Dec. 2, 2002
Coach Tubby Smith
On losing Antwain Barbour to a broken hand…
“It’s an unfortunate situation. Losing Antwain obviously hurts us, but injuries are part of the game and it’s something that you have to deal with. We’ve had two broken hands now so far this season and it makes it tough for us to develop as a team, but we’ll be fine. Antwain will have surgery tomorrow and hopefully he’ll be back in a month or so.”
On how the lineup changes without Barbour in it…
“We’ll probably go with Jules (Camara) in the starting lineup now. Obviously we lose a ballhandler and a penetrator, but we add some rebounding and some stronger inside play. Our defense gets a little weaker on the perimeter because Antwain is so versatile and he can defend four different positions, but then our interior defense gets better.”
On facing his alma mater, High Point…
“High Point has had a good run recently. They finished second in the Big South Conference tournament last year. They run a good motion offense and like to get the ball inside. We’ll have to come out really focused and ready to play.”
On Jules Camara and Marquis Estill playing together…
“Jules and Quis are both big targets and they do a good job looking for each other. They do a great job hitting the boards and rebounding the ball. They’ve both improved a lot in the offseason and have become more patient inside with the ball. Jules is stronger and more confident and if Quis stays healthy he’s a very capable scorer.”
On the play of the team in the Maui Invitational…
“We played pretty well with the exception of the Virginia game. Our shot selection improved in the last game. (Josh) Carrier and (Kelenna) Azubuike stepped up and played well and they’ll have to help us even more without Barbour.”
On the early season schedule…
“We play a tough schedule each year. This is maybe the toughest December we’ve had. Michigan St., North Carolina, Indiana and Louisville are all coming up in December, so there’s no time to rest. We have to come to play every single time out.”
On what the team has to focus on with the injury problems…
“Everyone on the team has to raise their level of play. That’s why you develop your bench early on, so that guys are ready to step in and play when you have injuries. Hopefully this will help the team chemistry because it will give players a chance to play more minutes and improve their game. Now we are forced to look at different combinations and that should help us develop as a team down the road.”
UK PLAYERS
Keith Bogans, Guard
On the team’s progress…
“We are going uphill right now. Not having Antwain (Barbour), Erik (Daniels) and Cliff (Hawkins) hurts us a lot, but we are going to continue to work hard and play hard. I feel that this team is very talented. We have a lot to look forward to. If we play the way we are capable of playing we are going to have a big year.”
On the team’s inside game…
“Jules (Camara) and Marquis (Estill) are both hard to contain. Jules is an excellent passer and Marquis is a finisher when he gets it around the basket. Whenever those two are in the game, any two post men are going to have their hands full.”
On Antwain Barbour’s injury…
“Things happen that we have no control over. Somebody’s going to have to fill his shoes and play basketball. Antwain’s a big part of this team. But like Coach said, this presents an opportunity for one of the younger guys to step in and I just hope that they take advantage of it.”
Gerald Fitch, Guard
On what the team learned from their play in Maui…
“We’re not satisfied with the way we played in Maui. We have a lot of stuff to learn. We can’t forget about the second game that we lost. If we would have come out 3-0 we might have been satisfied, but we came out with a loss so we definitely cannot be satisfied. We have a lot of things to work on.”
On the month of December…
“I wouldn’t say it is brutal. It’s interesting. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I like big games and I’m pretty sure the other guys do too, so I’m looking forward to this month. We know we have to come to play – we have some great teams coming up. We have to be comfortable, but at the same time stay intense and be focused and ready to play.”
On Antwain Barbour’s injury…
“Antwain is a great all-around player who brought a lot to the team. We can’t just let our season stop now, though. We have other guys on the team that can step up and fill his spot. I don’t really think this changes my role. It’s up to the coaches if they need to me to play a lot of two-guard or more point, but I don’t think this will really change my role.”
Chuck Hayes, Forward
On starting at small forward rather than power forward…
“It doesn’t really change that much except that I won’t be in the paint as often. I still get the opportunity go rebound, which is what I do best. But it gives me a chance to show some perimeter skills and even handle the ball more. Those were things I did in high school so I’m glad the opportunity has come in college, but it’s unfortunate we had to lose someone in order for me to get that opportunity.”
On Antwain Barbour…
“He’s a competitor. He was really looking forward to playing this month’s schedule and this set him back a little bit. But he’s going to do his best to come back as soon as possible.”
“We’re going to have to pound the ball in the paint a little more. Antwain was able to get some steals and push the ball up the court. By him being out and by us playing a little bigger lineup, we’re just going to have to pound it inside.”
On his parents in Hawaii…
“I was really thankful that my parents were there. They were there for me in high school when I had a bad game or even a bad half – they would talk to me. In Hawaii, they pulled me to the side and gave me a different kind of perspective and criticism. That really helped me out in the third game.”
Marquis Estill, Forward/Center
On starting with Camara…
“We like playing out there together. I think we work together really well. When we’re both in there, I think we look to pass the ball to each other a little more. Sometimes the guards have trouble getting the ball inside and with us being bigger and being able to see over people, it makes it easier to get the ball to each other.”
On Antwain Barbour…
“He’s taking it okay. He’s a little hurt because we have a big month coming up and he wants to be out there.”
On the team’s play in Hawaii…
“I think we did some good things down there. Obviously I’m not too happy about the loss but other than that, I thought we played good team ball.”
Antwain Barbour
On his broken hand…
“Of course it’s a heartbreaker. Injury is bad for anybody. I don’t think it will set me back much for when I start SEC play. I’m just going to rehab it and work on making it stronger everyday.”
“It’s really frustrating. The only thing that could pull me down right now was an injury and it happened. But it’s just another obstacle that I’ll get over.”
On the team responding…
“I think they’re going to respond very well. We have a lot of players that can step in and play. Kelenna Azubuike is a great player. He’s going to be able to step up and make some big plays.”
Kelenna Azubuike, Forward
On playing High Point, Coach Smith’s alma mater…
“I knew this was going to be a big game, but the fact that Coach played there makes it a bigger game. We’ve gotta have this win. In practice today we’re gonna work hard on the things that High Point brings to the table and try to come out tomorrow and get this win.”
