KENTUCKY (5-3, 0-0 SEC)
vs. Indiana (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, December 9 – Noon ET
Rupp Arena (23,000)
TV: CBS
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Due to a scheduling conflict at Louisville?s Freedom Hall, Kentucky hosts Indiana at Rupp Arena for the first time since the 1989 season. The series has recently rotated between Freedom Hall and Indianapolis? RCA Dome.
The Wildcats own a 27-22 all-time series lead over the Hoosiers, having won five of the last six and 10 of the last 12. Indiana claimed last year?s game in Indianapolis, 79-53.
The series between the two tradition-laden teams dates back to 1925 when the Hoosiers claimed a 20-18 victory in Lexington. The Wildcats have recovered through the years though posting a 7-3 alltime mark against IU in games played in Lexington, including a 5-1 record in Rupp Arena.
The schools first learned of a potential scheduling conflict at Freedom Hall in February. By that time, both schools had already filled in other weekend non-conference games around the December 9 date, reducing the opportunities for finding an alternative date to play the game in Freedom Hall.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES – DEC. 8
Head Coach Tubby Smith
Opening statement ?
?Good afternoon. We had our morning practice at Rupp and that was a good chance to go down there and get some work in this morning. We are still working on some things ? our ball handling, some guys are handling the ball better in practice and we will see how that carries over to tomorrow?s game against Indiana.?
On his relationship with Indiana Coach Kelvin Sampson ?
?Indiana is a very talented team and it is a big deal to have them back in Rupp Arena, since we haven?t been there in so long. They have a new coach in Kelvin Sampson ? we are very close friends, we have spent a lot of time together, our wives spend a lot of time together. We went to school near each other ? he is from North Carolina and I went to High Point College and had a chance to play against his teams there years ago. He did his student teaching in the same town where I was coaching. We have a lot of things in common. Indiana is very lucky to have someone of his caliber ? at many levels he is one of the best coaches in America and does a great job as witnessed by the way his team is playing now.?
On what Kentucky will have to do Saturday ?
?We are really going to have to match their intensity. There are several things that this team does well ? rebound the basketball, defend. Anyplace he has ever coached his guys always do a good job executing at both ends – offensively and defensively. They play with tremendous pride and tremendous intensity and that will be a big test for our guys. They have a new coach and a new regime and we are focused on how to get the win tomorrow. The keys to the game will be to make sure we outwork and out-hustle them. We have to rebound the ball because they are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation ? they are plus-10 on the boards and that is something that we have struggled with. Defensively they create a lot of problems with denials and good defense. We have to take care of the basketball, those are some areas we really need to pay attention to.?
On similarities between Indiana and Kentucky styles of play ?
?Everybody has a certain system that they run and they believe in ? you just have to do what you do best. I think most coaches believe in the same things ? trying to get your team to play hard, play smart and play together. It doesn?t matter what offense you run or what defense you play. When you talk about similarities, hopefully that is what people will say about our team ? that we play hard, play smart and play together. Both teams are going to try to get up and down the floor. We want to push the ball when the opportunity presents itself. We want to get out in fast break and get some easy baskets in transition. Indiana, they are going to make it tough for you to score and so are we, so yeah there are some similarities in that. His teams are pretty organized and very patient, they take good shots. I have been very impressed with D.J. White. They certainly can get out and run but can also get out and shoot the three and really stretch the defense. They have a lot of depth, a lot of guys real long that can really play ? a lot of guys who can come off the bench and really fill it up as well. It is going to be really who can really control the tempo and flow of the game.?
On Indiana?s D.J. White ?
?He does both he scores inside and he scores outside he is really balanced. When you have a guy who is 6-foot-9, 6-foot-10 and can do those types of things it creates a lot of problems on us. They are going to have to know who they are guarding and know that he can make the open shot.?
Kentucky Players
#32 Joe Crawford
On what it is going to take to beat Indiana?
?We?re just going to have to play our game. We?re going to have to play defense and take care of the ball. We also have to constantly get the ball inside.?
On whether or not last season?s loss still leaves a bitter taste?
?It does because we didn?t play Kentucky basketball. We got beat by 30 points, so we definitely want to go in there tomorrow and turn things around.?
On the nature of last season?s game?
?I think it was both. We didn?t do the things we wanted and they didn?t make it easy on us. We didn?t play well defensively or offensively, last year we couldn?t get anything to go. We didn?t have an inside presence last year either. We couldn?t stop anybody inside or score inside. Things just went wrong last year. Hopefully, this year we can turn it around.?
On the preparation with Randolph Morris in the lineup this season?
?I think we?re stronger offensively now with him. We get the ball inside better and we get open shots. I think we?re playing a lot better.?
#33 Randolph Morris
On Derrick Jasper being in the starting lineup?
?I think he?s more focused on improving from game to game. He?s learned a lot. I think it (the offense) flowed better, for what ever reason. It (the Chattanooga game) was definitely a big win for us. We were more in sync and we had better ball movement and we shot the ball well. It worked out well for us.?
On trying to get a win against Indiana tomorrow?
?I don?t think we need it for confidence-wise. I never want to think that our confidence is a problem or it is lacking. It would (a win) make a big statement, that we?ve finally beat a team who is trying to establish themselves.?
On losing Jared Carter for the season?
?Jared in practice is a great player. It is an extreme loss to the team and we lose another body in the middle. I can?t say enough about his work ethic. Sometimes he tries to sneak in extra work in the weight room or after practice. He lies about doing extra work. Anytime you lose a guy like that it?s going to be tough. He loves to work and loves to get better.?
On getting to play against Indiana when last season he was sitting out?
?I?m looking forward to it, and being able to contribute. I?m looking forward to playing on Saturday in one of the great rivalries in college basketball. It?s IU against UK, and I?m looking forward to being a part of that. Hopefully the fans will have a great time with that.?
#13 Bobby Perry
On Coach Smith telling his players to carry a ball around with them?
?I?ve heard of football coaches telling their players to carry it with them, and to sleep with it. Especially with a running back, who always carries it to keep it so he won?t fumble it. Coach just put our number on it (the ball) and asked us to bring it to practice and if we don?t their will be some consequences.?
On last night?s practice?
?Last night we had practice, he (Coach Smith) set aside three balls and that?s all we had for practice. If we turned the ball over, one ball would go in the bin. If we ran out of balls we would have to run the rest of practice. Luckily, not luckily, we executed and we ended up with one ball.?
On how the method got the team?s attention?
?It definitely does get your attention. It gets you to focus and to value every possession. Makes you value every chance you have to score, and that was his whole purpose of doing the three ball in practice thing and making us carry a ball around with us. It?s making sure we keep up with it (the ball) and valuing it.?
On whether the new lineup has revitalized the team?
?I think it has. The win on Tuesday night, I thought that was a good game. These last two practices, they have been really enthusiastic. Everybody is excited to be there, ready to shoot. Everybody is pumped up, ready to warm-up. We?re ready to play. We?re talking a lot, and everybody is just having fun right now.?
#3 Ramel Bradley
On every play carrying a ball around with him?
?Coach wanted us to carry the ball around with us, take care of it, sleep with it. Coach told us to sleep with the ball. He?s trying to get us to take care of it, love it. She (the ball) already knows I love her, but now I have to take care of her a lot better. I know it?s a woman because I wouldn?t want to keep a guy around this much. I would never want to spend this much time with a guy.?
On the change in the lineup?
?It just felt good to play up-tempo, play defense, get a win and just feel good about yourself.?
On the loss of Jared Carter?
?I know it hurts the big guys. Anytime you lose somebody now you?re down one more player. He has a great work ethic and has the potential to be a great player.?
