Courtesy Florida Sports Information
Head Coach Todd Golden
Opening statement
“Just thought we did a really good job of taking advantage of another opportunity to play. This was a game where we were projected to win by a lot, and something that we talk to our guys about every day is just taking advantage of the opportunity to play and not playing to the score or playing to what the expectation should be. There were a lot of things that we could’ve done better, but I thought our effort and intent, it was pretty good all day. I thought we guarded really well, especially in the second half, limited them to 18 points. Did a better job on the glass in the second half, too. Took a little bit better care of the ball. Didn’t shoot it very well. I thought we missed some good looks. But again, process over result, and I thought we did a good job, big picture-wise. Now it’s on to conference play. Just really excited to spend the next week preparing for a great opportunity in Lexington next Saturday.”
On what he saw defensively with UF getting a season-high 12 steals
“We’ve continued to play better defensively. Our effort and our energy have been really good. We’ve been disruptive. These last few games, we’ve had a lot of opportunities to switch in ball screens, and our bigs have done a good job keeping guys in front. And then when we are in the situation where they’re trying to isolate or drive off those switches, we’ve done a good job of stripping and ripping, putting pressure, ripping and getting back to our man so they can’t kick it out for threes, which led to some of those live ball turnovers. For us to be a complete team, we knew we had to get a lot better defensively, and I think we are continuing to improve on that end.”
Senior G Walter Clayton Jr.
On the team’s preparedness for conference play
“I feel like we’re prepared, obviously some things that we have to fix up. It’s been a lot of learning through winning. If we continue to learn and not be complacent, I think we’re ready.”
Grad G Alijah Martin
On the defensive improvement this season
“That was something we focused on this offseason, was being better defensively and forcing turnovers. We’re seeing that it’s possible, and that’ll help us going forward.”
Senior G Will Richard
On coming out prepared for this game, maintaining early season momentum
“For us, it’s just not getting content with everything. It’s hard to come back and focus in, but I think we did a great job of coming back in and having the same mentality as the rest of the games leading up to the break. It was important to come out and attack this game the way we did the rest of them.”
Head Coach Todd Golden
Opening statement
“Just thought we did a really good job of taking advantage of another opportunity to play. This was a game where we were projected to win by a lot, and something that we talk to our guys about every day is just taking advantage of the opportunity to play and not playing to the score or playing to what the expectation should be. There were a lot of things that we could’ve done better, but I thought our effort and intent, it was pretty good all day. I thought we guarded really well, especially in the second half, limited them to 18 points. Did a better job on the glass in the second half, too. Took a little bit better care of the ball. Didn’t shoot it very well. I thought we missed some good looks. But again, process over result, and I thought we did a good job, big picture-wise. Now it’s on to conference play. Just really excited to spend the next week preparing for a great opportunity in Lexington next Saturday.”
On what he saw defensively with UF getting a season-high 12 steals
“We’ve continued to play better defensively. Our effort and our energy have been really good. We’ve been disruptive. These last few games, we’ve had a lot of opportunities to switch in ball screens, and our bigs have done a good job keeping guys in front. And then when we are in the situation where they’re trying to isolate or drive off those switches, we’ve done a good job of stripping and ripping, putting pressure, ripping and getting back to our man so they can’t kick it out for threes, which led to some of those live ball turnovers. For us to be a complete team, we knew we had to get a lot better defensively, and I think we are continuing to improve on that end.”
Senior G Walter Clayton Jr.
On the team’s preparedness for conference play
“I feel like we’re prepared, obviously some things that we have to fix up. It’s been a lot of learning through winning. If we continue to learn and not be complacent, I think we’re ready.”
Grad G Alijah Martin
On the defensive improvement this season
“That was something we focused on this offseason, was being better defensively and forcing turnovers. We’re seeing that it’s possible, and that’ll help us going forward.”
Senior G Will Richard
On coming out prepared for this game, maintaining early season momentum
“For us, it’s just not getting content with everything. It’s hard to come back and focus in, but I think we did a great job of coming back in and having the same mentality as the rest of the games leading up to the break. It was important to come out and attack this game the way we did the rest of them.”