UConn’s season came to a disappointing end on Wednesday night. After the game, head coach Kevin Ollie and several players, including senior guard Ryan Boatright, spoke to the media about the trials of this year, what lies ahead for next season, and more. Below are quotes presented in their entirety.
On close losses:
Kevin Ollie: “To be a good team, you can’t have inconsistencies as much as we’ve had this year. And, you know, we lost four games in ten seconds. It’s not like we’re in a damn pit. Ten seconds. If that’s on the other end, we’re in the NCAA Tournament, I’m just gonna be real with you. There was a lot of games we lost right at the end. I’m not crying over spilled milk. It is what it is, but that’s the fine line. Those are the inches you have to fight for as a coach, as a program, as players. It’s a fine line being in the NCAA Tournament and not being in the NCAA Tournament. And it’s a great life lesson that I can give these kids too. You gotta value every game, every possession. That’s what I’m going to teach them and keep teaching them.”
Daniel Hamilton: “The Yale game, Texas game, I missed three free throws in the Temple game. Those three games right there could make us go to the Tournament. We lost in the last couple seconds. It came down to one possession. We were a couple seconds away from making the Tournament.”
On Boatright’s Career:
Ollie: “Great career. I know there’s going to be some great things for him in the future. I think he grew up as a man and as a basketball player. He has a lot of pride to get better. I know he wanted his team to go out on a better note, he wanted himself to go out on a better note but God’s preparing him for something great. That kid has grown a lot as a man. He has a bright future, if that’s in the NBA, or wherever he’ll play, but he’ll be playing somewhere. I’ll be backing him and be rooting for him all the way. Boat wants it. He’s going to do whatever it takes to get it. I’m very proud to say I’ve been his coach for four years.”
Rodney Purvis: “That toughness, each and every night. Competing hard each and every night. He left a great legacy here. Hopefully next year when we’re all walking out in Gampel, I’ll see his name hanging under the Huskies of Honor because he definitely deserves it. He led us all year and he’s just a warrior. I just want to see him continue to do great.”
Hamilton: “Ryan is a great person. Coming here and playing for four years — top ten in UConn scoring — he’s a great player. There aren’t too many players who can come in and do that at UConn, one of the best colleges in the country. That’s big time.”
Ryan Boatright:
On winning the 2014 Championship: “That’s probably the highest high I’ve had as a Husky and in my career here, and my lows will stick in my head too. I’ll never forget what I had to go through to make me the player I am, to make me strong. Remembering what I went through and where I don’t want to go back to. Everything about my college career will help me in my future.”
On returning for his senior season: “I’m 100 percent happy with my decision to come back to school. I’m accomplished a lot. I didn’t accomplish the ultimate goal, which was getting to the Tournament and winning another championship, but I think I have raised my stock and proved to everybody that I can be a point guard at a high level. I think I led this team pretty good — the best that I could. And I think I brought as many wins as possible to the team and I’m glad I came back to school.”
On how he improved the most: “Maturing. Being a better leader. Being a better floor general. I played the majority at two-guard last year and I came and proved to everyone that I can be an elite point guard.”
“I put in a hard summer. I put in a lot of work this summer to improve my overall game and the three-point shot was just what the defense was giving to me.”
On his next step: “I’ve still gotta find an agent. Once I do that, I think everything else will fall into place.”
On the fans chanting thank you: “I heard them. I send the thanks right back to them. They supported me so well throughout my career, throughout my ups and downs. They showed me a lot of love and all I can do is forever thank them for doing it.”
On other guys staying in school: “Everyone’s situation is different. All I can do is tell them that it’s a great university. They’ll just love you. And as long as you continue to work hard, and play your heart out, and leave it all out on the floor, this state and this program and the fans will always embrace you.”
On returning to campus in the future: “UConn is forever a part of me. This will always be my second home, outside of Chicago. Whenever I get the opportunity to come back up here and help the team, talk to kids, or help coach with camp, I’ll definitely be here to do it.”
Improving next season:
Hamilton: “Make sure I get stronger. Work on my ball-handling. Make sure I make better decisions next year, not make the same decisions I made this year. Just learn from it. Just build and get better from it.”
Terrence Samuel: “I know I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m dedicating myself. I’m staying here the whole summer. I’m going to be mostly working on my jump shot and my ball handling. Coach Hobbs told me if I get my jump shot even a little bit decent, I’ll be unstoppable because I can get to the paint.”
“I feel like I learned a lot from Bazz and Boat. I’m not ready yet, but I’m ready mentally. I’ve just physically gotta work on game the whole summer.”
Ollie: “We’ll be back next year and we’re going to work hard, and whoever’s coming back they’re going to understand that we have a mission in mind and I want guys who want to be here who are going to fulfill that mission going forward. We’ll have exit meetings next week.”
On possible transfers:
Ollie: “I have no idea. I’m going to have exit meetings next week. My door’s going to be open. I’ll give them an opportunity to tell me their concerns and if they want to be here or not and if they want to transfer, I can’t stop them, but my door will be open. Hopefully everyone comes back. If not, we’ll keep moving on as a program. My door will be open — just like every year — I always do meetings, and you come in, and we have a game plan no matter what. A contingency plan. We’ll be on the same page. But I always have an open door policy. That’s what I do with my student-athletes.”
On the 30-second shot clock:
Arizona State coach Herb Sendek: “You know, it actually effected the game a little more than I thought it would. In part because UConn is so long and so athletic that they’re good on defense, and we just found ourselves up against it maybe more than I thought. I thought it would have no effect. It’ll be interesting to go back through the game. Even UConn, I think, found themselves up against it a few times. And I don’t think either team really had a chance to strategize or prepare in just a few days, but it was interesting those very few five seconds seemed to have both teams up against the shot clock more than regular. Obviously it’s a small sample set, it’s one game. It’s an interesting experiment.”
Ollie: “It was fine. We put in a couple plays just in case and kinda ran them in the second half pretty well. I didn’t see a problem with it. It was good. I didn’t see a lot of bad shots. It’s going to take a little getting used to. Coaches will have to adjust but I’m used to running pro styles anyway and quick hitters so this was pretty good with me.”
Samuel: “It wasn’t really that different to me. But definitely we had a lot of late shot clocks, we had to throw up a bunch of bad shots. Obviously it was a little different, but I don’t think it was too different.”
Purvis: “I actually like it more. As far as playing defense {laughs}, take five seconds off. Make guys have to shoot the ball. I think it’s cool. I would much rather play a 30-second shot clock.”
What is the rumors I hear of the transfers? Who would be on that short list?
Right now, I don’t expect anyone to transfer. I’m not sure how you could sit through that Ollie press conference and determine that guys were on their way out…unless you already had a column written and were looking for quotes.
They way I see it, this is a VERY talented team next year. I don’t know how you watch the development of JCDH, Purvis, Brimah… Adams coming in… and NOT get excited for what is to come.