Oct. 19, 1999
Coach Tubby Smith Quotes
Opening Statement:
“Our practices have been very brisk. I think our players have picked upthings very well, especially our younger players. We’re still trying todetermine roles and responsibilities on our team and that will take awhile. But with only 11 players out there, we’re getting plenty ofrepetition. I like the leadership that our upperclassmen have been showing,both on and off the court. I feel we have a very solid group and I’m veryexcited about the team. Our guys understand how to play and they’re veryteam-oriented. I’m surprised how mature our young players are. They’vehandled themselves very well. After a summer with our strength coach, TomBoyd, our strength has really improved, especially Tayshaun Prince andJules Camara. Desmond Allison has been playing extremely well. We’ve lost alot of experience, but we’ve improved athletically. I think we have goodtalent and like John Wooden said, ‘I’d rather have a team with a lot oftalent and little experience than a team with a lot of experience andlittle talent.'”
On Saul Smith’s trip to Japan with the SEC All-Stars:
“I think being around guys like Doc Robinson and other top players in theSEC was very beneficial. It gave him the confidence that he can run thisteam and that he can play on this level.”
On the team’s youth:
“I’ve never coached a team this young. But I think their youth will makethem work harder, and they’re more athletic, which should lead to themcausing more turnovers. They’ll be quicker on the perimeter and on theinside, too.”
On Keith Bogans:
“He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid that understands the game, is competitive anddoesn’t quit. He’s a clutch player. He’s made a few big shots inscrimmages. He’s got the confidence to make the big plays.”
On Jamaal Magloire’s development:
“Jamaal’s always been a leader on the court because his talking is part ofwhat gets him going. He’s matured off the court and he plays so hard. Heunderstands that he needs to play within himself. We don’t have a lot ofdepth at the center spot and he knows that we need him in the game. Jamaalwill be more productive offensively than he was last year.”
On Marvin Stone:
“The best part of Marvin’s game, right now, is his passing. He’s anoutstanding passer for a big man. He’s got good footwork and agility. Hestill needs to develop his outside shot. He knows how to play defensively,and is as gifted as any big man I’ve ever coached in that regard.”
On the sophomores:
“They got some quality time last season and they all come from very goodhigh school programs. After a year in the program they know how to managetheir time and have improved as players. Todd Tackett has really improvedhis outside shooting and has gotten stronger. J.P. Blevins has improved hisball-handling and always could shoot the ball well. And both of those guysknow they’re going to play a bigger role on this year’s team, which hasgiven them more confidence.”
On his coaching approach to this year’s team:
“Because of their youth, I’ll be a little less vocal with these guys? atleast until their first turnover. There’s more teaching involved and teamtalks with younger guys.”
On J.P Blevins:
“J.P.’s lost some weight, which will help with his quickness. Hisball-handling has greatly improved and so has his confidence. He’s gettingmore chances in practice to run the team and he’s not just watching as muchas he did last year.”
On team goals:
“Our goals are the same every year. Our goal right now is to improveeveryday and if we do that, the long-term goals will take care ofthemselves. We can only take care of right now.”
On the team’s style of play:
“We’ll press more this year because of our quickness.”
On Tayshaun Prince:
“Tayshaun is so versatile. His maturation has really helped his game andconfidence. He’s always had that basketball savvy and skills, but now hehas the strength to go along with it. He’ll be asked to do a lot more thisyear and that will include scoring and defense.”
On his top concern and what excites him the most:
“Our schedule. It’s very tough but we’ve got to play it. There won’t be anyforfeits. But on the opposite side , if we win early, we can be successful.”
On Jules Camara:
“He’s still learning the game. But he’s become a lot stronger, a lot moreaggressive offensively. He’s learning his role on our team, but he willplay a much bigger part this year.”
Player Quotes
FR Marvin Stone
On being one of the most gifted big-men to play for Tubby Smith:
“It makes me feel pretty good. He has had a lot of good big-men so it makesme feel pretty good.”
On what part of his game he needs improve on:
“I think my outside shooting. I haven’t been shooting the ball very good inpractice. I can shoot the ball, but I just need to get some confidence back.”
On what has surprised him and what adjustments he has had to make from highschool:
“I kind of expected everything to be pretty tough and be hard. They workhard here, but I worked hard in high school. Everything has been what Iexpected.”
On the pressure of playing in a UK uniform:
“Pressure really doesn’t bother me. I just want to have fun. I want to goout there and help the team out. I just want to go out and help my team dowhat they need me to do.”
On describing UK’s team this season:
“We’re really athletic and young. We are ready to run the floor and we havesome good shooters.”
SO J.P. Blevins
On competing for time at point guard:
“There’s a big difference when you go into practice, knowing that there issomething out there to work for. Last year, I didn’t really feel like therewas time out there for me. This year, I feel like there is time out therefor me if I earn it. That’s the big thing.”
On UK being overlooked in preseason polls:
“I would rather it be that way than being predicted to win a nationalchampionship. I think that can only be a positive for a team.”
On other point guards he has learned from:
“I learned a lot from Wayne last year. I don’t think I could have anybodybetter to learn under than Wayne Turner, with me being a freshman and himbeing a senior All-American. He was the best player I ever played againstand it was awesome competition for me to try and make myself better.”
On what he has learned from Saul Smith:
“Saul is a good leader and has really good leadership skills. I try to takethose with me.”
On his role of playing the point for UK and the pressure that goes withrunning the team:
“The point guard position is important on any team. The point guard islooked upon to run the show and get everybody organized on the floor. Asfar as there being more pressure on me than anybody else, I don’t see itthat way. I am not approaching it that way. I do know that my role is veryimportant.”
On the impact of Jamaal Magloire’s decision to return to UK for his seniorseason:
“I think it was huge. I think Jamaal has made a good decision. He’s taken abig leadership role on the team and without him, I think the leadership onthe team might be lacking. He’s a huge defensive impact inside. We can onlybe a better team with him here.”
FR Keith Bogans
On whether the team has already improved:
“I see a lot of improvement since we’ve been playing pickup games. We arestarting to come together and everyone is getting to know each other’s game.”
On if playing for legendary high school coach Morgan Wooten and DeMathaHigh School will help him adjust to playing at UK:
“They are kind of similar. This is the next level. Coach Smith is a littlemore in your face while Coach Wooten is more laid back. It is kind of thesame pressure and expectations put on you and I’m looking forward to it.”
On what part of his game he plans to show when he returns home to faceMaryland on Dec. 11 in College Park, Md.:
“I am going to try and show my all-around game with a lot of intensity.Offensively and defensively, whatever it takes.”
On whether being an athletic team will help his style of play:
“I’m a run-and-gun type of player, so I want to get out and run the floor.With the team we have this year, I think we can run with anybody.”
On what part of the UK basketball program has surprised him so far:
“The fans are really taken by Kentucky. I have never seen fans like this.The fans here are like nowhere else.”
On what role he plans to play this year:
“I’m ready to play anywhere they put me, the one, two or the three. I havebeen a two-guard for most of my high school career so I’m used to thetwo-guard spot. I can play the one, too.”
JR Nate Knight
On the role he expects to play on the team:
“I will play whatever role they need me to play. I would like to rebound,play some defense, and bring some maturity to the team.”
His feelings about playing at Kentucy:”I have never stepped on the floor at Rupp Arena or even watched a gamethere. I am looking forward to the first game, the guys have told me a lotabout it.”
On his game:
“My game is a lot of hustle, rebounding, and defense. I don’t really scorethat much and I never have. I am more of a role player.”
The biggest thing about Kentucky:
“The biggest thing about Kentucky is that everybody is good. There is noweak link on the team. Every single person on the team is a great playerand capable of scoring at anytime.”
SO Desmond Allison
On his improvement this year:
“I had to work on my outside shot a lot. I have improved my outside shotalong with my quickness and movement. My strength is up and I think thatwill be a big plus for the team this year.”
On Jamaal Magloire’s return:
“It is a big plus to have Jamaal back. With his defensive pressure, shotblocking, and rebounding abilities you could almost let someone drive by you.”
On the Michigan St. game last season:
“We gained a lot of confidence and experience from the Michigan State game. The seniors stepped up and played, but we learned that we must step it upto another level to win a game like that.”
On making a trip to the Final Four:
“We talk about making it back to the Final Four. We must let everyone knowthat youth is not a problem. We can overcome youth. We have a couple ofguys on the team who have been to the Final Four, and if we work hard wecan make it back again.”
SO Todd Tackett
On what part of his game has improved:
“I think that being bigger will help me. I am about 15 pounds heavier thisyear. I think that I have gained a step too. Experience and going throughwhat I went through last year, along with knowing what it takes to play,will help me this year. I am looking forward to big things.”
Differences between this year and last:
“You come in with a different attitude your second year. I am going outthere to help the University of Kentucky, the basketball team, and to helpthe other players.”
Who on the team has surprised you this year?:
“The player that has impressed me the most so far is Tayshaun. He isunstoppable. I think this is going to be a big year for him. If we cankeep him healthy, I think he is going to do great things.”
On the low preseason rankings:
“What does it matter where you start off? All that matters is where youfinish. People may overlook us and that is where we will get them. Aslong as we are up at the top at the end of the season, I don’t think any ofus are going to look back and ask why we weren’t there at the beginning.”
SR Jamaal Magloire
On what he brings back to the team:
“I think I have a lot more to offer as far as maturity, leadership and thewillingness to go out there and work hard to do anything it takes help thisteam win.”
On his decision to return for his senior season:
“At this point last year, my only focus was on the upcoming season. I amglad to be back and I have no reservations on being back. I am lookingforward to having a great season. I had to make a tough decision and bothwere good decisions, but I had to make the best decision. Coming back toschool and finishing my collegiate career at the University of Kentucky wasdefinitely the best decision for me.”
On playing in the NBA:
“It has always been a goal of mine, but I have taken everything in stride.My goal is simply to get better and to help this team get better. If we dothat then good things will happen for us all.”
On his personal expectations:
“The only numbers that I think about are the number of victories we have.Individual statistics don’t really mean much to me. As long as we win as ateam, I think everybody looks good.”
On his teammates feeling the same way:
“I think they feel the same way because they are hungry. There are onlythree of us that have won a national championship and we know what it feelslike. That is a goal that the younger players have as well.”
On being one of the team’s most seasoned players:
“I wouldn’t consider myself old by any means, but I’m glad to be back. Thisis definitely an experience that I am looking forward to and I am here tohelp this team out in any way I can.”
On serving as a leader:
“I am trying to help Marvin Stone. I think I am doing an okay job, but I’mnot complacent by any means. I am trying to be a leader out there, both onand off the court, and help them in any little way I can to make theirtransition to college easier.”
“It is definitely a position I admire and am proud to be in. I have alwaysfelt like I have contributed to this team in different ways and being aleader is now a new position for me. But it is one that I anticipated andone that I am ready to endure.”
On the potential of the 1999-2000 UK team:
“At the press conference when I made that decision to come back to theUniversity of Kentucky, I said that the potential on this team was somewhatscary. When I said that, I meant that the sky is the limit for this team.We have great character on this team and great talent. With the work ethic,and the coaching staff and the facilities that we have here at theUniversity of Kentucky, I feel that there is no stopping us.”
On what he has worked on over the summer:
“I have really been working on the small things, the intangibles that donot show up on the scoresheet at the end of the game. I’ve opened up myrepertoire and people should look to see some different things out of methis season.”
SO Jules Camara
On UK’s style of play for 1999-2000:
“We are probably going to be doing more pressing this year. We have acompetitive advantage in that you never know who is going to do the job forus. We all are great players and everyone is athletic this year. Everyonecan run the floor for us so we will have a lot of weapons.”
On his style of play:
“I’m not going to change anything from last year. My game is to run up anddown the floor, trying to get dunks and some excitement going.”
On what he worked on this summer:
“I worked on my jump shot a lot, facing the basket and shooting. I foundconfidence in my shot and learned better where I can score from on thefloor. I can shoot the 15-footer and I can shoot the three-pointer a bit orfrom the top of the key. I have a better understanding of the offense thisyear and what my role is in it.”
On UK’s lower than usual place in the national rankings:
“I don’t really pay attention to the rankings. I don’t think they arereally important. What is important is how we show up everyday and how weplay the game.”
SR Steve Masiello
On the team’s youth:
“That is not something we are worried about. It could actually work in ourfavor sometimes, they love the game so much and they want to play so much,they don’t know anything different. That is the type of attitude we aretaking. We all want to play and we all want to have fun, that is kind ofthe motto for our team this year. We know what we need to do. We just comeout everyday and play hard.”
On the dedication of the UK players:
“You see guys in the gym at night playing on their own and guys alwayswanting to go shoot the ball or do something to improve their game. Thisteam has so much hunger to play and so much hunger to win that it is astrength of this team that no one else realizes or looks at.”
On gaining a scholarship for his senior season:
“I am very appreciative to Coach Smith and his staff for all the supportthey have given me. It is something that I worked hard for and am veryhappy with.”
SO Tayshaun Prince
On the freshmen:
“I think the freshmen are going to really step and help the team. I seethem getting in there and getting the job done for us. They are going tosee a lot of playing time this year and I think that is something that willreally help us.”
On his role on the 1999-2000 team:
“I like the challenge of stepping up my game. I think by playing my gameand doing the things that I know I can do, it should really help me out.And I know that my presence and me doing what I am capable of doing willreally help the team out.”
On leadership of Jamaal Magloire:
“Jamaal is a real good leader. He does things like making sure we are allon time wherever we go. He is the type of guy who will not be ashamed totell you anything and will speak whatever is on his mind. That is reallysomething that helps us out and keeps us in line.”
JR Saul Smith
On UK’s 1998-99 season:
“We went ahead and had a great season last year. People think that becausewe didn’t win it all we didn’t have a good season, but I think that we hada great season. Over the season we grew, we changed, we matured and I thinkyou guys can see that. We went down to Puerto Rico last year and got blownup by Pittsburgh, but then came back and won the SEC tournament. We playedreally well in the NCAA tournament and just got beat by a really goodMichigan State team. I think over the year, our coaches did a great job ofmolding us and our seniors led us the whole way.”
On playing for his dad:
“Being in this situation is unique. I get to play for my dad and how manypeople can say that at this level.”
On the pressure of taking over the point:
“If I were on the outside looking in, I would probably saying, ‘Wow, thatkid has a lot of pressure on him.’ I know that I am in a tough situation,but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just like playing for my dad, beingthe point guard for Kentucky is a unique situation that I am blessed with.The pressure and the scrutiny that comes with that, I think that I am ableto deal with that.”
