What Colorado, Florida basketball are saying ahead of March Madness game

INDIANAPOLIS — Expect a fast-paced game with plenty of points scored.

That's what Colorado men's basketball coach Tad Boyle and Florida coach Todd Golden would like to see, at least, when the No. 10 Buffs play the No. 7 Gators on Friday in Indianapolis.

Florida, led by point guard Walter Clayton Jr., plays with the 18th-fastest tempo in the country. Colorado doesn't usually operate at that speed (184th-fastest tempo) but the Buffs love playing fast, according to Boyle.

Here's what Boyle, Golden and players had to say about Friday's matchup:

Colorado, Florida basketball both want to play fast

Golden: "Obviously I think Coach Boyle is one of the better coaches in America. Just always been very, very successful, and they're really tough. They're big. KJ Simpson, their point guard, is one of the best point guards in America, and next to him they're 6-foot-6 and bigger across the board. So we're going to have to deal with some size that we haven't seen on a regular basis.

"They do a good job defending without fouling. They're one of the more efficient teams in America offensively.

"I think a big key for us tomorrow is making sure we control the tempo and pace of the game. Even though they are very efficient in transition, they can operate pretty well in the half court. We want to get this game up and down a little bit and see if they can run with us. When we're at our best we're playing that way."

Boyle: "We're fine playing fast. I love playing fast, without a doubt. They're a very good transition offensive team, so our transition defense will be tested.

"The best way to have good transition defense is to take care of the ball on offense and to be efficient on offense, so they're taking the ball out of the net. I'd like them to be running after makes, not after misses. If they're running after misses, we'd better get back and shore things up because they will pitch ahead. They are very good in transition.

"But I think we are, too. Obviously we play in Boulder, and we want up-tempo games for sure. I'd love an up-tempo game because we haven't had one of those in a while. Our guys would be ready for that.

"But it starts with our offense, taking care of the ball, because it's not like we want to trade baskets with Florida. We want to get stops. I think that's where our defense and rebounding mentality can help us in games like this. We have to go out and do it, go out and execute, but it should be an interesting game."

Boyle, Colorado players on a struggling Cody Williams

Boyle: "His year has been tough in terms of start, stop, start, stop with his injuries, and unfortunately this one came at a time of the season where we haven't had a lot of quality practices. So he's rehabbing on the side, trying to get back into shape with an ankle. It's hard to get the cardio that you need to come back once you're out two and a half, three weeks, whatever that was.

"We were clicking pretty good. Our chemistry was good. We knew — he was probably averaging 28 to 30 minutes a game before he went out, and then I knew he probably couldn't play that just from a cardio situation. I said we'll bring you off the bench, and I think he played 19 minutes against Oregon and has done some really good things.

"But we haven't had any quality practices, so that's been really unfortunate for him to get those game reps and practices, which are so important.

"It's hard to play this game when you don't practice, and Cody — I think the timing of that ankle injury has been difficult.

"But I've got confidence in him. I really do. And his teammates have confidence in him. Every game is a different game, and who knows what's going to happen tomorrow. You've just got to be ready when your number is called.

"Coming off the bench sometimes is different than starting.

"But Cody is a competitor. He's a wonderful young man, and he's a team-first guy, which I appreciate. We're going to keep encouraging him and helping him as best we can."

J'Vonne Hadley: "Everyone goes through it. That's mainly the message. No matter how old you are, junior, sophomore, super senior, seventh year, it doesn't matter. Everyone is going to go through injuries. Everyone is going to battle different things, whether it be personal issues, stuff on the court, off the court. It doesn't matter, everyone is going to go through something that's going to throw off their game a little bit. Everyone is going to experience something.

"Just sticking with it and just knowing that, like I reiterated earlier, your teammates are there for you and they're going to pick up your slack."

KJ Simpson on matchup with Walter Clayton Jr.

Simpson: "Obviously have respect for him. He's done great things over there at Florida. He's just a three-level scorer. There's not a shot that he doesn't like. I'm just going to have to, we're going to have to as a team, have great team defense and kind of make shots tough for him to get up that usually he's capable of knocking down.

"It's just going to take guarding as a whole team, honestly, for a couple of their guys to kind of take them away from what they're comfortable doing.

"But looking forward to it. Respect him as a player. He's a great talent."

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This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What Colorado, Florida are saying ahead of March Madness game