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.

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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

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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. But I good. just credit the seniors and stuff for believing in me. They told me don't stop shooting. Even though I Q. Coach, these two local guys, can was in a little bit of a slump throughout the you talk about not just this weekend, but the tournament, they said when we pass it to you, contributions and the impact they've had on make the shot. I've got to keep shooting. your program? COACH BOYLE: Yeah, I mean, I think our Q. Carlon, talk to me a little bit, not veterans would attest to that. These guys have looking too far behind, yesterday you had that come in with a confidence and a little bit of a windmill dunk. What was the response that swagger about them. Sometimes that's a good you got after that happened yesterday? Did thing. Sometimes it can get a little bit too much, that put any more pressure on you to deliver and that's why sometimes they've got to be put in another performance or signature moment their place by the coaches or seniors. today? But when the ball goes up and we're all CARLON BROWN: I had like 50 texts trying to win a game, I think our guys love the fact waiting for me yesterday after that. Everybody that Spencer and Askia are here, and they do have saying I made SportsCenter or what not. But that's the attitude and the swagger that they've got something I've done before, so it wasn't too because that's what helps you win games. You've exciting for me. I just knew I wanted to put an got to have a little bit of that to win. exclamation on the game and make sure we won. But we recruit L.A. guys like Spencer and Today I was just trying to finish at the rim, like I Askia. We talk about moments like this. Spencer said earlier. I'm thankful that God gave me this and I talked about it on the phone coming back to talent and ability to leap. L.A. and making a statement, and I think both those young men have started pretty good in their Q. Spencer, do you feel any pressure at careers. The good thing is they've got three years all? You get out there and feel loose. You're left. hitting everything. That's pretty unusual for a freshman. And Tad, did you see that in Q. Can you talk about your feelings Spencer when you were recruiting him? when you're watching Carlon go up for these SPENCER DINWIDDIE: No, I don't really windmill dunks? feel any pressure. I practice every day and I COACH BOYLE: I just want him to finish played hard and I prepared. Once again, the them. Now Carlon's banged a few off the back of seniors and the coaching staff instill confidence in the rim, but I'm telling you what, big players make me every single day so I don't feel any pressure. big-time plays, on big-time stages. I think what you I've just got to go out there and play. saw out of Carlon Brown these last four games is COACH BOYLE: In terms of recruiting he's a guy who kind of put this team on his Spencer, the thing I love about his game is he can shoulders. He's been more vocal than he's been affect it in so many different ways. I saw Spencer all year in timeouts, in huddles, on the floor, score 20, 25 points in games when I watched him play. I remember seeing him play a game where

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visit our archives at asapsports.com encouraging his teammates. And those windmill dunks are just icing on the cake. I'm extremely proud of him and all of our seniors. But Carlon deserves the MVP of this tournament because he was big when we needed him to be big.

Q. Down the stretch you guys had a series of air balls, the ball went through your legs. What were you thinking on the last possession? AUSTIN DUFAULT: Just get a stop. For all the stuff that was going our way, we still had an opportunity to dig in on the defensive end, which was what we were preaching all year, get a stop and win it that way. I just think once again it was kind of fitting. It would have been nice if we could end the game a little bit smoother. If I could have knocked down a couple free throws or caught that pass. But we went down to the other end. Once again, we just dug in defensively and got a stop.

Q. What did it mean to have the members of your student section, and who made the decision to let one of them be the first to cut down the net? COACH BOYLE: Mike Bohn, our athletic director, who is as big a part of this win as anybody at our university. We brought him in the locker room after the game because I wouldn't be the coach at Colorado if it wasn't for Mike Bohn. His leadership and bringing those students here, I think, is a testament to what he's all about. That's helped make dreams come true and lifelong experiences as a student-athlete or a student at the University of Colorado become a reality. I'm just so thankful that those 50 kids could come here and experience this with us. They're a big part of it, as are the rest of the students who have been supporting us all year at The Coors Event Center. I know a lot of you haven't seen a game there, but it's a special place. And Mike Bohn's a big, big part of that. So for me, I tip my hat to him. FastScripts by ASAP Sports

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visit our archives at asapsports.com March 10, 2012

Colorado – 53 minutes. They got uncharacteristic easy shots, Arizona – 51 and I really felt like it was the will of our team, maybe the fact that they were wearing down, four An Interview with: games in four days. But the last ten minutes of the second half, we had a lot of fight in us. We had a shot to win the game. It wasn't a good one, COACH MILLER but it's amazing that we had that when you JESSE PERRY consider the hole that we were in. Jesse Perry, he's up here, a senior. Nick NICK JOHNSON is a freshman. They're at two different points in their career. I don't know if there's been a 6'7", THE MODERATOR: Coach, a few 215 pound player that played college basketball opening comments, please. this season that's given his school or program or COACH MILLER: Well, had the same team anymore Jesse. I wouldn't trade this guy for feeling this year as we did last year. I'm really anybody. I know we have at least another game proud of our team and program for being in the left here. But just as his Pac-12 career has ended championship game of this tournament in in two years, he's done a lot of stuff for us. He back-to-back years. It's not easy to get here. needs to be recognized for that. Today was much different because it Nick, obviously, the future is bright for him, meant the NCAA Tournament versus no on that, and this is a great experience to play in this type of and it's a difficult loss for all of us. game for any young player. First, I want to say the job that Tad Boyle has done at Colorado, and what Colorado Q. Coach, you seem pretty definitive on represents to the future of the Pac-12, I can make saying, in fact, no, you don't think you're going the argument that there's been no greater gift to to get in. But what you've been able to do college basketball in the Pac-12 than adding through the week and going down to the buzzer Colorado. They are well-coached, play in the championship game, do you think there's extremely hard, very good on defense. They have any possibility of entertaining the fact that you talented players now. I feel like they have some might still be able to sneak in? really talented players coming in. I wish them the COACH MILLER: No. No, the loss at very best in the NCAA Tournament. Whoever Arizona State was very damaging to us late in the draws them is running into a hungry, well-coached, season. I'm not saying that we're not close. We're disciplined team. not games away. We're probably about four plays I really believe that's the story of today. away, which include today's game. They beat us. They were the better team. Being Those of you who have followed us, there down 2 at the half, I thought it was a very even are very few games that were decided until the game. We have to make free throws when we get final outcome. I think that says a lot about our there. We knew that if we didn't turn that around, team's resiliency. we're playing with danger. You know, we've really But we look forward to playing. If we're not been making free throws. Today we didn't, and we in the NCAA Tournament, the NIT has changed. I picked the wrong time to miss. I thought that hurt don't think everybody's up to date with it. There us. are 32 teams in that tournament. You don't get in But the first 10 minutes of the second half, that tournament because you have sellouts. You we had no answer for them. I think we committed get into that tournament because you earn it. almost seven personal fouls in the first ten

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visit our archives at asapsports.com If we're fortunate enough to be in that enough to go 10 for 18 from the line. We missed tournament and draw a home game, you know, I at least two front ends of the one and one. want to fight and get these guys as far as we can. So you look and say you guys only scored If that's New York City in the Final Four of the NIT, 51 points. We're going to score more points if we great. But it has everything to do with trying to convert free throws. If we didn't shoot the ball well have a magical season to win as many games and from the foul line against UCLA, we would have compete for championships. I think we all know never made it to the last round. our next loss will be our last. Part of the identity of what you do in championship games has to be in place. Missing Q. Both teams played with a lot of free throws hurt us, no question about it. energy on defense today, but you guys on the offensive end, what was the struggle out there? Q. Did you have an anticipation that What challenges did you guys see with they might start to run out of gas their fourth Colorado's defense today? game in four days? JESSE PERRY: Well, we got a lot of COACH MILLER: Yeah, I was a coach at one-on-one plays and it took us a while to get it Xavier. We won four games in four days. I was an together. Once we did, it was pretty much too late. assistant coach at Xavier. We won four games in It came down to the last shot, so, that's really what four days. The thing about a 12-team league, it's happened. not as difficult as it once was. It just isn't. There are a lot of different teams. There is more parity. Q. Coach, can you talk us through The league record can sometimes reflect those last few seconds where Colorado went to the fact that a team didn't play two really difficult the free-throw line. Missed the free throws, and games. We were neck and neck with Colorado all you guys still had an opportunity to kind of tie the way to the last weekend. It's just they had a it? tough Oregon trip, or else they could have gotten COACH MILLER: You know, 14 seconds the bye. If we didn't, we could have easily been in on the clock is a lot of time. Not knowing what this same game. happens on the first free throw. We called a play But they're an older group with Brown and that would allow us to come off a ball screen, and Dufault and Tomlinson and those guys. They that's what it becomes: Make a play, get to the rim deserve a lot of credit. They played well all season or kick. long. They're an excellent defensive team. But once he obviously missed the second Sometimes it's easy to point fingers at free throw, it was about a two or a three. It was yourself, and there were some things that I really defended well. Those plays are always hard. I thought we didn't play well or do things well. But mean, it could be a pass. you have to give Colorado a lot of credit. At Colorado we probably had a shot we That first ten minutes of the second half, turned down to make a pass, and ended up getting they were so much better of a team that we dug the desperation three. Maybe we had a pass ourselves that hole; and in a sense, that was the open. We didn't make the pass, and ended up difference in the game. being a challenge shot. That's the tough part about a last second shot unless you're at the Q. Nick, as Coach said, you are part of basket. Arizona's future. The season's not over, but to But to have the ball in Kyle's hands is this point in your career, what can you take something that's been good for our team. The last away from all the experiences coming down the play didn't win or lose the game. There were so stretch in the season and in this tournament? many plays throughout the course of the game that NICK JOHNSON: It's been fun, getting to hurt us. know a whole new group of guys. I think we've One of the things that I thought gave us a really grown throughout the year. I mean, just chance is we only had seven turnovers. That's getting comfortable with Coach, and how he been a problem for us at times when we've lost. coaches and stuff like that. Just knowing that it's The fact we played in a game like this with seven not over yet. Fortunate enough to play in the NIT, turnovers gave us a chance. But it's really offset and we definitely want to do that and keep on when we're 10 for 18 from the line. We're not big

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visit our archives at asapsports.com progressing. COACH MILLER: Long time ago. Maybe the next day. Q. What are the plans for this FastScripts by ASAP Sports upcoming week as you either prepare for maybe the NCAA or NIT tournament? What is the schedule going to be like and stuff like that? COACH MILLER: Well, today's Saturday. Obviously, tomorrow is a day off. We've played three games in three days. Then I think we'll find out our fate tomorrow night, sometime, of who, or where or what we play in. Then we'll go from there. But not just -- I really feel like our team has basketball left in us. I don't think that whoever we play or the next game we play, we may not play well, but our intent is going to be to play the right way and play hard. A very disappointing loss today. It's one thing to lose a conference tournament championship game. It's a whole other thing when the NCAA Tournament's at stake. Just certain plays and the way the game went, it's disappointing. I think that's a disappointment that we should feel because we've worked very hard, and we've climbed that mountain. These guys know. I wrote on the lower end of our locker room, Seattle Pacific. That was our starting point. I don't know of too many teams that had a lower starting point. We've dealt with a lot of adversity, injuries, and off-the-court things that have hurt us. But we found our way to today and we've won 23 games, and we're really proud of it. But when you come so close, it really hits you. But like I said, I'm excited. Once this trip ends and we get home and settled in, I'd like to win a couple more games. I hope Jesse can play as many games at Arizona as he possibly can.

Q. Can you elaborate on the Seattle Pacific thing? Where did you write it and when did you write it? COACH MILLER: I wrote it in the lowest left-hand corner of our locker room. It's about a centimeter from the carpet. Then we had the NCAA Tournament in the far upper right-hand corner of the locker room. It's always been about climbing that mountain and staying with it. These guys have done it. We were here today, and it just didn't work.

Q. When did you write that?

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