Nov. 23, 2001
UK vs. Morehead State
Basketball Press Conference
Memorial Coliseum
Coach Tubby Smith
On what the team has been working on in practice…
“We’ve had a chance to work on some of the areas we’ve had concerns in. Primarily chemistry and getting everybody healthy so that our offense and defense can run smoothly. Marquis (Estill) and J.P. (Blevins) are back healthy. We’ve seen a different intensity level in practice this week.”
On Saturday night’s opponent…
“Morehead State will bring a real challenge. They are putting a lot of points on the board. They are shooting the ball really well. I have been really impressed with what I have seen on tape. They have the freshman OVC Player of the Year in Ricky Minard returning. But not only that they have a lot of talent. Coach Kyle Macy has them playing the way he would like them to be playing at this point in time.”
On J.P. Blevins’ health…
“J.P. is almost there. He saw limited practice the past two to three days and is obviously a little sore, but he will be ready to go tomorrow night. I’ll probably start him.”
On what the team has needs to correct…
“I didn’t think we are a fluid team. We didn’t pass the ball well. We need to improve on our assist-to-turnover ratio and our intensity level. We need to encourage one another. We need to be more positive with one another.”
On this week’s drills…
“We did some things this week to improve our toughness. We did ‘take the charge’ drills and ‘boxing out’ drills. Just making them more aware of what we need to do to improve.”
On Rashaad Carruth’s health…
“Rashaad Carruth has a badly bruised ankle. It is just not healing as quickly as he and us would like. I think with the proper treatment that he has been getting, he’ll be back. He’s tough to lose because he is probably the best shooter on this team.”
On Marquis Estill starting Saturday night…
“I’ve seen him improving and working harder on the court. He’s healthy. Plus I need to send a message to everyone else on the team. I’ve said it before – we are probably going to have a lot more changes in our lineup than we have had in the past.”
Guard J.P. Blevins
On the past week’s practices…
“Practice has been probably the two or three of the toughest practices since I have been here.”
Keith Bogans
On Marquis…
“He’s dropped a little weight, he’s more mobile than he’s been.”
On the upsets in college basketball…
“It just goes to show you that teams are not going to roll over because you’re a high-ranked team. They’re going to come at you night in and night out. It puts a lot of pressure on us but that’s why I came to Kentucky. I like the pressure.
On playing after a week off…
“I’m very excited. I wish we could play every other day. With the practices the last couple of days, I know we’re ready to play.
Marquis Estill
On the possibility of starting Saturday…
“I’ve been working hard in practice and I’m real excited.”
On his injuries…”I’ve been working on my flexibility and I’ve been working out a lot harder. My back tightens up a little but it’s fine.”
Tayshaun Prince
On the Thanksgiving dinner they served at a church…
“It was nice to get out and do something for them. They always see us on TV and never get a chance to meet us in person so it was nice to see the joy on their faces.”
On struggling the last game…
“I tried to shoot my way out of it. Tomorrow I’ll probably do a lot of attacking the basket, trying to create something for me and for my teammates”
On what UK needs to do better…
“We need to pressure the ball, cause some turnovers and get some steals so we can get the fast breaks.”
