Colorado women’s basketball: JR Payne, players share thoughts on reaching Sweet 16 against Iowa

“Last weekend in Durham, we played Middle Tennessee and in 48 hours you got to play someone that’s really good. We really leaned on our Pac-12 experience, we really knew that the conference had prepared us to do that.”

“I’ve been saying to our team throughout the postseason, the teams that are going to continue to be successful are the teams that do them better. It’s not about what kind of magic scheme we can come up with or new offensive quirks, it just doesn’t work that way. I think if we can do us really well, that’s the goal.”

“People have chosen to come here with their eyes wide open. This is not a place where we have a roster full of McDonald’s All-Americans. We don’t need to play to play pretty, we don’t need to be dainty. On the floor, we’re rough, we’re blue collar, we work hard. It wont be easy, but you’ll be loved and supported and challenged and players know that coming here. We’ve created an identity where we do play really hard, we are gritty. Players are in a space where they can be who they want to be in our program. We love who we are and we love the players who are here and it just works for us.”

“When we were sitting their Monday (after the win against Duke) it was just like, ‘Oh my god that really just happened.’ Everybody was excited for the culture of the program. Colorado is definitely on the rise. So for us, we’re excited to do new things and I know we’re more then capable of doing so.”

“It was funny because as soon as we got to the next media timeout, coach said ‘Welcome home!’ It was exciting, just the atmosphere of being around so many people that were there for me, 50 people there for me. It’s hard playing here (at CU), a lot of my family doesn’t get to (watch me play), so it was a blessing just to see them in the stands and have them there supporting me.”

“It’s really just amazing. I’ve seen so many girls ahead of me leave and go different places and it truly is awesome. Not only being the only Colorado player on the team, but being able to represent my state and just encourage other young women who are upcoming basketball players to come here because it’s a great school and a great basketball program.”

“She’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest offensive players in the country and we’re ready to shut her down.”

“It’s been a very quick turnaround. We got home yesterday and I didn’t even unpack. (I) did a little bit of laundry and now we’re leaving for Seattle again. But that’s what makes it fun, you’re constantly on the road just looking forward to the next game.”

“Those last five minutes it was either we take it or we end up going home and we’re done. We all just stepped up and tried to be the best versions of ourselves in that five minutes so we could get the win and keep moving on.”

“It starts with the guards and how they pressure her. But just being a big presence near the basket, kind of making people unmotivated to come near or get close and make them take tougher outside shots (is important).”