Chinyelu, Haugh talk Florida basketball after win over Colgate

Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh are two of Florida basketball's most important players, and they got a chance to speak with the media after Sunday's 30-point win over Colgate.

Haugh had 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting (2-for-5 from 3), and Chinyelu posted his sixth double-double of the season (16 points, 12 rebounds) in the victory. With both being returning players and leaders of the team, each spoke about individual improvements and the growth of the team as a whole.

Chinyelu emphasized a daily effort to get better and said he was proud of his development at Florida. Haugh, who has shone all year, praised his teammates for coming together through a couple of tough losses and being better for it.

Here's everything the frontcourt tandem said:

Chinyelu on improving over the past year-plus

"Just knowing that every day is a new day to get better. So, stacking it up and working towards that — on my strong suit and on my weaknesses, trying to get it all. When you play, there's going to be a lot of cheap fouls (unintelligible), so trying to work my way through that and stacking it up each day. So I'm working on it all summer, you know, just getting better."

Haugh on the frontcourt's play

"Obviously, there's stuff to improve on. I think we wish we could have got some of those games back in December, to UConn, you know. But I think that I think that taught us a really good lesson coming into SEC League play. We're able to play those top teams. We know what the top dogs look like this year, and we're right there with them. Coach Golden was saying that in that locker room: we're right there with them, and you just got to keep building upon it."

Haugh on mentoring young players CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd

"Those are great players. They're able to go out there and compete at a high level. They do it in practice all the time. Y'all don't see it, but like they're really, really good players. They know they're going to get their chance and they're both ready."

Is it only a matter of time until they start producing?

"Yeah, definitely. It was the same thing as freshman year that I did. Just go out there and play hard. Don't make mistakes, go rebound, just don't let your dude score, and they're living up to that though. They're going to be great."

Haugh on Xaivian Lee finding his scoring rhythm

"I think it shows a lot of maturity. A lot of guys, if they had some of those games or like stuff that he had at the beginning of year, they would get in their own head and stuff. We always trusted in Xaivian, and he trusted himself. So, you know, he was able to get out there and showcase these last couple of games, get that confidence back, and it's going to be great going into SEC play.

Chinyelu on helping Lee through struggles

"I would say, you know, just him coming over, filling up his spot. There's a lot of pressure towards that, you know, the person who was handling that position before — Walter Clayton. But, like, just him knowing that, we got his back and trying to be comfortable around us and playing and learning each player. It's a big thing to fill, and I think he just already (did) enough (to) get through that.

"And now he knows how to go about it, which is a great thing because like we were right there behind him. Like, keep doing what you're doing, we're going to show up for you and we're going to push you on that. When the time comes, I know you're going to do what you're going to do because you've been there. You just have to trust us. I know that we've got your back. No matter what's happening, I know that.

"We're a team. When we go to war, we back each other up. No soldier left behind. So, I think he got teary, and he bought into that. That's why he's spreading his wings, doing what he's doing."

Haugh on the scout of Colgate, Coach Klatsky's role

"Yeah, it helped us a lot. He's a great coach. He's one of our best defensive minds. You know we lost because Andrzejek last year, who was in that spot. Klatsky has done a great job of coming in and filling that spot. It helped a little bit that he coached at Colgate for 11 years. So, he knew what they were doing and is calling out their stuff before it even happened. But, yeah, it's good. He's been a great addition to us, and all the new guys, all the new coaches and guys and stuff are great for us this year as a team."

Haugh on growth from the start of the season

"I think we're a lot more mature. We're tested. We went into Madison Square Garden and played UConn. We went into Duke, almost beat them there. We're going to get those games. We're gonna get over that hump in SEC play. I'm confident this team, and it was great for us to go do that, get through those challenges and stuff."

Where is the team's confidence right now?

"I think it's really high."

Haugh on Colgate shooting 64% from 3-point

"Some of those tough shots — one dude hit like a jab-step three on Micah (Handlogten) — that's a tough shot. You live with that. Some of the other stuff, like those are tough shots. But credit to them. They're a great team. You know, we got a great scout for them, and we knew we needed to make them finish two more.We didn't really guard the three that great this game."

Chinyelu on free-throw improvement

"I'm super proud of it. You know, just being able to show the work that I've been putting in. The work that was done in the dark, just being able to show that in the light. So, that's beautiful. Working at it, it's not easy. You work on that and you come, you may say it feels some way because you make it (in practice), so just coming out and missing it (in game). But just being able to see that. I know that it's there. You just go out there and do what you've been doing in practice, off practice. I'm glad it shows off. I'm just proud of that moment."Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators basketball's Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu talk Colgate