Monday was the first time the Seattle media caught up to UW Head Coach Mike Hopkins after Washington's come-from-behind 67-64 win over No. 16 Baylor at the Armed Forces Classic in Anchorage. The Huskies used a 21-5 closing run to end the game with the victory, but it wasn't easy. In fact, far from it.

The Huskies committed 15 first-half turnovers and couldn't contain a Baylor offense that hit five 3-pointers as the Bears took a 31-24 lead into intermission.

As it was Washington's season-opener, this was the first time the team had played with something on the line. It was the first time Kentucky transfer Quade Green had played since getting his eligibility waiver approved. This was the first time playing a real game for true freshmen Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels. And it showed too. Everybody, in Hopkins' words, were trying too hard to making something happen, instead of letting the game come to them.

Once they slowed down in the second half and got into a rhythm, they were able to execute on defense, make some shots, and get the Anchorage crowd behind them. And that helped spur their final 21-5 run.

Hopkins talked about speeding up the process for the team by calming things down, as well as his assessment of Green, McDaniels, Stewart, and more as they prepare for Mount St. Mary's Tuesday at Alaska Airlines Arena. Hopkins also talked about the news this past weekend that Washington has been named as the Pac-12 representative for the 2020 China game. They will play Tulane. It's the second time they've played in the China game, beating Texas 77-71 in 2015 in Shanghai.

To listen to the full media session with Hopkins, click on the audio link above.

Below are selected quotes.

On the clinic where he coached the Air Force team...

"It was an amazing experience. They told me I'm coaching these group of guys and we went over and I didn't know who was who. It was funny just asking questions. I was asking a guy on the bench...I was like, okay, who is the best ball-handler? Who is the best shooter? Who starts? (laughs) What offense have you been running? It was coaching on the fly. I had Hameir and Jamal on the bench and it was just a lot of fun.

"The greatest thing about the military when you're dealing with soldiers is, yes sir, no sir. I said, are you the best rebounder in America? He looked at me and he goes, I can be sir. (laughs) Well, you've got to rebound with two hands! Sir!

"But it was an amazing experience and we were able to win at the end. It was a lot of fun. I know they really appreciated it and they were there at the game, so we saw them at the end. So it was just an incredible experience."

On how you were able to finish the game on a 21-5 run...

"We just had to calm down. At the beginning of the game we were just going so fast. Everybody was trying to make things happen, rather than let it happen. Trust the offense, trust your teammates. Defense, we did a good job of adapting to how they were attacking us. Guys started making plays. We made blocks, we made steals, we rebounded the ball. We started to get into the flow of the game, where it was just happening rather than forcing it to happen. We were able to do that at the end, and as we started to gain confidence and started to get closer, the crowd got behind us and it took us to the finish line. But I would attribute it to just slowing down, having poise, and executing the game plan."

On the new rule on flopping...

"They usually give you a warning and then the second time they can give you a technical foul. They shoot foul shots and have the ball. It's going to be a big play as the season progresses, and it could impact games. Guys who kick out their feet, that could end up being a technical foul where they make a three, they wave it off and the other team is shooting foul shots and with the ball. It's going to be interesting how it's called, because it can be a little bit a personal call, per se. Was it a flop, was it not a flop? Do you go back and watch tape and say his leg kicks all the time? Whatever that may be. But they called it on Jaden.

"There is a guideline on what they would consider a flop. And then they can go back to the video and watch it. But it was a personal call and they felt like he did. We felt differently but it was their call. That's why they get paid the big bucks."

Do you have to emphasize it in practice?

"We don't flop. At the end of the day, we're not floppers. We're basketball players. The rule, I'm sure, comes into effect with guys that kick (when they shoot), but I don't know how you really determine it on a tape. Even if you're 250 pounds and I'm 145 and I do this and he falls over like the Incredible Hulk just hit him, he still him. I guess they would consider that a flop because someone my size could never hit someone that big? Somehow he determined (the flop on McDaniels), but it's going to be a big play in the game this year. It could impact some games."

Thoughts on Quade's debut?

"I thought at the beginning...he had 9 assists, which was really good. I still felt like the rhythm of the game, it was a little bit different. I felt like he was anxious in the beginning. Normal things when you haven't played for a year, but we know how good he is and he's just going to keep getting better and better the more that we dance together, you know? More chemistry. He's a great point guard, he can make open shots, he can make others around him better."

On McDaniels and Stewart's poise at the end...come to expect it from freshmen now because of their experience already coming into college?

"I think there's special freshmen. I think it all depends. I don't think it's a ranking or whatnot. We talked about getting the right kid in our program, and they're not only talented but they're unselfish, they want to win, they make the extra pass. A lot of those threes we made at the end were off double-teams where those guys made the plays and the passes. That just shows their winning mentality and the buy-in to our culture. They're just incredible talents, they play the right way and we're lucky to have them."

On switching to man defense at the end...

"We've been practicing it and we saw in the middle of the second half we wanted to play more of it, but we had foul trouble. Isaiah (Stewart) had three (fouls), Hameir (Wright) had four, Jaden had three. Wanted to change something up, wanted to see if something else could work. But we stayed in it. We got to the time out and the coaches said, what do you think about man on the last possession? We'd been practicing it for these types of situations. We were able to call a time out and get Jamal (Bey) in and we were able to get a big lineup in. When you go 6-6, 6-7, 6-9, 6-9, and 6-10, all can guard multiple positions. We were able to switch and keep them off that three-point line and use our length and size, which was difficult for 'em at the end and I think it threw them for a loop a little bit. It worked. I'm sure you'll see more of it."

On Mount St. Mary's...

"A team you can't take lightly. They had Georgetown down 19. This is a team, they've got really good guards. They didn't win a lot of games last year but they've got a lot of returning players that are sophomores that got a lot of experience last year. They're confident kids. They went right at Georgetown and played. We respect everybody we play, and we know we're going to have to go out and play well to win. We're focused on how do we get better? We've got to get a lot better. We can't go out and play the way that we did. Put ourselves in the sand trap for 75 percent of the game. We've got to get better. These guys had a good practice yesterday, we'll have a good one today, and DMGB...doesn't matter, get better."

On if Marcus Tsohonis redshirts...

"I don't know. We'll see in the next couple games, see where he is. His teeth were bad. He's had a tough run, in practice getting hit a couple times even after having his mouth problem. So we'll see how it goes."

On playing Tulane in China in 2020...

"The Pac-12's been really bullish about the China deal. It's been great for the Pac-12 to get an opportunity to take your team overseas, just like what we did in Italy. It's an incredible experience, gives you a chance to bond, be in a place that's incredible and play a good basketball game, learn a different culture. Those are all great learning experiences for our guys and stuff they'll remember for the rest of their lives. They are those moments. You go back to the Baylor game, that was a moment. Going to Italy is a moment. Brain tattoos. For the rest of your life. We're honored to be the representative for the Pac-12 and going out there and playing that game. Really excited for that."

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Mike Hopkins: we will speed up our progress by slowing down - 247Sports