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Golden, Alexis, and Richard Post Game Comments

Mark Wheeler

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Apr 26, 2023
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Courtesy Florida Sports Information

Head Coach Todd Golden

Opening statement

“Thought our guys did a great job of just attacking this game like it was any other. We talked a lot over the last couple of days about not allowing our last two games to affect how we approach this one. What I mean by that, obviously Arizona State was a game that was easy to get up for, and we played very well. Carolina, another game, really easy to get up for. Played well, finished, found a way to win. A game like this, coming home, the last game before a break, early in the afternoon, everybody getting out of here to go see friends of family after, it's usually tough to get motivated and to maintain focus to come out and play well. I thought our guys did an incredible job of, as I said, treating North Florida with great respect in the way we approach the game. We knew they were very good offensive team and our last couple of days of practice were really good in terms of our intent and the way we approached how we wanted to guard these guys, and our switching worked. I thought we did a great job of limiting their attempts, limiting good shots and limiting second chances. So overall, great effort, a good game to have right before the break and pleased with where we are right now.”

On not allowing this to be a trap game and starting hot

“Not only the start, but just the continuity of the game and the way we played, being up big at halftime and so coming out and out and winning by 17 in the second half. I thought really we probably only had like four or five defensive possessions where we got a little lazy or we didn't execute very well. Again, this team was nerve-wracking to prepare for because they play so perimeter-oriented and they shoot so many threes, they've obviously had two high major wins already this year. The way we play, you worry sometimes about teams going small on you and spreading you out, but all of our frontcourt players did a great job moving their feet. And not only moving their feet and doing a good job switching on the ball screens, but having great alert alertness off the ball and not allowing, once they did switch on a guard, their natural inclination to get back in the paint. They stayed attached and they stayed alert and that allowed us to play really well defensively today.”

On have three players with double-doubles

“I think it's very rare, most likely. Not on a team I've coached. Those guys, the fact that they all did it at right around 20 minutes, too. I think Tommy [Haugh] led us in minutes at 21:49. All the four of those [frontcourt] guys played a ride around 20 and the fact that they were so impactful on the boards and finishing up around the rim to get double figure points was awesome.”

On the offensive rebounding proficiency, whether that was something the coaches expected

“It was definitely an area we thought we would be good. We were definitely concerned, though, after losing Micah [Handlogten] and Tyrese [Samuel]. Both of those guys were very good offensive rebounders. Micah was one of the best in the country last year, definitely top five offensive rebound rate. It's really important to the way we play. We gotta be able to create some second-chance opportunities, with playing a couple bigs out there. So, I wouldn't say I'm surprised, but I'm definitely pleased that we've been able to do it at such a high level so far.”

Junior F Sam Alexis

On the team’s offensive rebounding performance

“I just feel like our coaches always emphasize, attack the glass. They were little, so all the bigs’ mentality was go get the rebound, get second-chance points.”

Senior G Will Richard

On avoiding a letdown today

“That was a big part of coach’s message going into the game, just not to relax. I mean, we know they’re a good team, they’re good offensively, so just making sure we came out here and did what we were supposed to do, to handle business from the start.”

On what was working for him today

“Yeah, just taking the looks they were giving me. I put in a lot of work shooting and just in general, so just taking the looks and being confident in my shot.”