. The other thing is just driving the ball…. We've got get to the rim to force the referees to make the call…. It's just a matter of getting confidence and making plays.”

CALIFORNIA PLAYERS

Junior Guard Tyrone Wallace
On state of the offense
“We have got to attack the rim aggressively, get to the line, make layups, shoot the ball with confidence – that's how we make them pay.”

On WSU tempo
“At times, I feel we could have gotten out on the break more, but we gave up some offensive rebounds and second chance points. I wouldn't necessarily say [WSU] controlled the tempo. They made plays, and they played well today. They had a great scout and they won.”

On post play
“We knew we had to watch out for [Josh] Hawkinson. He really stepped up for them, and we didn't expect that output from him. Most importantly, we just have to realize where we are getting beat at in games. A lot of teams are throwing the ball in the post and attacking us there. We just have to get better. When us guards aren't defending the perimeter well, getting beat off the dribble, and putting pressure on the bigs, we aren't doing our job. It is a team, so everyone has to do their job and work together. We just have to continue to work at that, continue to get better in the areas we are not as good at and then go from there.”

Sophomore Guard Jordan Mathews
On the game
“Internally, we have to look at why we play well against some teams and not others. It all starts in practice. The demand has to be in practice and everyone needs to be held accountable. We don't believe this should be happening and it can't continue happening. We have to go back to the drawing board and get it in practice.”

On accountability
“If we are in practice and I get backdoored, it can't be a situation where [my teammates say], “That's okay, Jordan.” Tyrone and my teammates have to get on me about that. Things can't be just okay and we can't fall by the wayside, because those things add up – boxing out and offensive rebounds – that carry out the game.”

On aggression
“In terms of aggression, we came out and we were ready to play. I feel like we came out aggressive, but the deeper you get into conference, the more teams are going to scout you. Teams are going to try to take away our sideline action, and we need to do a better job running it. We weren't lackadaisical and we didn't think we had this game won. This is a sport and it happens like this sometimes. We just have to bounce back.”

On overall performance
“I wouldn't say we are discouraged. I'd say we are angry more than anything. Why are we playing this way as opposed to the way we played against Washington. It's one game and we just have to bounce back from it. It's the second game of conference play and we are 1-1. We would rather deal with this now instead of 15 or 16 games in. We will take care of it internally, and go down to LA and take care of business.”

WASHINGTON STATE HEAD COACH ERNIE KENT

On the game
“For the first road win for this program in two years, I thought these guys did a fabulous job. The uncomfortability of being in this situation certainly lost us a couple tough plays down the stretch, but fortunately, we got it done. We talked through the last two or three timeouts and they knew exactly what to do, and we just made some tough plays, and a bad decision was made by a veteran basketball player that hopefully he'll learn from. For this program, to be on the road, and have the first Pac-12 win in conference win on the road is huge, especially after playing so well in the first fifteen minutes a few days ago against Stanford. I am very happy for them because they have worked very hard for us and have done everything we have asked them to do, and you get an amazing opportunity to see these players grow up before your eyes. I don't know how many other people are playing their position as well as Josh Hawkinson. Jordan Railey is really starting to come about, and for him to really want the ball down the stretch and go score the ball is just a huge emotional confidence builder and a growth period for that young man with everything he has been through. It was a great win for us, and hopefully will be a spring board for us.”

On their size differential versus Cal…
“You know, it really wasn't 'let's take advantage of it.' We did it when there were smaller guys on the floor. We wanted to get him (Jordan Railey) the ball. As much as he wants the ball, we are going to give it to him. Even if it costs us the game, that ball is going in there because he needs that confidence. He needs to know we have it in him and that he has it in himself, so this was a huge game for him to grow up in. It wasn't necessarily a game plan, but through the course of the game, he started filling his oats.

On Tyrone Wallace vs. Ike Iroegbu matchup…
“Well, it wasn't necessarily just Ike [Iroegbu] but Ny Redding too. The key job with Tyrone [Wallace] is to keep that middle clogged up. DeVonte Lacy did an incredible job on the help side defense and setting that paint and we took away Tyrone's driving lanes. Ike just had to run him down. Ike needed to work. I don't want to say that's what made him a little brain dead and fatigued at the end of the game but I just thought his energy and his strength gave him an opportunity to play with Tyrone a little bit more.”