Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
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BYU head coach Dave Rose along with players Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery met the media this afternoon at the Pepsi Center before a 40-minute open-to-the-public practice. The Cougars held a more comprehensive practice at a Denver athletic facility earlier in the day.
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You can hear the press conference sessions by clicking on the respective "play" buttons in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the right. You can also hear the podium remarks of Wofford head coach Mike Young, along with players Noah Dahlman and Jamar Diggs.
(All accompanying photos are courtesy of Jaren Wilkey and BYU Photo)
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About coming into the NCAA Tournament off a loss to SDSU in the MWC Tournament title game, Fredette said "You just got to go out and play. We've been a good team since I've been here and since Jackson has been here."
"After we lose a game, we come back and win the next one. We've been good at that since Coach Rose's era. I think we're going to come out, play well, play hard."
"Obviously it was a tough loss. A lot of teams have lost like that in the Conference Finals. You just have to move on and go out and play the best that you can. I think we're going to be fine if we just go out and work hard and do what the coaches say."
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Fredette was asked if has any other games in him like the 52-point effort he put up in the MWC Tournament. Fredette's response:
"I hope so. You never know what's gonna happen. But the main thing is that we go out there and win. Whatever I have to do in order for us to do that, that's what I'm going to try to do, whether it's score the basketball, distribute, play defense. Whatever it is at the moment that we need, I'm just gonna go out there and try to do it."
"It's our last run. It's my last time here with Jackson and our team. I'm just gonna leave everything out on the floor and hopefully I'll be able to play and score the basketball and be aggressive like always."
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As one of the country's most up-tempo teams, BYU is expected to push the pace at altitude on the closer-to-sea-level Terriers. Emery says "it will be really important; that's our style, that's the tempo we like to play at."
"When we don't play an up-tempo style, we don't feel as comfortable. We really want to impose our will on the teams we play, first off with Wofford."
"We know they're a great team, very efficient. We're going to have to really run and play hard because that's the way we like to play. That's the style that we feel most comfortable at."
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Both Fredette and Emery were asked about the loss of center Brandon Davies.
Fredette: "Obviously, we're a little bit smaller without Brandon out there. But guys will step up and guys can play. I think as long as we're playing defense, rebounding the basketball, getting out in transition, I think we'll be a tough team to stop."
Emery: "I think we have the talent and the confidence in one another to be just as good. That's the way we've practiced and played all year. Brandon is a terrific player. It was a loss for our team. But you move on."
#rosecoaches
Rose, on the new-look Cougars, without Davies:
"We won the Mountain West Conference championship, co-championship, on the last day of the season with this group. Went to the finals. Went to the quarterfinal game and the semifinal game in the Mountain West Conference tournament."
"I think the fact that this team has moved on and been able to be successful, you know, is a positive thing, and hopefully we can just continue to play with confidence. The team is different. I think that we play a little bit different. But I do believe that we can continue to be successful."
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Rose, on the Terriers:
"I think the last three or four weeks may be as good as we've seen as far as consistently making shots, taking good shots. They don't make mistakes. They don't beat themselves. They're on balance. They share the ball extremely well. Then they've been really efficient. When they miss, they're pretty good at rebounding their missed shot and getting the ball back up on the rim."
"I'm really impressed with Mike (Young's) team. I think he's done a terrific job of getting better throughout the season 'cause when you watch some of those early-season tapes, films, you realize that this team has continued to get better. And right now I think they're playing their best."
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Wofford's press session was highlighted by head coach Mike Young, who was quick with a quip and generous in his praise of Dave Rose, Jimmer Fredette and the third-seeded Cougars.
Some highlights:
"The more I watch (of BYU), the more respect I have for them. I've gotten to the point now after four or five more games, I'm not going to watch anymore, we're just going to come and play at 7:00 tomorrow and see what happens."
On BYU's loss of Davies:
"You know, I think any good team will adjust and adapt. And Dave's team has done that, to pick themselves up from that point, get to the Mountain West final against a San Diego State team. You know, watching that game, I could walk out of there and say, I don't want to play either one of those. Certainly don't want to play Brigham Young, certainly don't want to play San Diego State."
"They have figured out how they're going to proceed. It does hurt their depth. But still a very good club."
On the mile-high altitude:
"I've talked to friends out here that say that's something you'll contend with. We're not going to belabor it. We're going to keep them hydrated, all those things. Hey, listen, if BYU beats us, it's because they outplay us, it's not going to be because we're 5500 miles in the air. I don't know what we are. I don't know much about that altitude. Give me that coast down there. That's where I'm most comfortable."
"It will be because of Emery, Fredette, Hartsock, not because we're up in the air here."
On the opportunity to play BYU in prime time on CBS:
"Well, we know it's not because of the Terriers. It has something to do with No. 32 over there. He's got 970 points this year. Wow, that's amazing. That's awesome."
"7:15 eastern with Mr. Lundquist, Mr. Raftery, Ms. Visser, that's great stuff. That's great stuff for the Southern Conference. That's great stuff for Spartanburg and Wofford College. Like we do everything else, our guys are going to fight. They're going to do it with class. I know that they are just beyond excited for the opportunity."
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