Courtesy Florida Sports Information
Head Coach Todd Golden
Opening statement
“Just another really good effort by our group. Really happy with the final result. I thought the first half was a little up and down. Just when you have some guys that are out and you’re trying to get some guys back into the lineup and deal with rotations, you know, I didn’t think I did a great job in the first half getting guys comfortable. But I thought in the second half we played a little harder. I thought our energy and our effort was a little better. Denzel [Aberdeen] got us off to a great start in the second half, but collectively we just played much better. We were able to get that lead up to 25 [points] with about six minutes to go and just really play some high-level basketball. So, overall, really pleased with the victory tonight and excited to get back after it tomorrow and get ready for Tuesday.”
On the impact of Denzel Aberdeen and Thomas Haugh while shorthanded
“They’ve been incredible, you know. I think one of the biggest strengths of our team is our depth, and we’ve talked about them a lot over the course of the season, as up until Vanderbilt we had been able to start the same group every game, that those two guys specifically were starter level players. They just weren’t in the starting lineup, but there were some games where Denzel finished for us. There were a lot of games where Tommy’s [Haugh] finishing games for us. It just so happens that’s the way our rotation worked out and obviously things have been going pretty good, so we didn’t want to do too much to change that. But over the last four games, dating back to Vanderbilt, we haven’t been 100 percent healthy in terms of our roster, and it’s just been great to see other guys step up when given the opportunity. It’s one thing to get your number called, it’s another to be ready to take advantage of that opportunity when you do. And to a man I think our guys, from Denzel, to Tommy, Urbie [Klavzar] and Micah [Handlogten] tonight, they stepped up and gave us great minutes to help us win.”
On the emotions of Micah Handlogten being able to check into the game
“Obviously it’s been difficult not having him out there playing, but he’s been an elite teammate all the way. And you know, we talk about Tommy’s unselfishness, how about Micah’s unselfishness, right? Like, it could be very easy for him to say, ‘You know, I only got this many games left, I don’t want to waste it.’ And he’s like, ‘Dude, I have a chance to go play with my buddies and compete to go try to win a lot of games down the stretch.’ And it’s been a long journey for him, obviously, and all of us, but him specifically. He’s living it. And I just can’t imagine how joyful he feels to be able to go out there and play 20 minutes tonight and got a bucket. A nice little and-1. He had five assists, one turnover, two blocks and two steals, he was impactful. He made winning plays, and it’s great to have him back out there.”
Junior G Denzel Aberdeen
On having his second straight 20-point game
“Just being ready when my name is called. It felt good in warmups today and my teammates put me in great position, hitting me with wide open shots and all I just had to do was knock it down.”
Junior C Micah Handlogten
On how it felt to get back out there
“I mean, it felt really good. Definitely a little bit out of shape, I got kind of tired, but I’m just glad we could go out there and get the dub. That’s what we came here for, that’s why I came back. I wanted to win, we got it today.”
Sophomore F Thomas Haugh
On where his confidence level is right now
“I feel pretty confident, but that’s just credit to the coaches, you know. They believed in me this whole summer. Last year, too, playing me while I was a freshman and stuff like that, so I just finally started to get more confidence this season.”
Head Coach Todd Golden
Opening statement
“Just another really good effort by our group. Really happy with the final result. I thought the first half was a little up and down. Just when you have some guys that are out and you’re trying to get some guys back into the lineup and deal with rotations, you know, I didn’t think I did a great job in the first half getting guys comfortable. But I thought in the second half we played a little harder. I thought our energy and our effort was a little better. Denzel [Aberdeen] got us off to a great start in the second half, but collectively we just played much better. We were able to get that lead up to 25 [points] with about six minutes to go and just really play some high-level basketball. So, overall, really pleased with the victory tonight and excited to get back after it tomorrow and get ready for Tuesday.”
On the impact of Denzel Aberdeen and Thomas Haugh while shorthanded
“They’ve been incredible, you know. I think one of the biggest strengths of our team is our depth, and we’ve talked about them a lot over the course of the season, as up until Vanderbilt we had been able to start the same group every game, that those two guys specifically were starter level players. They just weren’t in the starting lineup, but there were some games where Denzel finished for us. There were a lot of games where Tommy’s [Haugh] finishing games for us. It just so happens that’s the way our rotation worked out and obviously things have been going pretty good, so we didn’t want to do too much to change that. But over the last four games, dating back to Vanderbilt, we haven’t been 100 percent healthy in terms of our roster, and it’s just been great to see other guys step up when given the opportunity. It’s one thing to get your number called, it’s another to be ready to take advantage of that opportunity when you do. And to a man I think our guys, from Denzel, to Tommy, Urbie [Klavzar] and Micah [Handlogten] tonight, they stepped up and gave us great minutes to help us win.”
On the emotions of Micah Handlogten being able to check into the game
“Obviously it’s been difficult not having him out there playing, but he’s been an elite teammate all the way. And you know, we talk about Tommy’s unselfishness, how about Micah’s unselfishness, right? Like, it could be very easy for him to say, ‘You know, I only got this many games left, I don’t want to waste it.’ And he’s like, ‘Dude, I have a chance to go play with my buddies and compete to go try to win a lot of games down the stretch.’ And it’s been a long journey for him, obviously, and all of us, but him specifically. He’s living it. And I just can’t imagine how joyful he feels to be able to go out there and play 20 minutes tonight and got a bucket. A nice little and-1. He had five assists, one turnover, two blocks and two steals, he was impactful. He made winning plays, and it’s great to have him back out there.”
Junior G Denzel Aberdeen
On having his second straight 20-point game
“Just being ready when my name is called. It felt good in warmups today and my teammates put me in great position, hitting me with wide open shots and all I just had to do was knock it down.”
Junior C Micah Handlogten
On how it felt to get back out there
“I mean, it felt really good. Definitely a little bit out of shape, I got kind of tired, but I’m just glad we could go out there and get the dub. That’s what we came here for, that’s why I came back. I wanted to win, we got it today.”
Sophomore F Thomas Haugh
On where his confidence level is right now
“I feel pretty confident, but that’s just credit to the coaches, you know. They believed in me this whole summer. Last year, too, playing me while I was a freshman and stuff like that, so I just finally started to get more confidence this season.”