On the mindset on the games this week:
"It (the last game vs. Stanford) was a competitive game, our first game with them and they're playing well, they won four straight at home and they split in the mountains with Utah. So they're a big team that really rebounds. So just we have to be physical and rebound the ball. And we just got to get back on a winning vibe. And we had some careless turnovers and that was a big part of it after watching it again just with the Oregon game. You're at the point now where we've got to win every game we can."
On what has to be done to improve offensive efficiency:
"We just need to get back to the basics. We talk about just keeping the game simple. We left our feet to pass and we just did some uncharacteristic team things. I think we've been a better passing team and in transition. And we really didn't make great decisions, even in the transition game. And so we just hope it's a one-off situation. And it's not something that's going to continue because that's not really what we've been. I think we're second in the conference in turnover margin. So we've done a good job and that category, and we're top four in assists. We just gotta keep doing those things and focus on them."
On the inability to create points off turnovers:
"Yeah, we're trying to be as active as we can be. I thought we were pretty good defensively, especially in the first half, They were in a better rhythm and they were thrown into Dante, I think when we went to the press, that helped us create some turnovers."
In being able to use prior experiences to finish strong at the end of the season:
"Every one of those teams is different. And I think sometimes the schedule has something to do with it. I thought, particularly last year, we have played a lot of hard games kind of in the middle, just how the COVID thing played out and then we had a more favorable schedule finish and we were able to get hot and play confidently so it's just a matter of trying to find our gear again and again, guys playing well and on the road your margin for error is less and we just got to get ready for that."
On Stanford's improvements since playing them earlier in the season:
"I think defensively they're very interchangeable. Their defense has approved. Their field goal percentage defense the last several games has been good. They've been rebounding the ball, out-rebounding their opponents, so they're utilizing their size, so we've got to make sure we got five on the backboard. Jones has been a guy that's hurt us and other games, and he's one of their best players, so we got to really focus on him as well."
On how the players are feeling at this point of the season:
"I think if you get severely outplayed it's more demoralizing. I think however you slice it, it's hard to lose, and it hurts. But But when you play a pretty good game, and I thought outside of the stretch where they were able to get it to double-figures in the second half we had played a very good basketball game. So you want to focus in on the quality of play in your mind that hey, you know, we're right there. And if we keep playing like that, we're going to win some games here."
On getting the team to focus on now and not the postseason:
"I don't even think we're there yet. Our record is 16-8 and we're 7-6 now. You got seven games left, and everyone's got a lineup at play, no matter who we're playing, so, what do we do with these next seven? And then we'll see. And then it could be a different conversation, I might more or less agree with you more, because I still feel there's a lot of games that could help our case that are out there and available. And if we were able to get on a roll and get some things done over the last seven, and then go to the tournament and play well, then we're will be in good shape ... I kind of just talked about the significance of this week and focus on that, because we're running out of opportunities. So we certainly have to go out there with the mindset of trying to win two games and fighting like heck to do that, and getting the job done so that we could come back home for our last two at home. And then we'll go from there. But it's it all starts this week. And to me, I think we're at a point in our season for things like NCAA Tournament and postseason, it's, we got to win these games."
On the performance of Austin Nunez this season:
"He's got a lot of guts. He's got a lot of fearlessness to how he plays. It's what attracted me to him in recruiting him and watching those things. You can see how hard he competes, and he'll never cheat you with effort. He plays both ends of the floor. And he doesn't back down in a moment. He's got a lot of guts. He's stepped up in almost every big game that we've had this year. And so that says a lot for a freshman. He was a top 75 or 100 player, depending on which service but I think he's certainly played better than that. You wouldn't expect this type of production from a freshman this early. But it's a testament just to him and his family and how he's been raised and how he's been coached his whole life and how big basketball and athletics is to the Nunez family. And so it's been fun to have him. He works his butt off every day. And he just plays to win. And you love guys at that position that embody those characteristics."
"It (the last game vs. Stanford) was a competitive game, our first game with them and they're playing well, they won four straight at home and they split in the mountains with Utah. So they're a big team that really rebounds. So just we have to be physical and rebound the ball. And we just got to get back on a winning vibe. And we had some careless turnovers and that was a big part of it after watching it again just with the Oregon game. You're at the point now where we've got to win every game we can."
On what has to be done to improve offensive efficiency:
"We just need to get back to the basics. We talk about just keeping the game simple. We left our feet to pass and we just did some uncharacteristic team things. I think we've been a better passing team and in transition. And we really didn't make great decisions, even in the transition game. And so we just hope it's a one-off situation. And it's not something that's going to continue because that's not really what we've been. I think we're second in the conference in turnover margin. So we've done a good job and that category, and we're top four in assists. We just gotta keep doing those things and focus on them."
On the inability to create points off turnovers:
"Yeah, we're trying to be as active as we can be. I thought we were pretty good defensively, especially in the first half, They were in a better rhythm and they were thrown into Dante, I think when we went to the press, that helped us create some turnovers."
In being able to use prior experiences to finish strong at the end of the season:
"Every one of those teams is different. And I think sometimes the schedule has something to do with it. I thought, particularly last year, we have played a lot of hard games kind of in the middle, just how the COVID thing played out and then we had a more favorable schedule finish and we were able to get hot and play confidently so it's just a matter of trying to find our gear again and again, guys playing well and on the road your margin for error is less and we just got to get ready for that."
On Stanford's improvements since playing them earlier in the season:
"I think defensively they're very interchangeable. Their defense has approved. Their field goal percentage defense the last several games has been good. They've been rebounding the ball, out-rebounding their opponents, so they're utilizing their size, so we've got to make sure we got five on the backboard. Jones has been a guy that's hurt us and other games, and he's one of their best players, so we got to really focus on him as well."
On how the players are feeling at this point of the season:
"I think if you get severely outplayed it's more demoralizing. I think however you slice it, it's hard to lose, and it hurts. But But when you play a pretty good game, and I thought outside of the stretch where they were able to get it to double-figures in the second half we had played a very good basketball game. So you want to focus in on the quality of play in your mind that hey, you know, we're right there. And if we keep playing like that, we're going to win some games here."
On getting the team to focus on now and not the postseason:
"I don't even think we're there yet. Our record is 16-8 and we're 7-6 now. You got seven games left, and everyone's got a lineup at play, no matter who we're playing, so, what do we do with these next seven? And then we'll see. And then it could be a different conversation, I might more or less agree with you more, because I still feel there's a lot of games that could help our case that are out there and available. And if we were able to get on a roll and get some things done over the last seven, and then go to the tournament and play well, then we're will be in good shape ... I kind of just talked about the significance of this week and focus on that, because we're running out of opportunities. So we certainly have to go out there with the mindset of trying to win two games and fighting like heck to do that, and getting the job done so that we could come back home for our last two at home. And then we'll go from there. But it's it all starts this week. And to me, I think we're at a point in our season for things like NCAA Tournament and postseason, it's, we got to win these games."
On the performance of Austin Nunez this season:
"He's got a lot of guts. He's got a lot of fearlessness to how he plays. It's what attracted me to him in recruiting him and watching those things. You can see how hard he competes, and he'll never cheat you with effort. He plays both ends of the floor. And he doesn't back down in a moment. He's got a lot of guts. He's stepped up in almost every big game that we've had this year. And so that says a lot for a freshman. He was a top 75 or 100 player, depending on which service but I think he's certainly played better than that. You wouldn't expect this type of production from a freshman this early. But it's a testament just to him and his family and how he's been raised and how he's been coached his whole life and how big basketball and athletics is to the Nunez family. And so it's been fun to have him. He works his butt off every day. And he just plays to win. And you love guys at that position that embody those characteristics."