Jan. 14, 2000
UK Head Coach Tubby Smith
On the Auburn game:
“We did some things well, but there were a lot of areas that we needed toimprove on. Anytime you lose a game like we lost to Auburn, you wonder howplayers will respond, so we will find out tomorrow against a very good SouthCarolina team who played Syracuse very well last night.”
On playing South Carolina:
“I thought Eddie Fogler’s staff did an outstanding job of getting his guysready to play, which he always does. They had a lot of excellent individualperformances last night. This will be a game where we have to play one of ourbest games on the road and anytime you go on the road in the SEC it’s tough.”
“We’ll be ready to play. I’m more concerned about the change in their routine.It’s been about a month since they have been in class so we need to see howthey will handle study halls and getting the books and all those things theyhave to get in between. But I expect them to play well.”
On UK’s areas for improvement:
“We are looking to get some more outside scoring because that is an area wherewe have been struggling the last couple games. We need to get some moreproduction from our perimeter people and hopefully we will get that tomorrow.”
On South Carolina:
“They play with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and it is amazing the differencethat a kid like Chuckie Eidson has made. With (Damien) Kinloch, who has reallybeen playing well, (Aaron) Lucas, with another year under his belt after hisfreshman campaign, and Herbert Lee Davis, they are really playing welltogether. I think last year they really looked to B.J. (McKie) to carry theload quite a bit so that is the biggest difference now. They are really playingtogether and playing very unselfishly.”
On playing in USC’s McGuire Arena:
“Every game in this league is in a hostile arena. Obviously Auburn had anexcellent crowd, they were fired up. But I don’t think our kids areintimidated, they know they have to play the opposing team and not the fans. Werun into that (situation) quite a bit and I’m sure it won’t be any differenttomorrow in Columbia. I think it does help us to have played at places likeMaryland and Auburn.”
On USC freshman Chuckie Eidson:
“He knows how to play and is very team oriented. Being a lefty and 6-7 he is aguy who can go inside and outside. He can put the ball on the floor and do alot of different things for their team. He really knows how to set people upand pass the ball and that makes him a real threat. He’s a heady player.”
On UK’s play on the road this season:
“I have no doubts in my mind at all taking these guys on the road. I’ve beenreally pleased with they way that we have responded to the hostile environmentsthat we have played in. We had chances to fold in both situations and we showeda lot of character, poise and composure to (stay in those games). A loss is aloss whether it’s by three points or six points or whatever, but you learnthings from those situations and then you’re able to work on them.”
On UK’s shooting woes:
“We just continue to work on the fundamentals of shooting the ball andmechanics. I think we have become pretty conscious of being inside oriented andthat may have some influence on it. We have had good looks, but they have justnot dropped and it’s my belief that you just have to keep shooting them untilthey start falling. We have also played against some really good teams thatplay really good defense.”
On the plan against USC:
“We like to run a man-to-man press on the road. They have a good bench and theyhave been playing well, but our bench has been playing well also. Their bigguys run the floor well, so it should be interesting to see if we can set thetempo in the game.”
UK Players
#40 Jules Camara
“I think we have to learn from our bad games and then have good games. (Auburn)was our first game on the road in the SEC and think there are a lot left. Wehave a lot to learn from it.”
“We need to focus on our shooting and making the shots.We always need to staypositive. We need to be confident that the shots can fall. If you trust yourself,the shot will fall.”
“There is a lot of pressure. We know how to win, we have to have our own goals. Iam happy with everybody right now.We are all keeping our heads up.”
#42 Jamaal Magloire
“(The noise at Auburn) was distracting, but you just have to block it out ifyou want to play well.”
“I think we made a lot of mistakes. We had the chance to redeem ourselves. Wecan play with anyone when everyone (on the team) concentrates.”
On his free-throw percentages.
“I think repetition plays a big part. I am confident going to the line. I have aroutine that I follow. I become more and more confident as I make them. I am ableto block everything else out. I put in a lot of hard work a the gym and ambecoming more comfortable.”
#11 Saul Smith
“You always learn when you play and get experience. We, by no means, arecalling (Auburn) a moral victory. We don’t go somewhere, lose and then call ita moral victory. We learned a lot about being on the road in the SEC. Somecoaches say we didn’t make the big plays at the end, and they are right.”
On the last-second plays?
“At the time, you have to decide who has the hot hand. The defense usually knowsthat the ball will probably go to him. You have to figure out how to either getthe ball to him or find another person. We need to improve in those areas.Wedidn’t make the plays down the stretch.”
“I think we handled the pressure well. The young guys did well. I am used tothe taunting and it actually energizes me. It doesn’t faze us. We played ourown game and pulled out to the lead. We just didn’t make the big play.”
