KENTUCKY (8-3, 0-0 SEC)
vs. Massachusetts (9-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
Friday, December 22 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Rupp Arena (23,000) ? Lexington, KY
TV: Big Blue Sports Network
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Kentucky welcomes the UMass Minutemen and former Wildcat standout Travis Ford to Rupp Arena in UK?s final game before a brief Christmas break.
It will be Kentucky?s second game in four nights in Rupp Arena after going a stretch where they played just one home game in 21 days.
For the ex-UK point guard Ford, Friday?s matchup marks the fourth meeting between Ford and the Wildcats. Ford matched up against the Cats three times as was the head coach at Eastern Kentucky, dropping all three contests, including a 72-64 game in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats own a 4-1 all-time mark against the Minutemen, with their last meeting coming 10 years ago in the Meadowlands. Kentucky and Massachusetts squared off in the 1996 Final Four, a contest the Wildcats won, propelling them into the title game against Syracuse, where UK won its sixth national championship, 76-67.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES – DEC. 21
Associate Head Coach David Hobbs
Opening Statement ?
?This is pretty much a different kind of game to be playing right before Christmas. We told our guys obviously this is a very big game, against a quality opponent. [UMass] is kind of the antithesis of what we just finished playing. We played a good team in Santa Clara. On the inside it is a whole different ball game ? Santa Clara had the big, bulky, maybe a little less mobile inside guys on the post. Now you have guys who are very athletic ? they may not have the bulk – but in terms of being able to make athletic plays, they are much more able to do that. Hopefully our guys know what it takes and that they are going to need to put forth some effort in some of the areas where we struggle a little bit. In particular, transition defense and defensive rebounds ? two strengths of the UMass team. Hopefully our guys will do what they have to do and if they don?t – and get to thinking about Christmas too early and trying to celebrate Christmas too early, then we won?t enjoy Christmas.?
On whether athletic teams or bulkier teams present the bigger match-up problems for UK ?
?I think for us it is probably the quicker guys. The guys who can run the floor a little better, the guys who can step away from the basket ? put the ball on the floor, shoot it, go around you after they shoot it and get to the rim. Those types of guys seem to give us more of a problem. With non-conference opponents you can get some teams that have a lot of undersized guys. In this particular case, they have the quickness and the foot speed, the athletic ability without being undersized height-wise. It is going to be a different type of challenge and we better bring our ?A? game.?
On getting the team in the right mindset to face a good UMass team ?
?Hopefully they helped us a little bit when they beat Louisville at Louisville. With that being the case, that should get our attention. For the most part, they have also been picked high in their league. It is one of those games that you look at and you?re like ? ?why are we playing this game at this time?? At the end of the day you question whether you should be playing this particular game at this particular time but if you can win the game you?ll be glad you played the game. I think they are going to do really well in their league. So therefore if we can get a win against them, you?ll get some schedule points and all that sort of thing that will help you down the road.?
On preparing the team for the personnel of UMass ?
?They are a quality team. We need to be thinking about winning the game and doing the things we need to do to win the game because they are certainly capable of beating you too. We have to be focused on what we need to do. We have to know the opponent. We have to know their personal and individual strengths and weaknesses. Tubby has told you all before that no matter who the opponent is the key is to figure out what the other team does well and what the other individual does well and then you have to do everything you can to try to take that away. So we have tried to educate our guys on what the strengths of UMass are and what we need to do to try to win the game. So that we are focused and come in mentally ready to play the game and get the result that you want.?
On similarities between UMass coach Travis Ford?s EKU and UMass squads ?
?I think they are trying to do some of the same things. He tailors what he is trying to do to his personnel and he certainly has better personnel at UMass than he had at Eastern [Kentucky]. One of the things in playing Travis? team is for the most part, at least on paper, we would have them outmanned in terms of talent. In this particular case you don?t necessarily have that. Some of the same things he did at Eastern Kentucky he is continuing to do at UMass. What I mean by that is he is trying to run the floor; he tries to spread you out defensively. They spread you out on both ends of the floor; they are continuing to do the same things at UMass.?
Kentucky Players
#3 Ramel Bradley, Guard
On upcoming opponent, University of Massachusetts?
?We know what they like to do. They are a very good offensive rebounding team, and they get out well in transition. If they can beat Louisville then you know they are tough.?
On the team?s current play?
?We are playing defense a lot better, and Randolph is playing really well. Lukasz is knocking down shots to help us, too. We?ve just gotten a lot better over the past couple of weeks.?
On the Louisville game this past week?
?It is a heated rivalry, and in games like that it comes down to hustle plays, rebounds and defense, and we did all those things well enough to win.?
#33 Randolph Morris, Center
On his responsibility of playing against UMass forward Stephane Lasme?
?I don?t feel like it is another responsibility. I look at it as a team game, and I look forward to playing good teams, not individual players.?
On the importance of foul trouble in the game vs. UMass?
?We never want to focus on foul trouble. I don?t think it will be a key offensively for us, but we may play to get them in foul trouble defensively.?
On UMass defeating Louisville last week at Freedom Hall?
?It didn?t get my attention. They?re playing well right now, and we?re playing well right now, and that?s about it.?
On what is missing offensively for the team?
?I think we are lacking some minor details. It?s all about being comfortable with the offense, and I?m not sure we completely are yet. We need to be comfortable with it in order to be successful.?
On the importance of playing well against UMass and leaving on a good note for the break?
?You always want to win every game, but I think it would be significant to leave on a good note for Christmas. When we come back we?ll be starting SEC play, and in this league you can?t have any let-down games. It?s hard every night. The SEC season is like a new season and a chance to start over.?
#10 Lukasz Orbzut, Center
On more getting more shot opportunities and taking more shots in games?
?I?m just starting to take my open shots that I know I can make. I?m knocking them down in practice and starting to do the same thing in the game. I guess it is paying off, all of those extra shots in practice, all of the working out, staying here during the summer and not going home, and just being here in the gym during my free time. I?ll just take the open jump shot or pass to the open man. Coach says if you?re open and squared up to the basket, shoot it.?
On his role on the team this season?
?I like to inspire the team to get their heads in the game and just motivate everybody both on and off the court by showing hard work on defense and on offense as well. I just try to be a leader.?
On getting a better feel for the offensive end of the court?
?I?m just seeing the court position better when I?m open near the basket – 15 feet away, that?s my shot. I am more comfortable facing the basket from there. I am able to see people cutting to the basket. I get a good view of the court on the offensive end. I can pass the ball to the open man or I can screen for them and get them open.?
