TicketsUCF at Cincinnati
Feb. 6, 2018
BB&T Arena
Postgame Quotes
Cincinnati Head Coach Mick Cronin
Opening statement:
"It was a tough night for UCF. We weren't happy with our defensive effort against UConn; (we) gave up too many layups, our rotations were late and they were soft. You have to make two and three rotations – sometimes four – in a possession. We weren't on a string; we were rotating once and that was late. So, we worked hard on it Monday in our practice. We talked a lot about it and our kids did a great job of cutting off driving lanes and then we rotated back out. We were making three or four rotations in a possession, so it was a great night defensively for us. Obviously, it was a tough night for them without making a three-point shot. But, I thought our effort was great. I thought our defense had a lot to do with it."
On Eliel Nsoseme being the first off the bench tonight:
"He deserved it. He has earned it in practice. It's easier for me if I just tell myself he's in first. And the real truth behind that is, I think it was Keith (Williams) or Trevor (Moore) in yesterday's practice, some guys were subbing out and making sure they got rest and 'E' (Eliel) was practicing the whole time. So I turned to Keith or Trevor and said, 'I bet you your scholarship that I put him in first tomorrow' since those guys wanted to sub out and rest. I bet he is the first guy off the bench. They looked at me and I said, 'I wouldn't bet me, because I don't lose a lot'. To send a message to my young guys; I play the guy that plays hard in practice. As a coach, you can't be a lot of talk and a badge, you have do what you say you are going to do. If you see a guy practicing hard and playing hard, you have to give him minutes. That's the same for Keith Williams. Trevor has been doing great for us, but Keith has been really working hard in practice, so that is why he was the first perimeter guy in. We weren't making shots early, but, they both got four offensive rebounds. I thought those guys gave us great energy early in the game."
On different guys taking over the game at different times and if that is a theme for the season:
"Whenever you can win by 37 and Jacob Evans III only scores three points, which shows you the depth of your team and how much you have different guys that can help make plays for you. Jarron Cumberland's involvement from a scorer to a real playmaker, as far as a guy that can score, he can assist and he can rebound. He had nine points on six shots; he only gets six shots tonight, but he had six rebounds and four assists and should have had eight or nine assists if guys could have made some layups or some wide-open shots he got them. The development of the guys that have not started for us is the key to our future and the key to our last seven games (of the season) and our postseason run. I have been saying that all year and I still believe that."
On UC shooting numerous three-point shots despite the absence of 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall:
"Their defensive scheme, they are a 'no paint' team. They draw the charge as well as anybody, so that is going to lend (itself) to a lot of open shots. You have to shoot the ball with confidence, but you have to rebound. We didn't go rebound early until I put Keith (William) and Eliel (Nsoseme) in. Once those two got in, we started getting second shots. We used to play Syracuse in the BIG EAST and they key against Syracuse is second and third shots. You can't just pray you make threes; you have to get second and third opportunities. Their (UCF) man is like a zone because their help is early and often, it's really hard to get to the rim against them and they double-team the low post, so it just lends itself to a lot of open looks. For the most part, I thought we took a lot of good shots. There were probably three or four that I wish our guys would have drove the ball in. The key to playing a team that plays defense that way is to get offensive rebounds because, if not, you are going to lose. You can't make enough three's to win. We scored 77 points, but we only made 10 three's. So, the key for us is the foul line, second and third-chance points and scoring off our defense by getting out on the break. Tonight got away from them, but, since Coach Johnny Dawkins has been there, he has built a culture that is a winning culture because they defend. They have dealt with some injuries and BJ (Taylor) didn't play in the second half, but they are not easy to score on since he became the coach. So, against a team like that, you have to get some transition, some second and third shots and some free throws, because they are just not going to give you layups."
On heading into the game at SMU with a 22-2 record for the second year in a row and what the difference is this year compared to last:
"There is a lot different. Semi Ojeleye is not there. I didn't sleep knowing he was there. They have different personnel. We both are very different teams, but we approach every road game the same: you better expect it is going to be very hard to win on the road. Teams don't quit at home. Their girlfriends are at the game and they are going to do everything they can to get a win in front of their home fans and play well. That is just how we approach it. You have to understand that when you are on the road, it is tough. In all American sports, the numbers don't lie: college basketball is the hardest sport to win on the road. In our sport, 75 percent of the games are won by the home team. That's a real stat over a long period of time. They are a different team. They have changed personnel and they have had injuries. We are a much different team, a deeper team, we play a lot faster and pressure more than we did last year. For us, getting the ball into the basket and then getting into our defensive pressure is a key for us. We have to get it in the basket and you have to get second-chance points to get it in the basket because you can't rely on jump shots on the road."
On if tonight was the best the team has played defensively all year:
"Our defensive numbers tell you the truth. I am a big believer in the KenPom stuff. Points per possession are real. It factors in as much as it can who you are playing against and all that type of stuff, but, if you don't give up layups and free throws, you are hard to score on. It's hard to beat a team if you don't give up layups, points in the paint and free throws. We try to make sure we know who the shooters are, too. You give yourself a chance when you play really hard on the defensive end."
Cincinnati Player Quotes
#3 Justin Jenifer, G
On if a finger injury affected his shooting:
"I'm not really going to make an excuse because of my injury, but I had to get in back in to the gym and get my mechanics working. I think I wasn't being prepared to shoot the ball and I think tonight I showed a little bit of that. But I have more to do, I have a lot more to do."
On UC's improving depth:
"We can get deeper. That makes our team that much deeper with Jacob (Evans) and Jarron (Cumberland) in the game and then when Trevor (Moore) and Keith (Williams) come in and it's just the same thing, same rotation, same intensity, same pace when they get in the game as well. So it makes it that much more deadly."
On if the players on the team take pride in the home-court win streak:
"Of course. This home winning streak started before we even got here so us being in here and continuing it is really special. That's what we're looking forward to all season, keeping our home streak and being undefeated at home."
#5 Trevor Moore, G
On the difference in his play since the beginning of the season:
"Just being confident. I think in the beginning of the season I was kind of iffy, but as the season got going I got more comfortable, and I have good teammates that make me more comfortable in practice and it carries over to the game."
On what it takes to be a more confident player:
"Just getting in the gym and putting up shots and watching the ball go through the hoop. I think that played a really good part. Like I said, my teammates finding me and having that trust in me, to come back to me after I missed a shot or something like that. Having that trust in me to make it the next time."
On what Mick Cronin tells him and Keith Williams about providing a spark off the bench:
"He just tells us to play. Come in and get a couple rebounds or whatever and on offense don't think (too much) about shooting, that's what he told me tonight. So, it's just being ready at all times. He told us what was going to be the case and we just went from there."
On the team's defensive effort against UCF:
"Tonight we probably did the best job of helping off the ball and stuff like that, so I think that played a role in our stops in the beginning of the game. I think we did a really good job tonight."
UCF Head Coach Johnny Dawkins
Opening statement:
"A disappointing loss. Give them a lot of credit. They are a talented team, terrific defensive team. They never allowed us to get into any kind of offensive rhythm all night."
On what Cincinnati was doing defensively against UCF:
"Well, I think they are just very active defensively. You can tell they all know the game plan very well. That's something they take pride in. That's something we take pride in, so I know both sides of it. They did a good job of executing their game plan."
On looking forward to Memphis:
"We have to put this game behind us. We have to learn from the mistakes we made in this game. We have to go in to next game preparing for it, and it's a very big game for us. We have to make sure we come out with the right mindset and come out prepared."
Feb. 6, 2018
BB&T Arena
Postgame Quotes
Cincinnati Head Coach Mick Cronin
Opening statement:
"It was a tough night for UCF. We weren't happy with our defensive effort against UConn; (we) gave up too many layups, our rotations were late and they were soft. You have to make two and three rotations – sometimes four – in a possession. We weren't on a string; we were rotating once and that was late. So, we worked hard on it Monday in our practice. We talked a lot about it and our kids did a great job of cutting off driving lanes and then we rotated back out. We were making three or four rotations in a possession, so it was a great night defensively for us. Obviously, it was a tough night for them without making a three-point shot. But, I thought our effort was great. I thought our defense had a lot to do with it."
On Eliel Nsoseme being the first off the bench tonight:
"He deserved it. He has earned it in practice. It's easier for me if I just tell myself he's in first. And the real truth behind that is, I think it was Keith (Williams) or Trevor (Moore) in yesterday's practice, some guys were subbing out and making sure they got rest and 'E' (Eliel) was practicing the whole time. So I turned to Keith or Trevor and said, 'I bet you your scholarship that I put him in first tomorrow' since those guys wanted to sub out and rest. I bet he is the first guy off the bench. They looked at me and I said, 'I wouldn't bet me, because I don't lose a lot'. To send a message to my young guys; I play the guy that plays hard in practice. As a coach, you can't be a lot of talk and a badge, you have do what you say you are going to do. If you see a guy practicing hard and playing hard, you have to give him minutes. That's the same for Keith Williams. Trevor has been doing great for us, but Keith has been really working hard in practice, so that is why he was the first perimeter guy in. We weren't making shots early, but, they both got four offensive rebounds. I thought those guys gave us great energy early in the game."
On different guys taking over the game at different times and if that is a theme for the season:
"Whenever you can win by 37 and Jacob Evans III only scores three points, which shows you the depth of your team and how much you have different guys that can help make plays for you. Jarron Cumberland's involvement from a scorer to a real playmaker, as far as a guy that can score, he can assist and he can rebound. He had nine points on six shots; he only gets six shots tonight, but he had six rebounds and four assists and should have had eight or nine assists if guys could have made some layups or some wide-open shots he got them. The development of the guys that have not started for us is the key to our future and the key to our last seven games (of the season) and our postseason run. I have been saying that all year and I still believe that."
On UC shooting numerous three-point shots despite the absence of 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall:
"Their defensive scheme, they are a 'no paint' team. They draw the charge as well as anybody, so that is going to lend (itself) to a lot of open shots. You have to shoot the ball with confidence, but you have to rebound. We didn't go rebound early until I put Keith (William) and Eliel (Nsoseme) in. Once those two got in, we started getting second shots. We used to play Syracuse in the BIG EAST and they key against Syracuse is second and third shots. You can't just pray you make threes; you have to get second and third opportunities. Their (UCF) man is like a zone because their help is early and often, it's really hard to get to the rim against them and they double-team the low post, so it just lends itself to a lot of open looks. For the most part, I thought we took a lot of good shots. There were probably three or four that I wish our guys would have drove the ball in. The key to playing a team that plays defense that way is to get offensive rebounds because, if not, you are going to lose. You can't make enough three's to win. We scored 77 points, but we only made 10 three's. So, the key for us is the foul line, second and third-chance points and scoring off our defense by getting out on the break. Tonight got away from them, but, since Coach Johnny Dawkins has been there, he has built a culture that is a winning culture because they defend. They have dealt with some injuries and BJ (Taylor) didn't play in the second half, but they are not easy to score on since he became the coach. So, against a team like that, you have to get some transition, some second and third shots and some free throws, because they are just not going to give you layups."
On heading into the game at SMU with a 22-2 record for the second year in a row and what the difference is this year compared to last:
"There is a lot different. Semi Ojeleye is not there. I didn't sleep knowing he was there. They have different personnel. We both are very different teams, but we approach every road game the same: you better expect it is going to be very hard to win on the road. Teams don't quit at home. Their girlfriends are at the game and they are going to do everything they can to get a win in front of their home fans and play well. That is just how we approach it. You have to understand that when you are on the road, it is tough. In all American sports, the numbers don't lie: college basketball is the hardest sport to win on the road. In our sport, 75 percent of the games are won by the home team. That's a real stat over a long period of time. They are a different team. They have changed personnel and they have had injuries. We are a much different team, a deeper team, we play a lot faster and pressure more than we did last year. For us, getting the ball into the basket and then getting into our defensive pressure is a key for us. We have to get it in the basket and you have to get second-chance points to get it in the basket because you can't rely on jump shots on the road."
On if tonight was the best the team has played defensively all year:
"Our defensive numbers tell you the truth. I am a big believer in the KenPom stuff. Points per possession are real. It factors in as much as it can who you are playing against and all that type of stuff, but, if you don't give up layups and free throws, you are hard to score on. It's hard to beat a team if you don't give up layups, points in the paint and free throws. We try to make sure we know who the shooters are, too. You give yourself a chance when you play really hard on the defensive end."
Cincinnati Player Quotes
#3 Justin Jenifer, G
On if a finger injury affected his shooting:
"I'm not really going to make an excuse because of my injury, but I had to get in back in to the gym and get my mechanics working. I think I wasn't being prepared to shoot the ball and I think tonight I showed a little bit of that. But I have more to do, I have a lot more to do."
On UC's improving depth:
"We can get deeper. That makes our team that much deeper with Jacob (Evans) and Jarron (Cumberland) in the game and then when Trevor (Moore) and Keith (Williams) come in and it's just the same thing, same rotation, same intensity, same pace when they get in the game as well. So it makes it that much more deadly."
On if the players on the team take pride in the home-court win streak:
"Of course. This home winning streak started before we even got here so us being in here and continuing it is really special. That's what we're looking forward to all season, keeping our home streak and being undefeated at home."
#5 Trevor Moore, G
On the difference in his play since the beginning of the season:
"Just being confident. I think in the beginning of the season I was kind of iffy, but as the season got going I got more comfortable, and I have good teammates that make me more comfortable in practice and it carries over to the game."
On what it takes to be a more confident player:
"Just getting in the gym and putting up shots and watching the ball go through the hoop. I think that played a really good part. Like I said, my teammates finding me and having that trust in me, to come back to me after I missed a shot or something like that. Having that trust in me to make it the next time."
On what Mick Cronin tells him and Keith Williams about providing a spark off the bench:
"He just tells us to play. Come in and get a couple rebounds or whatever and on offense don't think (too much) about shooting, that's what he told me tonight. So, it's just being ready at all times. He told us what was going to be the case and we just went from there."
On the team's defensive effort against UCF:
"Tonight we probably did the best job of helping off the ball and stuff like that, so I think that played a role in our stops in the beginning of the game. I think we did a really good job tonight."
UCF Head Coach Johnny Dawkins
Opening statement:
"A disappointing loss. Give them a lot of credit. They are a talented team, terrific defensive team. They never allowed us to get into any kind of offensive rhythm all night."
On what Cincinnati was doing defensively against UCF:
"Well, I think they are just very active defensively. You can tell they all know the game plan very well. That's something they take pride in. That's something we take pride in, so I know both sides of it. They did a good job of executing their game plan."
On looking forward to Memphis:
"We have to put this game behind us. We have to learn from the mistakes we made in this game. We have to go in to next game preparing for it, and it's a very big game for us. We have to make sure we come out with the right mindset and come out prepared."