WCC Championships: BYU vs. LMU Postgame Notes

Postgame Quotes

BYU Coach Dave Rose

It was a really hard fought game. Both teams came out comfortable and confident. We both hit shots from the perimeter. When it settled down LMU did a really good job of isolating us and attacking us off the dribble. We got ourselves in foul trouble, and so we adjusted and went into a couple different zones that we run.

But, I think I am most proud of our guys for responding to their runs. We’d get a little lead and they would come back at us. We were able to respond every time, and that is a sign of a team that is playing tight together as a group and is executing well. We are looking forward to the next round.

LMU is a team that plays a lot of players. They pick you up full court and three-quarter court and they contest every pass, every catch and every shot. They usually use a lot of fouls during the game. It got pretty physical in the middle of the game. They became pretty successful at it (their defense). 

They took the ball from us three or four times as we made a run. It’s a long game and you have to be able to deal with the runs of the game. I thought how we dealt with their pressure overall for 40 minutes was pretty good. Their attacking style led to some pretty easy baskets for us.

I think our bench kind of weathered the storm for us at times. It’s a different group every time. We usually go three deep off the bench, and I think tonight we went four or five. They understand that when they get in there they have to be really productive early. We were in a tough spot early in the first half with guys with a lot of fouls.

Yoeli Childs

For sure there have been a lot of ups and downs, but the important thing is that we have stuck together. Whether we are winning or losing games, we just come together and figure out how we are going to get the next game. I think that is huge for a team of young guys like us.

Nick Emery

I think we are playing with a lot of confidence right now. That’s what is cool about our guys is that we are sticking together. We lost a few games, but we are learning from our mistakes and we want to learn and get better. We have a lot of confidence right now and we are playing poised. We just need to keep it going in the semis.

We are a very young team. Coach keeps bringing up that I am one of the oldest guys on the team after losing L.J. (Rose) and Kyle (Davis). But, that’s the fun part. We get to learn every day about how we can become better. This team has a lot of fight. We are a group of competitive guys.

My first thought was that I have never had three fouls in the first half. Coach kept me in and then I obviously made a mistake.

Shooting is a confidence thing. I was able to come out refreshed in the second half, and to be able to spark our team was big. It was a group effort tonight. I got wide-open shots from my teammates and was able to knock them down.

I play against (Steven) Beo and (Davin) Guinn in practice every day. They are tough guys. We can trust those guys. Davin is a hard worker and competitor. He had a couple steals for us in the second half that were huge for us. They both bring a momentum. I thought both of them did a great job tonight.