MBB: Nebraska -Colorado Postgame Quotes

Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg:
Are the exhibitions concerns or is this exactly what you wanted?
“Yes, I think we got a lot out of today. The biggest thing when you are playing a game early, is all about how you get out of the gate. Generally, the team that plays with the most energy is the team that comes out on top. I thought our hand activity was outstanding. We got deflections early in the game and it led to run outs. Our stretch in the first half led to three or four threes. Obviously the rebounding is the biggest thing that you take out of this, that's how they got back into the game. The other thing we stress to our team is when you have a good formula out there, you don't get away from it and we did. Overall, it was an outstanding effort.”
 
On defense leading to offense
“There's no doubt about it. That's the biggest thing that we talk about as far as rebounding. With teams crashing as hard as they are right now, if we get it off the boards, we are at our best in transition. If we can get deflections and get turnovers, that leads to great offense and when you can get it off the glass. I believe we gave at least 50% of the shots back to them and if we can cut that in half and get extra possessions, it will make things a lot easier.
 
On rebounding
“Derrick was a warrior down there. He was in a battle with their big guys all night long, and Wilhelm was out there fighting as well. Really, to me, it was the guards. There was just no contact and we talk a lot about rebound area and creating it by making first contact and they were doing it to us all night long. Finally, Alonzo and Bryce made contact and went and got a couple.”
 
Colorado Coach Tad Boyle:
Opening statement:
“This is exactly what our team needed right now. I mean to get smacked in the face like we did and hopefully learn from it and do something about it as we move forward so that is what we have to do. That is why we played this exhibition was to learn about ourselves, and as I am sure Nebraska did. Coach Hoiberg and I talked before the game and we will talk after the game in terms of sharing ideas with each other on our teams but it was a good test for us and a good test for them. Just to see where we are at and we learned that we have got a long ways to go both defensively and offensively in order to play big boy basketball. Whether it is finishing on offensive whether it is guarding a three-point line on defense whether it is guarding the ball whether it is a ball screen there is so much we can take from this film and learn from, but the question is what are we going to do about it as players and coaches to get better because that is the whole idea.”
 
On Nebraska’s three-point shooting:
“Nebraska did not play a perfect game tonight. They made mistakes they made breakdowns. We just did not make them pay. They made us pay for our breakdowns and so that is really what it came down to. It is not as simple as just a make or miss game. They made shots.  We did not make shots, but we had some really good looks. We had cut it to 11 there early in the second half. We just could not get over the hump because we could not make a shot and then when we did get offensive rebounds it was hard for us to finish. So that is why finishing is such a big thing for this team.”
 
On Alonzo Verge Jr.:
“I think we know Alonzo Verge is a hell of an offensive talent. I think Nebraska fans are figuring that out too. We have known about that because we have seen him on film, and we played against him three times.  He is a terrific offensive player. The biggest different is we had a guy last year named McKinley Wright IV,  and he is no longer with us. That was the biggest difference. Verge is still a good player.. I am not sure he is a better player now than he was then. I do think the way Coach Hoiberg coaches offense I think it will be a really good match for Verge in terms of letting him do what he does because he is really a talented instinctive offensive player.”

NU Athletic Communications