Head Coach’s Quotes
Head Coach Tubby Smith Quotes
Opening statement…
“I thought it was a good team effort, especially when you can get four guys in double figures. I thought Gerald (Fitch) was outstanding as far as passing the ball. We had a lot of energy today. Tayshaun (Prince) has continued his hot shooting. It is amazing that we could hold them 0 for 19 from three-point range. When you are not making shots, it is a tough day, and that is what happened to Mississippi State. Rick Stansbury and his staff have been doing an excellent job. One of the areas we didn’t do well in was rebounding. We did do a good job overall defensively. It was a good win for us as we continue our good play. I thought we put together two complete halves.”
On the freshman stepping up with Bogans and Prince in foul trouble…
“I though we controlled the tempo and did a good job contesting shots. Cliff (Hawkins) came in and did an excellent job. He was a lot more patient, a lot more disciplined. Today he just came out relaxed and played a good game. Erik Daniels has always been giving us a solid effort all the way around. Jason Parker is just getting more mature. He is doing only those things he can do and he isn’t trying to do something he can’t.”
On Jason Parker’s play…
“He has to do better using both hands. He should work on his free-throw shooting and develop a jumper from that area. He should be a power player. He takes his time down low. He needs to be a strong defensive post player. But he is already good as he is. As far as his effort is concerned, he has been one of our most consistent players.”
On Bogans…
“He was letting the offense come to him. Even though he wasn’t shooting the ball well from outside, he was doing other things well with four rebounds and three assists. He is understanding that he has to have a complete game.”
On Cliff Hawkins…
“We’ve had player meetings, and I have talked with him about being our future point guard, but also that has be to be more disciplined.”
On J.P. Blevins getting more playing time…
“He is a good, solid player with more confidence. Everybody wants more playing time. He’s getting stronger, and I think the guys are beginning to accept their roles.”
MSU Head Coach Rick Stansbury
“We have to give Kentucky a lot of credit. Tubby Smith has this team playing exceptionally well. He’s doing and has done a terrific job at Kentucky. This UK team is playing as good or better than anyone in the SEC. They’re getting great point guard play from Saul Smith, who is key to their effort in a lot of ways.”
“If we can’t hit shots on the road, we can’t win. We shot 0-19 from the three-point line. We had 29 offensive rebounds but probably didn’t score on five of those. I just didn’t think our team battled enough.”
“We missed a lot of shots around the hole for whatever reason. Our two starting guards were 2-25 between them. Marckell Patterson and Antonio Jackson just couldn’t knock the shots down.”
“I felt like two players really battled for us today. This is the second game in a row where we saw better point-guard play out of Derrick Zimmerman. Mario Austin also battled for us, but besides that, I’m not really happy with our effort.”
“There are no easy games in this conference, home or away. We just came off two losses on the road because we have trouble closing out games. We have to do the little things in order to win on the road. From top to bottom, this league is more balanced than it has ever been.”
Player’s Quotes
UK Player Quotes
Tayshaun Prince, Forward
On Mississippi State’s shooting percentage…
“I don’t know if it was our defense or it just wasn’t their day. They needed to attack something different and they didn’t. They kept settling for outside jumpers.”
On the win…
“This was a must-win game for us because we now have to go on the road. They were an athletic team and it was a good win. We played a complete game.”
On the play of the freshmen…
“The freshmen are really starting to mature. They are aggressive and getting the job done. If we can continue to get that support from Gerald and those guys, we are going to be successful.”
Keith Bogans, Guard
On his play…
“The team came out and played well. It was a good win. I had an off game, but I am mature enough to handle it and realize that we still got the victory. Sometimes the shots just don’t fall for you. I’ll stay positive and focus on the Tennessee game.”
On the team’s play…
“We are really hitting our stride. The whole team is coming together and playing well. I don’t feel the pressure to play well. My teammates will pick the off slack.”
On the Tennessee game…
“Tennessee is going to be tough. They are going to want to put us away for good. We are going to have to play well and be ready.”
J.P. Blevins, Guard
On playing more relaxed and confident…
“I just told myself a couple of weeks ago, we have about 10 games left. I’m just going to play hard and aggressive, and let whatever happens, happen.”
On the team’s momentum…
“Right now we are running on all cylinders. The two road wins really sparked us and right now we’re on a roll.”
Gerald Fitch, Guard
On the maturing freshmen…
“I think we were more comfortable this time. When the team needs us to step up we can do it. Today Keith and Tayshaun got in foul trouble so we had to step up.”
On team defense…
“We played great team defense today. We really stressed stopping the three this week in practice and they were 0 for 19, so it paid off.”
Mississippi State Player Quotes
Derrick Zimmerman
“We weren’t very efficient out there today. Kentucky is a good team, but we didn’t come out ready to play today.”
“I played well, but I can’t be happy with my play if we don’t win the ballgame. We must be consistent as a team and we haven’t been. We are a mediocre team at this point.”
“Kentucky is a talented team. Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans are both very good players. Kentucky is a veteran team and they know how to win.”
Tyrus Boswell, #25
“We didn’t come out to play tonight. The atmosphere here intimidated a lot of our guys. We must make shots and play with more intensity.”
“Kentucky is a good team with a veteran coach. They have a lot of tradition and in March they will live up to that tradition.”
Mario Austin, #54
“We knew this game would be tough coming in. The crowd really got to us. Kentucky is a great team. We knew it would be tough to get a victory here.”
