Forward Quincy Pondexter, Washington
“When teams are in transition, they’re very vulnerable. When they’re young, they’re vulnerable. They don’t have any idea what it’s like. And they have teams who have been grueling for a chance to be at the top. We were itching for the top. We wanted to be the champions, and it happened.”

Forward Quincy Pondexter, Washington
“We’re not used to UCLA being where they are but they have a lot of talent on that team .You can’t sleep on them. They’re going to have a lot of learning to do this year; they don’t have a Darren Collison, they don’t have a Josh Shipp, they don’t have an Alfred Aboya. But they have a great coaching staff, and they’ll be able to rebound just fine.”

Forward Michael Roll, UCLA
On the team’s expectations
“The only thing to hang in Pauley is national championships. We feel it’s best to win the Pac-10 title, get a good seed, get a closer game for the tournament, have a good fan base. We realize how important the early games are. Every day in practice, coach is working us so that we can get those early games and have a good resume for the tournament.”

On a preseason schedule that sees them leave California just once:
“Travelling can get to be very much a big burden. People get sick when you travel, it makes you tired, a little jet-lagged. Some of the guys don’t know how to travel. When we stay close, it helps. All the unexpected isn’t there.”