WATCH: Todd Golden reacts to Florida's ‘systematic’ win over Merrimack

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For the fourth straight game, the No. 10 Florida Gators had multiple players with a double-double Friday in their 80-45 blowout win over Merrimack. Rueben Chinyelu set a UF shot-clock era record with 21 rebounds and added 14 points, while Alex Condon scored a team-high 20 points with 10 boards.

Dating back to 1990, UF had not previously had even two straight games with multiple double-doubles. Here’s everything Florida coach Todd Golden said after the win and video from his postgame press conference above.

Todd Golden Q&A

Opening statement:

TODD GOLDEN: “Listen, I thought our guys did a really good job of playing the right way all night. And what I mean by that, you know, Merrimack’s a really good program. Joey (Gallo) is a great coach. I think they’re really unique the way they play their zone. Obviously our personnel, we have better personnel, and in a game like this, when you play an opponent, you’re not always measuring your performance based off the score, kind of more in terms of what the expectation is, in terms of execution and how hard you play, and how important it is, you know, for the guys to compete on every possession. And I think we showed a lot of respect for Merrimack and the way we competed tonight. I thought our guys were on point, playing the right way, sharing the ball, you know, we rebounded very well tonight. I thought we took care of the ball for the most part, and made our free throws, you know. And so we stepped up, guarded them really well. I think, again, like we talked about a lot, our defense should be our identity most nights. I thought we did a good job that way, and I’m proud of the systematic effort our guys displayed this evening.” 

On Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu setting the tone with Micah Handlogten out: 

TODD GOLDEN: “Yeah I mean, the expectation is for them to set it every night, to be honest, right? I mean, they are two of our most impactful players, and we need them to play well for us to be the best we can be. And so, you know, Rueben’s obviously kind of found his form. He’s playing elite basketball right now, just cleaning the glass, you know, Denver (Parler) shared with me, and I’m sure with you guys that this was, you know, 21 rebounds is the most rebounds in the shot-clock era at Florida. I think Andrew DeClercq had 20 in 1994 or something like that. He was a pretty good player, you know, so for Rueben to go in there and grab 21 rebounds just says a lot about his effort and his enthusiasm, and his enjoying competing, and Condo and Tommy did a really good job keeping us organized in the middle of the zone. We felt like if we could get them the ball in advantage-disadvantage situations there and let them kind of read the opportunities, that that would be our best bet to attack it, and it worked out well for us.”

On what went well during the 21-0 run:

TODD GOLDEN: “We were just competing really, really well. We were guarding really hard. I thought we showed great pride that way in the first half, like, [Isaiah] Brown’s chase-down block was a great example of that. We already had a lead, and we were finishing every play, we were taking what the defense gave us. We weren’t getting cute or unique with what we’re trying to do. And like I said before, and I’ll use the word again, we were systematic with it.”

On Isaiah Brown’s improved maturity as of late:

TODD GOLDEN: “Yeah, I think so. Obviously getting a couple threes from him tonight was huge. He has the capability to do that. Zay is a guy that we came into this year kind of counting on or thinking that, you know, we can rely on him. And he kind of had an up and down fall, but he’s playing really well right now. I think he’s in a great head space, has a great understanding of what we need from him in that role, and when he can help us by making a couple threes, obviously that’s icing on the cake. But he was plus-20 in his minutes. I thought he defended pretty well, and two blocks, he’s competing really well.”

On Olivier Rioux’s minutes: 

TODD GOLDEN: “I thought he did a good job getting to the foul line, really proud that he made one. There wasn’t a lot there, probably five possessions but he did the best he could do in those minutes.”

On trying to get Rioux the ball when the defense is playing prevent:

TODD GOLDEN: “I’m not probably thinking about that as much as you are, you know, I want us to make the right play, and I know it’s hard, and it’s, you know, a little bit of a spectacle when he’s out there, but I’m more thinking about why is Mikic driving into two bodies instead of throwing it out. So it’s not, I’m just more evaluating our whole body of work and the five guys on the floor.”

On Rueben Chinyelu being more assertive: 

TODD GOLDEN: “Yeah I mean, I think Rue just didn’t play his best against Arizona, but I think he was, and North Florida was a weird game. They’re small, we’re switching one-five and when we’re playing these – Florida State was similar. He’s had to guard a lot of different ways already this year, he’s done a great job, you know, when he’s in the one-five switch, but, you know, him and Micah, you know, we missed Micah at night, but they’re two of the best rebounders in America, you know, so my expectation is for them to clean the glass when they’re in there and to keep that being a huge advantage for us. But the thing that we’re really proud of Rueben about is he’s just gotten better and better and better and better, from where he was beginning last year to how he was playing at the beginning of conference play, to how he’s playing in the tournament, to where he is now, you know, every couple months, he’s making a jump and he’s a guy that we’re counting on to be a huge part of our team.”

On Thomas Haugh defending the perimeter:

TODD GOLDEN: “I think that’s always been a strength of his, being able to slide his feet. And he has really good IQ, so he’s able to kind of operate those low-high switches and be in the right place at the right time. He’s getting more comfortable. He’s just getting more rips out there being on the wing. I thought he did a really good job on Shelton. Shelton was averaging 30 a night, shooting over 50 from 3 coming into this game or at least going into their last game before they played Maine. And we held him to 1-for-9 tonight. We made it really hard on. And that’s a good player. So credit to Tommy for the growth that he’s made in those different areas.”

On UF’s growth defensively with its perimeter players:

TODD GOLDEN: “I do think with this team, that has to probably be what we’re best at. We gotta be an elite defensive team where we’re making it really hard on a team to score. We held them under 30% of the field tonight. That’s a pretty elite effort. We’re guarding the 3-point line well, and we’re taking a lot of pride on that end. Everybody that’s in the lineup, we have some guys struggling in some different areas offensively, but collectively our defensive effort is really, really good right now. And for me, I measured guys on how they do with the things that don’t require talent. Are they defending? Are they rebounding? Are they taking care of the ball? Are they on the scouting report? Are they diving on the floor for loose balls? Are they blocking out? All these different things. Those are the things that we care about and we’ll worry about the shot-making later. But for now, the guys in the rotation are doing their job in those areas.”

On CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd’s performances:

TODD GOLDEN: “I always see things I like out of both those guys. They’re really good players. I think they’re just finding their way at this level and for what my expectation is in terms of their role and figuring all that stuff out. But Alex is obviously a really talented scorer. He threw it in a 3. I thought he played a good floor game, grabbed two rebounds. I thought he took advantage of his opportunity. CJ I thought showed some good flashes, hit the 3, got to the line, made his free throws. And he just pops up there. He’s a really athlete. As he continues to get more and more comfortable, he’ll start seeing even more positive plays out of him. But these two guys, if things go as we plan, will be a huge part of our program as they move forward. I’m just pleased we were able to get them some time out there tonight.”

On if Xaivian Lee is doing other things well beside shooting:

TODD GOLDEN: “Yeah, he’s guarding. He’s done a great job taking care of the ball. Three assists, one turnover again tonight. We’re winning on the floor, and we need him to be a guy that’s comfortable for us to be the best we can be. And we’re gonna keep allowing him to kind of find himself in that sense. I’m sure he’s beating himself up a little bit, but it’s my job to make sure he’s focusing on the right stuff and I can’t allow his lack of shot-making to affect other areas of the game or affect our team negatively. And I think he’s been mature about that. Being able to be frustrated with himself about the shot-making, but not allowing it to affect our team and his teammates in the other areas. And that’s what I expect of him as a senior and a guy that’s had success before.”