Dec. 29, 2001
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Head Coach Tubby Smith
On the win…
“We got through this game. I thought our guys stepped up and played big, especially in the second half. It was a great college basketball atmosphere. We have the best fans in the world, they showed a lot of class today even though it may have been a little tough at first when Coach (Rick) Pitino came out. But I have the utmost respect for Rick and the Louisville Cardinals and what they’ve been able to accomplish so far.”
On Kentucky’s defense…
“I thought our kids showed a lot of toughness in the second half defensively. We were not shooting the ball very well in the first half and we came back out in the second half and picked up our defensive intensity. We did a marvelous team-defensive job on Reece Gaines, because one man can’t shut him down. We did a good job of switching out on him and making him have to work to get shots and get open.”
On execution…
“I thought the rebounding picked up in the second half against a good-rebounding Louisville team and I didn’t think their press really hurt us that much. We might have turned it over a couple times out of the press but I thought we executed and capitalized at the end of the press the way we should have.”
On performance of his players…
“Our kids really competed and stepped up. Tayshaun (Prince) played well and I’m glad to see Keith (Bogans) come around and play better today because he’s been struggling. Our bench play was superb – Marquis (Estill), Chuck (Hayes) and Erik Daniels – they all came off the bench and did a great job for us. Rashaad (Carruth) made some shots for us and Adam Chiles took care of the ball and did some real positive things that we can build upon for the future.”
On “Tubby” chants from crowd…
“It was great. It certainly makes you feel good to be wanted. It’s good to know that you’re appreciated, but our fans are the greatest in the country and I thought they handled today’s situation with Coach Pitino coming back in a classy way. Kentucky is a class program and it’s supported by class fans.”
On shutting down Louisville…
“We never allowed them to make a run and that was a big key. In the style that they employ, pressing and shooting the three, if they start to make shots and get momentum, they can hurt you in a hurry. Whenever they tried to make a run at us, we were able to respond with a good shot, a blocked shot or beating them to the basket.”
On going over the top of the press…
“We take what the press gives us. They certainly can’t guard five guys with four people so that what happens sometimes when you put two guys on the ball. We knew if we took care of the ball, we could make things happen and penetrate the press. They score a lot of points off turnovers. We were looking to go over the top and the opportunity presented itself. Against a pressing team, you have to burn them a few times to soften the press up.”
On preparing for the game having worked under Pitino…
“Rick is one the best and premier coaches in the country in teaching the press and the game of basketball. Being a part of his staff and knowing how his kids would be aggressive and attack, we had to use that against them. Force double teams, make two guys come guard you and reverse it quickly. We did a poor job of that in the first half but in the second half we really did a good job of reversing quickly then get it back and attack. Those things I learned under Rick.”
On poor first half shooting…
“I thought it was outstanding defense from both teams. Both teams were really getting after one another. We had some good looks, and I thought our guys were a little tight early. After some shots fell down and we loosened up the press a little bit, we were able to relax a little bit. Once we were able to get the lead, our guys played with more confidence.”
On loss of Marvin Stone…
“I knew that guys like Erik Daniels and Chuck Hayes needed an opportunity to play and that’s what happens when someone leaves. I tell them every day that we’re going to win with you or we’re going to win without you. The system and the program is going to go on and the sooner they understand that, the better players they are.”
UK PLAYERS
Tayshaun Prince, F
On the crowd’s reaction…
“It was pretty interesting to see how the crowd responded. When (Winston) Bennett and (Kyle) Macy brought their teams in here, the crowd was really supportive as well. I sort of expected the crowd to applaud Pitino at some point in the game. Who’s to say what they would have done if Winston Bennett had came in coaching Louisville.”
“I felt good for Coach Smith. He needs to be appreciated like that. He should be appreciated like that every time we step out on the court. Our fans should be as consistent as we have to be.”
On Kentucky’s play…
“In the first half I thought we were anxious. We dribbled the ball too much. In the second half we slowed things down and ran our offense and opened players up for better shots.”
Marquis Estill, C
On the crowd’s reaction…
“I’m sure it made Coach Smith feel good. The crowd really showed their support today.”
On Kentucky’s play…
“I thought both teams came out slow. Louisville was more physical with us at the beginning, but we came out and played tough in the second half. We were a little tense at first, but once we loosened up, we knocked down our shots.”
Keith Bogans, G
“I just played basketball today. My shots were going in and I just felt like I had it going.”
“I felt like I played aggressive and let the game come to me. I just stayed focused. It feels really good to get those shots to go in.”
“We feel great about where this team is. We are playing well, but each game we play we are going to get better. We are trying to build off everything we do.”
Cliff Hawkins, G
“This is our home and this is Tubby Smith’s team. He is the captain and we are his soldiers. We have to go out and play hard for him each game.”
On Rick Pitino…
“He did a lot of great things here and I respect him. He had to feed his family and that is a job for him. I wish him the best.”
“I think Louisville didn’t show us much respect. I think they thought they would come in here and Coach Pitino would lead them to the promise land and that is not going to happen.”
Gerald Fitch, G
On Reece Gaines…
“He is the most important player on the team and a lot of points come from him. I had the assignment to defend him and I think I did pretty good overall.”
Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
First thoughts on the game…
“In the first half, we didn’t take great shots but we rebounded well and we were in the game. In the second half, we took better shots and they just didn’t go down. Kentucky is a very experienced team and took advantage of it.”
On the U of L lineup…
“We are playing two freshmen and three sophomores and when you come into an environment like this you can hang in there and learn from it.”
On what U of L needs to do to get better…
“We’ll get better offensively once we focus on our passing and movement and things of that nature and we’ll be a better basketball team. Right now we are just young and inexperienced and Kentucky is a much better basketball team than us.”
On the crowd’s reaction to him…
“I didn’t pay any attention to it. I am the Louisville coach. They are not supposed to cheer me. They are supposed to cheer Tubby. I get cheered in Freedom Hall. If they start booing me in Freedom Hall, then I am in trouble.”
On the U of L offensive breakdowns…
“They are a very good defensive team, but we did a very poor job of screening and creating ball movement. We went to the pick and roll way too much which is a bale-out from pressure. But again, I think our team will learn from it and grow from it.”
On why he came out the tunnel on the opposite side of his team…
“I just wanted to come out the shortest distance to the bench. I wasn’t really thinking about it. I didn’t time the walk.”
On his thoughts on the atmosphere at UK…
“I didn’t really think about it until after the Eastern Kentucky game. It was funny, my son came running in, laughing hysterically. He said, ‘I wish mom was here, there was a sign out there that said, ‘We didn’t like you either, Joanne’ and I wish I could have that sign and bring it back to her.’ I think that’s the way we have to take it all, as a good-natured jest. There were comments tonight that we laughed about. That is what the entertainment of college basketball is all about – you have to be able to laugh. When I go home tonight, my house will not be haunted, I can assure you that.”
On the success of Kentucky’s program…
“I think we’re all proud of what’s happened here at Kentucky. Tubby is one of the premier coaches in the business. What we were after here at this program was credibility and doing it the right way where the student comes first and the athlete comes second. Obviously you want to win, but you want your players to go to class. They’ve done it and they just keep getting better and better. This team has a legitimate shot because you saw what they did in the Duke game. I don’t want to put any pressure on them because they could lose in the first round, but no one is going to out-coach Tubby.”
LOUISVILLE PLAYERS
Reece Gaines #22
“Coach is always preaching about trying to make plays. So even though I didn’t shoot the ball a lot because of Kentucky’s defense, I still made plays since the rest of the team was wide open.”
On Kentucky’s scoring run…
“They definitely hit some shots down the stretch. Our team just lost focus on the defensive end. That will be something to put more effort toward in practice.”
“Kentucky has great fan support and they are a great team. We just couldn’t get it together to come back when they turned it up.”
Carlos Hurt #12
“After I hit that three to bring us back, I looked up and we were down by 10 again. That just goes to show how good Kentucky is at getting it done.”
Erik Brown # 33
“I wish the outcome would have been different since I was playing in my hometown. We have to see it as a learning experience and put it behind us.”
On playing in Rupp Arena…
“For me personally, the crowd was not a factor, but it was only our second road game and we’re still learning. I think we will get better.”
Joseph N’Sima # 55
On Kentucky’s play…
“I give them a lot of credit, they outplayed us. Bogans and Prince are good leaders. They’re a solid team and play at a high level.”
“Coming in, I thought we could win, but we came short in many areas of the game. But we are still 9-2 and are trying to stay strong.”
On playing in Rupp Arena…
“As an upperclassman, I’m supposed to know how to handle those situations. There are a couple of places in our conference that are that noisy too.”
