Colorado – 53 Arizona – 51 Q
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March 10, 2012 Colorado – 53 Arizona – 51 Q. You had said or talked about fatigue possibly being a factor in this game. Did you An Interview with: ever see the point where your team was really getting tired? COACH BOYLE: Well, at times. We tried COACH BOYLE to sub as quickly as I saw long faces out there. I CARLON BROWN tried to get in, even if it was just for a few seconds. Hey, fatigue is a factor in every SPENCER DINWIDDIE tournament. They played three games in three AUSTIN DUFAULT days. We played four in four. But we've got nobody to blame but ourselves if we had taken care of business against Oregon State late in the THE MODERATOR: Coach, a few regular season, we wouldn't have a fourth game in opening comments, please. a row. But, again, it was meant to be. These guys COACH BOYLE: I'll start by saying, took it on as a challenge. We came here on a obviously, to say I'm proud of these guys is mission, and fatigue was a factor, but it was a probably the biggest understatement I've ever factor for both teams. made, but we beat a great program, a storied program in Arizona. Very good coach in Sean Q. Carlon, just take us through your Miller, and a good Cal team, a good Oregon team, windmill move there at the end? and a scrappy Utah team to get here. I want to CARLON BROWN: I was just going to the recognize our opponents. rack strong. Something Coach was preaching It wasn't easy, but I'm telling you, before every time out. Wasn't going to be lackadaisical, this game, we talked about it as a group. If you so I just attacked the basket and jumped with all believe in destiny, you believe in the Colorado my might. Buffaloes because it was meant to be for us. We dedicated this game beforehand to Q. Walk us through that last play. How Cory Higgins, Levi Knutson, Marcus Relphorde, were you able to lock up so well defensively? Trent Beckley, Javon Coney, and Alec Burks. Not COACH BOYLE: Well, again, we didn't a lot of you in this room may know those six guys, finish very strong. Obviously, we turned it over, but those six guys sat in my home last year on missed some free throws. We didn't execute Selection Sunday for their last opportunity to go to offensively really good down the stretch, except for the NCAA Tournament, and they were snubbed. Carlon's dunk, I think that was our first basket in That inspired us. like eight minutes. We've gone on droughts all They picked us 11th. That inspired us. year. What these guys have done over these last four But you rely on your defense. You rely on days is something that college basketball is all your rebounding. We beat this Arizona team in about. We recruit good kids, from good families, Boulder the same way on a stop. It's appropriate and they have a high degree of character, because that it ended that way. It shouldn't have been that you cannot win championships without it. close, but our guys did what they had to do. Our whole locker room is full of them, and Again, it just shows the perseverance. you see three of them up here before you right We do a drill, we call the bubble drill. We now. I'm just so proud of these guys. We'll answer put a bubble in our basket with four or five minutes any questions that come our way. Colorado - 03.10.12.doc 1 visit our archives at asapsports.com to go, and we have a lead. The only way you can were in that room that aren't with us today. Told win the game is by getting stops. And that drill, them we're going to dedicate this game to them. It Carlon alluded to it in one of our timeouts, our was the hardest day. One of the hardest days. players believe in it, and it won us the game Other than leaving Northern Colorado and telling tonight. my team that I was coming to CU was the next hardest day in my life as a college basketball Q. Carlon, can you talk about that coach, because I knew what that team deserved. stretch to start the second half where you guys We got shut out. But, again, this team built the lead? How big did you feel that was in wasn't going to be denied. Inspiration can come in the end? a lot of different forms. For me, as a coach, those CARLON BROWN: It was a very big guys will never have that opportunity again is what stretch that we came out in the second half, being inspired me. To push these guys every day in aggressive, executing the offense and defense. practice, and I get as much inspiration from our Guys were making plays. Guys were making the players, probably more, than they get from me. right reads whether it was passing, scoring, and getting in the passing lane. Just a credit to all of Q. Spencer, knowing you had to win my teammates. We just really wanted this and four in four days, what were your realistic weren't going to be denied. expectations before the tournament? And to achieve what you've done, how thrilling is it to Q. Austin, what does this moment be sitting here as the winner? mean to you given all you've been through in SPENCER DINWIDDIE: We wanted to your career, including Selection Sunday last win the tournament, and we expected to win the year? tournament. To win it is a great feeling. I don't AUSTIN DUFAULT: It's hard to explain in know (smiling). words what it means. There have been so many up and downs for the last four years. But I've just Q. Carlon, can you talk about contrast treasured every moment at CU for the last four your feelings today compared to Selection years. The tough ones have only made me a Sunday last year when you guys went through better person along with my teammates. We what you went through? How much did it couldn't have gotten to this point without going inspire you this year? through ups and downs. I think that's a testament CARLON BROWN: Yeah, it was definitely to our team. We just came together today and a heart break. I still have the picture on my phone played through ups and downs again, and got it just to remind me, even though I didn't contribute in done. minutes played last year, I still understand how it felt. Q. Carlon, could you talk about your To come out here today, I told these guys last two weeks? Coming out of a slump and at halftime, there is nothing like the feeling of then going to the top? winning a tournament championship and cutting CARLON BROWN: Yeah, I just tried to down those nets and getting all this free gear put everything in the past, knowing that I had this (laughing). opportunity to be aggressive and play in this On a serious note, I'm the only person tournament. Like I said, I just let everything go. I that's been to the tournament. I know how it feels. played the game as aggressive as I could, attack I wanted these guys to feel it, especially A.B. and the rim, making the right reads, making the right Nate and Trey because I know what this program shots, and stepping up and being the leader the has been through the last four years. It wasn't team needed me to be and I wanted to be for this always like this. Those guys deserved it, and I team. wanted to win it for them and I wanted to win it for Coach. Q. Just wondering if you could kind of relive that day at your house, Selection Q. Spencer, what did this mean to you Sunday? Also, if you've heard from Alec or having gone to Colorado, being from L.A., any of your seniors this week at all? having won this championship here? COACH BOYLE: Well, I text them all last night about 1:30 in the morning, all six guys that Colorado - 03.10.12.doc 2 visit our archives at asapsports.com SPENCER DINWIDDIE: No, no. That he didn't score a point, but he ran the team. He means a lot. That was great. Playing in front of rebounded. He made plays for others. family and friends and showing that I made the He's got the ability, I think, to be a leader, right decision in my college choice. Thank you, like Carlon's been on the perimeter and Nate. I Coach. I mean, it's a great feeling to come back think he's learned from two great seniors this year. and win this championship. To make it to the As his career progresses, his game will continue to tournament my freshman year, it's a blessing. evolve. Again, what makes his game great is he can affect the game so many different ways. Q. Spencer, yesterday you said you Shooting is just one of them. Scoring is just one of were happy with winning. A little disappointed them. in your shooting. Did you put a little emphasis One of the things I talked to Spencer about on it? How did it feel hitting that first three and in the last couple of weeks, every time I'd see him, going four for four? be aggressive, be aggressive, be aggressive, SPENCER DINWIDDIE: That felt good to because when he's aggressive, he's pretty darn hit your first shot it always gets you rolling.