You’ve got, supposedly, the best player in the country. You’ve got two big winners, two West Coast teams. It will be a treat, especially for all of the TV viewers who don’t normally see us.

Defense wins championships. He (Howland) always uses other teams as examples in every other sport to show that the top defensive team in that sport generally is the winner.

We just needed to execute. We were getting good shots. We were just missing them. What changed was on the defensive end.

He does all the little things — taking charges and defending guys. He’s very good and he improved throughout the year. You can just see it in his confidence and swagger on the floor. He...

Personally, I really don’t try to look back on games too much. That’s the worst thing to do, to get caught up in the way things went last game. I mean, for one, you can’t...

We’re a pretty dominant defensive team right now.

It was great to start out like that. When you get the crowd behind you and you start like that, it tears the other team’s heart out.

They played to perfection tonight.

When we were down nine, it became a kind of desperation time for us. But three minutes is a long time.

This is the second game in a row we came out turning the ball over. The pressure is probably what caused it. When you get in a game like this, you can’t turn the ball...

He mentioned it a lot to us. He gave us a lot of examples.

I definitely think we’re playing our best basketball definitely defensively. We know what’s allowing us to win games right now.

That’s immaturity on my part.

Being turnover-free and rebounding, those are coach’s two main things. And he’s definitely a defensive-minded coach.

You’re down like that, and time is not on your side.

We just played with a lot of energy at the end. Obviously, it was desperation time. We were very fortunate tonight.

My job is to stop the opposing team’s best guard, just limit him as much as possible.

We didn’t achieve the ultimate goal. I feel incomplete.

I saw him laying there in tears. I felt for him a little bit. He has no reason to cry. He should definitely keep his head up. That’s easy to say when you won the...

We’re definitely in a different era.

He was here to do the same thing I wished to do — help restore the tradition of winning ways.

That’s the first priority, representing what’s on the front of this jersey.

I knew I couldn’t relax for a second against him. I couldn’t let him get open for a 3 or drive for a dunk, because I knew that would ignite their whole team.

I definitely feel a bond with Jordan. Him being from L.A., I got plenty of opportunities to see him play. I definitely knew I’d be coming into a school with another talented guard, and you...

He does all the little things taking charges, defending tough guys. And for a guy to rebound like he does at his size, that’s extraordinary.

It was longer than four or five minutes, that’s for sure. It seemed more like four or five hours. But it was well worth it. It’s one of the primary reasons we’re still playing right...

As far as the shot goes, I was definitely aware of the fact that I had a horrendous first half, but I’m fortunate that my teammates still had faith in me to take that shot.

It’s about restoring that tradition.

He’s not a stiff at all. So he’s able to make plays up high.

Right now we’re co-Pac-10 champs. We’re definitely not satisfied with that. We’ll enjoy this bus ride and enjoy tonight, but after that, it’s business as usual. … Being co-champs was not one of our goals....

(Guarding Morrison) isn’t something you ask for. It’s a job, whether it’s Adam Morrison or whoever the top player is on the opposing team. It’s something we do night in and night out. I’m going...

That’s the only team that’s really beaten us this year.

I saw him lying there in tears and I just felt for him. He has no reason to cry. He’s a great player and he’s going to have a great career.

What was tough for (Belmont) is that we generally don’t let up. Our defensive pressure started to take a toll, and we fought for every bucket.

He’s not a stiff at all.

It’s definitely what’s ideal for us.

That’s the way you want it you want to control your own destiny. We’ve played some tough games, some NCAA-type games.

We’ll be very good next year. This team knows what it takes to get to this point. We should be right back here, hopefully.

You’d hear the horn blow.

We’re not playing for just our team, our university. We’re trying to carry on something that John Wooden started.

Obviously, it was desperation time, being down nine with three minutes to go. But three minutes is a long time with only a nine-point lead.

Jordan is one of our top scorers. When he’s in double digits, this team is going to be that much better.

We’re definitely focused on Saturday. There was no dumping water or things of that nature. We’re on a six-game mission, one game at a time.

The shot clock went down and I have no problem taking that shot.

We have different personnel than the ’95 team. We have tough, tough guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to win.

We’re trying to carry on something that John Wooden started. Winning this is more meaningful that what it appears. At least to us.

We’d probably lose. That’s what is keeping us on top. Our defense leads to easy buckets on offense.

I was running around celebrating with the rest of my team. But I saw him laying there in tears a little bit. I just felt for him. He’s a great player. There’s really no reason...

Right now, we’re on a mission. There’s nothing individual about myself or Jordan or anyone else on this team.

Obviously it was desperation being down nine with 3 minutes left. But 3 minutes is a long time and nine points is four possessions. We were very fortunate tonight.