Head Coach Billy Gillispie

“We?re excited about practice starting tonight. It?s going to be fun. It?s a very important weekend for us for a number of reasons. Several guys are returning from injury a little bit. They are getting better day by day. I?m really excited about those getting out there with us. Our guys are excited to practice. I think they?ve done a really good job in pre-season. I think they have worked extremely hard, the guys who have not been injured as well as the guys who have been injured. I think everybody is pretty excited to get going. I think we need to get a lot of work done to try and improve our team.”

On the injured players?

“Jared Carter is supposed to be back here soon. He?s doing really well in non-contact work right now. He?s done as well as anyone that I?ve seen. He is a fantastic rehab guy. I hope that translates to him being a really good player. I think he can surprise some people. Our folks are really excited in his potential in the way he has been running and moving, even though he has had an injured shoulder. Joe (Crawford) is probably the guy that needs the most time right now. He has really had that nagging knee all summer long. We finally did a surgery on him and I think that went great. He hasn?t had any setbacks since that time. I think because he?s missed the conditioning things it?s going to be a really long time before he is back to full-speed. But, he is progressing daily. I know that he is excited to get back out there. He has worked extremely hard to work his way back to get out there as soon as possible. Derrick (Jasper) had micro-fracture surgery, and that seems to be a fancy word these days. I think that?s the thing that Greg Oden unfortunately suffered which will cause him to miss the entire year. I think some others – have had the same thing happen. You hate to say that you?ve been lucky, but for somebody to be able to return when they had surgery in June ? maybe we are getting lucky with him. He has been working extremely hard. He?s doing more and more each day. He?s working hard, getting a lot of shots in and doing everything he can he possibly do to get himself back out there. Michael Porter who had a concussion last week is back at full-speed. I think he is okay. He?s not having any headaches anymore. Mark Krebs who walked on last year and is still going to be with us, he broke his foot two days ago ? so he is going to be out six to eight weeks. Other than that everybody is totally healthy as far as I know.”

On boot camp?

“I think they did fantastic. I believe this group did the best job of any group that I?ve ever been around in boot camp. We?ve had some groups that have really excelled in boot camp. The only negative is that 100 percent of the guys were not able to participate. The guys who we have been around the last three years have been in fantastic condition and these guys have equaled or surpassed that at this point. Hopefully that will continue and they will be able to maintain and excel. Conditioning is a very big part of what we try to do. I?ve been really pleased with the work ethic and the attitude. You try to get a lot of things out of it (boot camp), physical conditioning is number one. You also try to bond your team. I think it is a very important thing for chemistry building, and I really feel that we made as much of a stride there as we did in anything else. I think that it has been a total success up until this point. We didn?t suffer an injury during that time. Boot camp is a time when you don?t use a basketball. It?s when you are limited in the amount of time where you can use a ball. (Michael) Porter got his concussion during a time when we could use the ball. Mark (Krebs) got hurt when we were doing that as well. We didn?t have anybody get hurt during boot camp, so that is a major plus as well.”

On why he prefers a boot camp?

“I want to be in supreme condition. A lot is made out of boot camp. It?s an eight day period. Everybody conditions their team. Most teams start right when school starts because you can start doing conditioning exercises at that time and they do it three or four times a week. I?m not a big proponent of running guys out on the track. There are a lot of different ways to get the desired results. I think a lot of people run out on the track. Those kind of things they start when school starts, we choose to not do that. We try to condense it to an eight day period. We want to spend most of our time playing pick-up basketball, doing individual work, and working in the weight room. We just chose to do it a little bit different. As far as what I saw, I like boot camp. I really do like boot camp. I just wanted us to get in the absolute best condition. Some days are twice a day, but it is usually 40 minutes in the morning. It?s early in the morning. It?s just moving around a little bit. No they are moving around pretty good and at a pretty high intensity.”

On how boot camp has brought the team together mentally?

“I think that they enjoyed it. I think anytime you complete boot camp, because the last couple of days are very difficult- I think they have a victory before the season even starts. It says that ?hey I didn?t know if I could do that, but I know I can do it now.? I do really believe that it gives you a mental edge going into practice.”

On the leadership of his seniors Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford?

“I think Joe is going to have more of an impact once he can get back out on the court. Joe has a tremendous amount of respect from the coaching staff, but also from the players. We only have two seniors, so they look to those guys. Ramel is fantastic. He has been fantastic in every sense of the word- conditioning, talking, leading and those kinds of things. I?m really pleased with both of them. I think Joe has made an impact, but I think his impact will be greater as he gets back out on the floor.”

On the success of the young players in boot camp and whether or not that will help them during games?

“I don?t know how it will translate. Boot camp is not going to make you win all of your games. But, it?s maybe going to give you a better chance in practice- a better chance to practice at a very high rate for a very long time. I?m a big believer in ?we?ll see.? I?ll answer a lot of questions in that way, I?m not trying not to not answer your question I just don?t know. Did it help us, ?we?ll see.? I think that it has helped us so far. But for the long term effects I don?t know if it will help us in the amount of games we will win.”

On his players? performance in the past?

“I really believe that if you play basketball the worst thing you want is any preconceived notions that you are supposed to be the best player. I think if you are a player on any particular team, I think if you earn it you get it. If you?ve been a great player for a long time, then your experience should allow you to be a better player from a player who does not have that experience. However, that does not ensure you that you?re going to get that opportunity. If you earn it, then you get it. That?s the way that our country has been built, and that?s why it is such a great country. If you chose to excel, and you chose to succeed and you have the ability to do so, and you work hard enough to do it, working the right way- then you get a chance to continue to rise.”

On what kind of style he thinks this team will play?

“I think that we are going to be tough. I think we are going to be in great condition. I think we are going to be an extremely close team. I think we are going to be a really family-oriented team and that?s my favorite kind of team. I think that they are really going to try and help each other. As far as style, I don?t know yet. We haven?t had enough guys out there for a long enough period for the limited amount of time that we get for us to be able to determine that yet. I think that we are going to be able to do some things that I didn?t think that we would possibly be able to do.”

On how he gets to know his team?

“I never thought that we weren?t going to get it together. I?ve always believe that we would because we have good players. They care about each other. I?m not making any bold predictions. I think we are going to have a real hard-working, care about each other, very, very close, shares the basketball, does the fundamentals, understands the fundamentals, and tries to perform those fundamentals on a daily basis kind of team. I think that they are going to be an extremely tough team. As far as when that comes about, it comes in daily observation. Sometimes it is on the court. Sometimes it is not. Sometimes it is meeting with guys, talking with guys and getting to know them. There?s a period of time to do that during summer camp, or if they?re in your office. They have to come by on a daily basis and meet with us. So, we get to know these guys better. I think it is all about relationship-building. I?m trying to understand how those guys work. I?m trying to know what their though-process is and those kinds of things. Again, sometimes it is on the court.

On what tendencies he has seen so far from his team?

“I think we?re going to have one of the best shot blocking teams- probably the best I?ve ever had as a head coach. Shot blocking can be good and bad though. If they are getting that close to the basket, maybe your perimeter defense isn?t as good as it should be. We?ve not been great at shot blocking the past, but we?ve been great about not letting guys get close to the basket. I think we?re going to be able to block some more shots. I think that we?re going to have some physical ability. I think we?re going to be a little bit tougher than I initially thought. This is just based on looking at some things, and getting to know them. I think we?re going to be a really, really tough team before it?s all over. Those are the two main things probably.”

On who will be his shot blockers?

“I think Patrick (Patterson) will have a chance. Not only shot blocking, but also in a lot of different areas. He?s been well taught defensively. He plays good position defense. Perry Stevenson is probably our best position defender right now on the interior. He?s been very, very well taught. He?s usually in a position to block shots if the defense breaks down on the perimeter. So, far in our practice there has been tons of break downs. But, you would expect that. As far as Mike (Morakinyo) Williams, he is still learning on how to move and how to use his body. He?s got a long ways to go, but he is trying real hard. A.J. (Stewart) he?s still trying to figure out where he is supposed to be too. He is a very long, athletic player. Those are some guys who I think will be able to do some things.”

On how quickly the season starts?

“It?s too early in my opinion. I don?t care to really start that soon. I wish that we had a lot more time. Not just because it?s my first year as coach, but I think every coach would appreciate a lot more time. That?s what we have, and that?s what we?ll work with. I really am a firm believer in fundamentals. I really am a firm believer in trying to do things the right way. I try to teach the game the right way. Hopefully we?re going to peak at the right time. That?s what some of my teams have done in the past. We?re not going to let the schedule change how we go about things. We?re going to try and coach the fundamentals about the same way we always have. There will be some differences because of the schedule. We?re not going to try and put in every team thing that we?re going to have in January or February. Just because our schedule says that might need to be done, we?re not going to. I don?t believe in doing that. I believe in being able to catch, pass, shoot, dribble, screen, how to set screens, block out, get your hands up, catch the ball with your hands, all of those fundamental things that allow you to win games when you really, really have to win games and when you are playing for the high stakes.”

On playing a faster tempo game?

“I think we?ve always wanted to play as fast as possible. If you really look inside our numbers, we?ve been one of the most efficient teams in the country in terms of offense. Many years that I was an assistant coach with Coach (Bill) Self, we were a very good offensive team. I think one of the things is that we?ve always been labeled as a hard-nosed defensive team and we really proud to be that, but I think we have been viewed as real good defensive team but we?ve been overlooked at how good we?ve done offensively. We were one of the better teams in the country last year offensively in so many areas. We had four guys shooting over 50 percent or better in our starting lineup. Not too many teams are able to have those kind of numbers. We want to try and play as fast as we can. That?s what we?ve always done. Fast is dictated by the way you play on defense. Fast is dictated by the intensity you practice with on a day-to-day basis so you have the best habits you can possibly have so the game becomes easier than practice. We are going to try and play as fast as we can to give us the best chance to win. We?re not going to play fast just for fast sake and throw up a bunch of bad shots just so that we can say that we played fast. We want to play as fast as we can, but also play so that we have the best chance to win.”

On Big Blue Madness?

“We?re going to have a hard-nosed practice at 7 p.m. tonight. It?s a perfect day for me, unless you could have started at three or something like that. We practice at seven, and the NCAA started allowing that a couple of years ago. Then we?re going to go over (to Rupp Arena for Big Blue Madness) and have a fantastic time. I?m looking forward to it. I think it is great. I think the fans love it. I know the players love it. I know the recruits love it. I think it is a great starting point every season. I think a lot of people are excited right now. I don?t think anyone is more excited than me. I can?t wait for tonight to happen. I?ve heard so many great things about it. I?m really looking forward to being a part of it tonight.”

On what surprises are planned for tonight?s Big Blue Madness?

“Are there any surprises? What would you like? Whatever you want, we?ll get it to you. It?s probably already on the agenda anyway. I?m not going to propose to anybody or anything like that. I would be the one who would be most caught off guard with that. You never know, there might be a surprise or two that might pop up. You never know, so stay tuned.”

Kentucky Players

#3 Ramel Bradley, Sr.

On the importance of walk-on players like Dwight Perry?

“Dwight is a walk-on and walk-on players have it tougher than the scholarship players sometimes because they aren?t on scholarship and they have to go extra hard. They give us an extra boost of energy. That?s what guys like that do ? especially Dwight ? he jumps in every drill.”

On what he likes about head coach Billy Gillispie?

“What don?t I like about him? That?s the question. I just love how intense he is as a coach and the fact that he wants us to get better as players. He wants to show us that he loves us and cares about us, and he cares about his futures.”

On there being “championship talk” surrounding the team ?

“There?s always championship talk. We wouldn?t be out here if we weren?t trying to get an eighth banner.”

On what he likes about Big Blue Madness?

“I like the fact that we can actually go through practice and smile and be happy all the time. It?s a lot more fun than the regular practice.”

On what he worked on during the summer?

“I worked on everything. I worked on every aspect. I think a big thing that I did all summer that I didn?t do in the previous ones is that I ran a whole lot. I did a lot of conditioning this summer. I felt like a track star.”

On whether he views himself as a point guard or a 2-guard?

“I think my most natural position is to be a point guard, but I believe that I can play any position as long as I am out there on the floor.”

#43 Jared Carter, Jr.

On his shoulder injury in the off-season?

“The doctors said the surgery should clear up everything. It feels really strong right now, it feels great. I have been in the weight room, lifting weights with it and I have not had any problems at all. I have made a good recovery. I will only miss some parts of the practices coming up, when it gets really physical. I can step aside during those times and do some other drills. Otherwise I should be able to anything.”

On how he felt not playing basketball for a long period of time?

“It has been really tough. It has been about a year I guess, almost two years doing rehab and stuff. I am really excited to be back out on that court.”

On how he and his team will fare this year?

“It?s hard to say, I am just going to go out there and try my best. I have more of a fire to go out there and prove to everybody what I can do. I think we can go a long way. We have great team chemistry. We have a great coach leading the team. I think we will be pretty good this year.”

On difference between Coach Gillispie?s style this year and the coaching style last year?

“It is hard to determine the difference between two coaches. Coach Gillispie really wants to get the job done. He is a good coach. From the day he first came in, he sat us down and said what he wanted to do, what he wanted to get done and how he was going to do it. I think that has built our team stronger. The feeling you get about the upcoming basketball season is the same regardless of the coach.”

On the excitement generated by the hire of Coach Gillispie?

“Oh, there is a lot of excitement. There is excitement about both the team and Coach Gillispie. You just kind of feel it in the air, today and yesterday, with everyone?s excitement about Big Blue Madness and the whole season coming up.”

#32 Joe Crawford, Sr.

On how much he enjoys this time of year with Big Blue Madness?

“I am going to enjoy it the most this year. I am looking forward to sitting back and just having a lot of fun. I hope everything goes well. I mean you still get jitters when all of those fans come out. I think last year was the craziest that it has ever been. I am excited to get out there and see how the fans react to our ball club.”

On team expectations this season?

“I think it is a total team effort. We seniors have to provide leadership and show others what to do. We are definitely going to need underclassmen to step up because they have tremendous talent and can help us win ball games.”

On Coach Gillispie?s approach to getting the team ready for the season?

“He doesn?t let up. When I make mistakes, he is going to let me know about it. He is helping me move along faster, the way he does things. The reason why I came to Kentucky is to have the chance to compete for a title every year. I think we competed well with teams that have been in the championship. We get a new chance every year to compete for a new title. He is bringing something different to the table. We don?t run the same drills; it is a new way of doing things.”

On the feeling on campus going into this season?

“There is just a lot of excitement going on right now. Big Blue Madness is tonight. The football team is playing well. I am excited about going to their game tomorrow. I am just having a lot of fun right now. We are working hard and things look like they are on the way up.”

On how he has molded his body since last season?

“I think I lost about 15 pounds. I just eat different now. I haven?t had the chance to work out as hard as the other guys yet. I couldn?t do as much as them. I couldn?t go through boot camp as much as I would have liked. I wanted to get into the top condition that I could be in. I definitely feel lighter on my feet. I feel like I am going to be faster. The injury is still there a little bit. The injury gets better every day. I just don?t eat late-night pizzas now. I try to eat the right things and not eat after seven o?clock. I miss the late-night pizzas though when I see teammates eating them.”

On adjusting to a new coach as a senior and his role on the team?

“It has been a tough transition. I was used to doing things one way for three years. I think it is a change for the better. He brings new ideas to the table and new life to the team. I am a good rebounding guard. I think that is the biggest thing I bring to the table is rebounding.”

#34 Ramon Harris, So.

On the difference between his preparation last year versus this year?

“I have a fresh start now. I am here at the beginning. I have been here through the summer workouts. Last year?s experience was good for me, but I feel like this is a new one about to begin. It is hard for me to say because high school and college are two different levels. The game is very different. Hopefully I will be able to defend, rebound and things like that to help us win games.”

On experiencing his first Big Blue Madness and hosting recruits for the first time?

“Yeah, this is my first one. I am looking forward to it. I have heard a lot of good stories about it. I can?t wait to see it. It shows the recruits how much our fans love the basketball team; it shows how much support we have. Basically every recruit we have is a big recruit. We want to show them that we want them here. We want them to know they are going to have to work hard like we do. It is going to be a lot of fun.”

On how his game has changed since last season?

“I think I am just getting more adapted to this level of basketball. I just have to be more mentally prepared at the college level. The upcoming practices and things like that will help me out more. I grew two inches over the summer. One of my teammates mentioned that I looked taller. When we finally had height and weight checks, I was listed at 6?7″. Hopefully I can grow a couple more.”

On the biggest difference between Lexington and his native Alaska?

“I guess just growing up and just being around people I grew up with. There a lot bigger cities around here, like Louisville and Cincinnati. You are able to travel and shop a little more and it?s more convenient.”

On his potential to have a break-out season along with the team?

“I think I am more prepared this year. I came into last season not really knowing what was going on. I wasn?t yet prepared for the college level. Now going through summer workouts, my teammates have helped me out a lot. I can?t be satisfied; if you are satisfied, then you really can?t improve. Once you get satisfied, you get relaxed. I will be ready this year. I want our team to win and get to the Final Four. I think our team goal is to go all the way. If that is not your team goal, then what are you working hard for? That?s what the summer workouts are for. I believe we are going to fight every game to achieve that goal.”

#5 Derrick Jasper, So.

On the differences between last season and this season ?

“Practices have been more intense. It?s been a great atmosphere to succeed and have fun in.”

On whether he feels like the team has anything to prove this season?

“I don?t really know that we have anything to prove, we?re just going in every day and working as hard as we can. It has been intense in practice.”

On what he expects his role on the team to be this season ?

“My role is basically just being a leader on the team and showing the freshmen what to do and helping them along the way.”

On whether players on the team feel different after the pre-season conditioning?

“We feel the same. We?re just going in every day trying to play our hardest at practice. We just want to work our hardest every time we step into the line.”

On Jasper taking 600 shots per day ?

“When I was hurt, there was nothing else really to do but stand there and shoot, so I?ve really been trying to put up a lot of shots. I know that?s my weakness, so I?m just trying to get better. Some days I make 600 and then some days I?ll make 300. I?m working behind the arc, some free throws and some mid-range.”

On how his recovery has been ?

“It?s coming along. I?ve been cleared to play and I?m day-to-day. It?s feeling better every day and I?m just ready to start playing.”

On how much he has had to adjust his game following surgery ?

“I just feel a lot slower on the court, but it comes along with the healing. It?s difficult, but I just have to be more crafty and clever out there, and have to shoot more.”

On his predictions for this season?s starting lineup ?

“I actually have no clue about the lineup. Coach Gillispie said whoever earns it gets it.”

On Coach Billy Gillispie?s new system ?

“I think he just wants us to be really aggressive on both sides of the floor ? defense and offense. We have great players for that kind of system, so I?m really excited about it.”

#1 Alex Legion, Fr.

On the bond of the incoming freshman class?

“We?re all really close. I mean A.J. (Stewart), Mike (Williams), Patrick (Patterson) and I have a special type of bond. We all came here together during the summer and it kind of grew from there.”

On how he ended up at UK after asking out of his letter of intent at Michigan?

“I wanted to go somewhere close to home and that?s why I ended up at Michigan. When (University of Michigan) coach (Tommy) Amaker left then I wanted to too. I still wanted to go somewhere that wasn?t too far away and this is where I ended up. I followed Coach Gillespie at Texas A&M and Illinois (where he was an assistant coach) and it?s a great spot be. I guess I had my eye on him before he had his eye on me.”

On adjusting to the college life?

“It wasn?t really that tough. I went to a private school so I knew. You can?t really let your day drift here. We go from practice to class to practice so we?re always busy.”

#23 Jodie Meeks, So.

On his impressions of Coach Gillispie?

“I heard a lot of good things from some guys before he got here and he?s definitely what I thought. He?s a great player coach. He asks a lot of questions about everything, not just basketball. He wants to know about classes, your family and stuff like that.”

On what he likes about this year?s team?

“We have a really good nucleus and great leadership on the back end with Joe (Crawford) and Ramel (Bradley). We have good returners with us sophomores and other experienced guys, and the young guys that we have coming in will help us out a lot.”

On any pressure on the freshman?

“There shouldn?t be any on those guys. They should just worry about coming in and doing what they always have done, which is just work hard and play basketball. They know they can ask any of us other guys questions, especially the veterans Joe and Ramel. They need to just work hard and be ready.”

On team and individual goals this season?

“Well I don?t worry about personal goals because I know that if I work hard and help the team, than I?ll be satisfied. For the team, we just need to prepare mentally and physically for each game. That should help us compete and hopefully we?ll be alright from doing that.”

On pressure on him?

“I just need to come in and not worry too much about pressure or expectations. I?m just going to work hard and do what I need to do to help this team and just worry about winning.”

#54 Patrick Patterson, Fr.

On his impressions of the team?

“I think everyone on the team impresses me. Mike Williams is working hard on his strength. Joe (Crawford) and Jared (Carter) are coming back from injuries and getting physically ready to play again. So I think the hard work by those guys? shows me something about this team.”

On his reaction to the former coaching staff leaving, and how it may have affected his college decision?

“Yeah it was something I needed to know, but I really just kept an open mind about it. UK was the closest school from home (in Huntington, W.V.), and it?s a great school to be at. It was always in my mind that friends and family could come visit and watch me play, so it wasn?t anything that affected me too much. Once they brought in Coach Gillispie, he still wanted me here, so it was an easy decision.”

On his preparation to play?

“I hope I get to play a lot. I?m fortunate to come in and have that chance, but coach made no guarantees on starters or playing time, so hopefully I can just work hard and show them that I can earn that spot.”

On what improvements he made offensively this summer?

“I?m working a lot on post work. I want to catch the ball like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan do with my face to the basket. I?m trying to work on a consistent mid-level shot, from about 15-feet out, and taking the ball strong to the basket from the wing.”

On what he thinks tonight will be like at Big Blue Madness?

“Seeing all those fans and experiencing that from the court should be great. I?ve never been anywhere, while playing, with 24,000 people in the stands and that kind of atmosphere. I was here last year in the stands, so to be on the court for the first time to feel and see that will be great.”

On what he likes most about Coach Gillispie?

“His honesty. He?s hasn?t lied to us about anything and always tells the truth, even if we don?t want to hear it. He?s down to earth and really wants to get to know us. We can introduce our friends and talk to him about anything.”

#13 Michael Porter, So.

On the difference between being a point guard and shooting guard?

“I don?t think there?s much of a difference; I just think that as a point guard, it causes you to be more of a leader. I haven?t been the best at being a leader since I?ve been here and I think coach is trying to bring that out in me.”

On whether it takes more playing time to be an established leader ?

“It doesn?t have to take more playing time. Sometimes it happens in things off the court. It just comes in your daily life and the way you live, I think.”

On the difference in the team between this season and last season?

“Obviously, we have a lot of new guys and not a lot of older guys this year. We?re a lot younger with a lot of inexperience. We don?t have a lot of older guys telling us what?s going to happen, but we?re getting closer as a team right now. I think that?s going to help us throughout the season.”

On whether the team can surpass expectations this season?

“I don?t see why not. We?ve been working hard enough and I think we can reach a championship level if we really want to.”

#21 Perry Stevenson, So.

On what he thought when he heard of the concept of “Boot Camp” ?

“It wasn?t easy, but it wasn?t as hard as everyone made it out to be. It wasn?t as hard because I had my teammates there and everybody got better because of it.”

On how pre-season conditioning this season compared to previous seasons ?

“It was still hard work. Last year was hard and I?m pretty sure the next two years are going to be hard too.”

On what parts of his game he wanted to improve on?

“I just wanted to improve on being an overall better player and teammate to help the team win.”

On Coach Billy Gillispie?s emphasis on a fast-break offense?

“I think it will help because we all pretty much want to run, so the system fits our team great.”

On what the returning players should tell Coach Gillispie about Kentucky Basketball?

“I don?t really know what we can tell him besides the fact that it?s Kentucky Basketball. He was the coach at Texas A&M, which was a pretty good program from what I have seen. I think he?s well prepared and will be well prepared for the season.”

On what has impressed him about Gillespie so far?

“He?s just getting us better every day and not taking any kind of days off.”

#15 A.J. Stewart, Fr.

On the mental anguish of boot camp?

“I don?t know if it was meant to be a mental thing but it sure helped. Everyone pushed their limits. No one quit and we came together as a team. We were all leaning on each other.”

On Coach Gillespie calling them a family not a team?

“All of us love each other. We?re a very close family with a lot of love. Nobody likes one person more than another person and we?re just a close family.”

On the toughest part of boot camp?

“Everything was tough. I can?t really point out one thing. I mean the suicides were tough. I missed my sleep more than anything. I needed that. I think waking up early takes more out of you than the running. So getting up at 5:30 a.m. was tough. I loved my days off so I could get my sleep.”

On adjusting to the college life?

“Wow! It?s crazy different, I can?t really explain. It?s nothing like high school. I?ve had to grow up fast and mature a lot but I?m better for it. It made me into a man. He?s made me into a better basketball player and a better team player.”

#25, Morakinyo Williams, Fr.

On team chemistry?

“We have good chemistry but it is not perfect yet. We are getting closer everyday and we can all see a difference from week to week. We get a lot of energy from everyone during practice. Everyone is cheering and working hard. I had to get used to that when I first got here but I love it.”

On his adjustment to being in the states?

“Not much has been different from what I imagined. In England we didn?t practice nearly as much. We would have maybe two practices a week. There is a huge difference over here in the intensity level. I love the challenge of playing for Coach Gillispie and I have had to get used to him just like everyone else because he is new. He is big on team togetherness and hard work. He wants us all to work hard and that is the only rule. I really like Coach Gillispie”

On the start of the season?

“Today is very exciting for me and all of us. This is my first experience with Big Blue Madness, the fans and seeing the arena setup for basketball. I can?t wait.”

On his role?

“We really haven?t talked about roles that much yet. We are working to see all the strengths and weaknesses and where everyone fits in. Everyone has an equal opportunity to earn their spot wherever you want. If you want to score all the time then you can earn that in practice. It is time to work to be where you want to be.”

On front court?

“Our front court is going to be a lot stronger than people think. We have a lot of talent and we have been working hard since Coach Gillispie has got here. People will be very surprised. We have been going full speed, 100 percent in practice so come game time it will feel very natural.”