California Head Coach Cuonzo Martin

Opening Statement:
“Good game. A lot of energy and a lot of emotions in that game against a team that can really score the ball. I think that was my biggest concern going into the game — how well they shot the ball. They went into today shooting nearly 49 percent in their last four games. They had two guys shooting over 50 percent from three in the last four games and one of them wasn't (Bryce) Alford, so that means they're really shooting the ball well as a team. But I thought our guys did a great job defending that 3-point line. I still remember vividly the two threes Alford made. I think that was more breakdowns on us. But we wanted to make sure he had to make plays and (Isaac) Hamilton had to make plays. We couldn't allow those guys to just beat you. Make it tough on those guys and make someone else beat you. (Aaron) Holliday had a good game but we we're willing to give up some. We didn't want those key guys dominating the game. So good team win.”

On the team's outlook going into the final home game:
“They'll approach it as a game to play hard. We talk about enjoying (this) win and but when 3:00 p.m. hits, we're on to the next game. My job is to control what I can control and as far as the emotion and take care of the task at hand. There's stuff we can look at on film, so I'll make sure they won't come in with their chest out and humble them really quick once we put that video in. So that part will take care of (itself). But they want to be good and they understand what it means and what it takes to play well. They want to be a successful team. But I can't control what they read, because they get information from the TV and their phones and I can't control that. But my job is to make sure they understand the task at hand. And the most important thing is winning the basketball game and protecting our home court. And whatever happens after that — history is what it is. But we have to make sure we protect our home court.”

On how important Jabari Bird's emergence has been during the winning streak:
“It's been great. But again I'm so happy for him as a coach, because he puts the work in. He doesn't complain. He puts a tremendous amount of hours and work into his game. And he's one of the best team guys I've ever been around. So when you have success your happy as a coach, because you know what it means. You know the work he's put into it. But it takes us to another level, because he's an elite shooter and when he's shooting the ball like that, it means Jaylen (Brown) can do what he needs to do. It means Ivan (Rabb) and Tyrone (Wallace) can do what they need to do. When you go into a game everyone is good but its hard to guard Tyrone and Jaylen one-on-one off the dribble especially when you have guys making shots. And Jabari is shooting at a high level.”

California Players

Jabari Bird

On a possible undefeated season at home
“It would be historical. No Cal team has done that here for a long time and it would definitely be big for us to get that done in front of a home crowd.  So hopefully we can handle a good USC team coming in this weekend.”

On the current win streak
“We're making shots and playing better defense. I think we're just coming together as a team. We're growing and we're getting used to getting the ball on the court. I think we're starting to hit our stride going into March.”

Jaylen Brown

On his outside shots
“My teammates found me in the right positions. I've been working really hard trying to improve the consistency of my jump shots putting hours and hours in just trying to tighten up before the tournament. Just trying to be as good as I can be. I feel really comfortable shooting the jump shot and if I'm open, I'll take it.”

On his Bill Walton pregame talk
“He gives the best motivational speeches I've ever heard. He just got me so pumped up for this game. I think coming out I scored like eight in a row. It's all Bill Walton right there.”

UCLA Head Coach Steve Alford

On the game
“I thought the effort was great. I liked the way the guys went about the game plan, and I really liked our effort defensively in the second half. We didn't start the game or the second half defensively as we would have liked, but otherwise, I believe we played a good defensive game. That is a good defensive team. They really make it hard on you and I thought we were able to find a good flow in the second half. But when you shoot 40 percent from the field, 22 percent from the three and 47 percent from the line, it's really hard to win a road game, especially against this team with their ability. I appreciate our guy's effort to not turn the ball over and we really gave ourselves a chance to win, but we just didn't make shots.”

On the first five minutes of each half
“To start the game, those first five minutes were full of missed shots and missed looks. The second half had a really weird start to it. We had a 10-minute delay due to clock issues, and then we thought we had a shot clock violation, which ended up with two points for them. So the issue really was with the disruptive flow of those first few minutes. The first half definitely was more obviously a shooting issue, and the second half really had to do with flow.”

On defending Cal
“(Jordan) Mathews and (Jabari) Bird shoot the ball really well, and are definitely very well-rounded. They don't do a whole lot inside; they are very perimeter orientated with Wallace driving the basketball and guys all over the outside always ready to make shots. Jaylen (Brown) can create for anyone whenever he wants, and there is a lot of potency to what they do, but what they do defensively, that's though. Offensively, they have weapons, but it's defensively where they win games.”