PAC-12 CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 12, 2021

Tahj Eaddy

Colorado Buffaloes

Postgame Press Conference

Colorado - 72, USC - 70

Q. It seemed like you were not getting the space that you needed for your shots for a long time. And then the last three and a half minutes you were I think you scored all 11 of your points. What changed?

TAHJ EADDY: It kind of changed their ball screen coverage on me. As the game kind of went on. As Evan started making those perimeter jumpers, they were kind of reluctant to kind of stay on me and hedge along or double the screen, however you want to put it. So they kind of loosened up their coverage a little bit so that allowed me to get a little space.

Q. What was the biggest difference offensively in the second half compared to the first half?

TAHJ EADDY: We just had better flow, better pace offensively. Colorado tried to get into us early, tried to deny all of our catches and just make everything tough for us. But as the game progressed we kind of settled in a little bit and we kind of got into a good groove.

Q. Obviously you guys have played with Evan all season, but what's maybe been different from your perspective these last two games especially?

TAHJ EADDY: I think he's just been ultra aggressive. I think he's taking his jump shot more, his perimeter jumper because teams are nervous for him to get around the basket because he's so talented, great touch around the rim, his jump hooks and things like that. So I think he's just taking what the defense is giving him instead of just trying to predetermine what he's going to do. So I think he's playing with great flow and we need him to be ultra aggressive like this every night.

Q. What do you learn from the slow starts?

TAHJ EADDY: I kind of just play within flow. I don't want to try to force anything or take away from how we play traditionally how we play every night. Because if teams want to deny me, face guard me off the ball and things like that, trap the ball screens, I just try to make the right play. If the pass is to kick it to the corner or kick it back to Evan or whatever or setting a ball screen then that's what I'm going to do. But, yeah, I try to play the right way.

Q. I was referring to the team. You guys struggled on the offensive end as a whole. How do you get out of an early funk when something like that happens?

TAHJ EADDY: I think it starts with getting stops. Just for an example tonight Colorado got off to a good lead early and that maybe hindered our momentum or our intensity or our energy and things like that. But I think we're a defensive team we're one of the best defensive teams in the country for a reason and I think it starts on that end and that will carry over to the offensive end.

Q. What do you think you guys got to do well in the NCAA tournament to potentially make a run?

TAHJ EADDY: I think we got to come out to better starts, this is not the first time this has happened we put ourself in holes and things like that. But when would he play good teams we can't afford to do things like that. But like I saying it starts on the defensive end I think when we take care that have side of the ball we'll be able to get out in transition offensively and we'll be able to get into a good groove early.

Q. I asked coach after the game for his answer, what is your response to the team maybe the outside shooters being reluctant to take the shot early in the game and disrupting the flow of the offense?

TAHJ EADDY: Everybody who is in the game is capable of making that perimeter jumper. So guys just have to feel confident and just take that shot. It's necessary for our offense, teams like to load up on Evan or face guard me and things like that, so guys are going to have those opportunities, so we have to take 'em.