Feb. 22, 2000
“We have to really concentrate on the particular players that have beencarrying Tennessee like Vincent Yarbrough and Tony Harris. They have a lotof depth and a lot of talent on their team. There have been differentpeople stepping up for them this year. Terrence Woods stepped up the othernight against Vanderbilt and had a big game, as well as Yarbrough. Eventhough they lost to Vanderbilt, they are still a talented team. We knowgoing into Knoxville, we will have to play one of our better games this year.”
On whether Tayshaun Prince will start, along with Keith Bogans and DesmondAllison, against Tennessee:
“Tayshuan will probably play a lot, and he will probably start. We startthe guys who are playing well together. However, that is always subject tochange. At this point, we will probably have some changes.”
On gauging the team’s mood going into the Tennessee game:
“I think our guys are very eager to play. They know the value andimportance of this game. It is a big rivalry, so they’ll be ready. We aretied for number one in the league, so if we want to stay at the top, wehave to win. My biggest concern is the mentality of the team. We had a goodpractice yesterday, and hopefully it will carry over.”
On Jules Camara’s development coming off the Georgia game:
“Jules has been playing well for a long time, even before the stressreaction in his foot. He has been giving us quality minutes. Now that hehas come back, he doesn’t have that fear of injury because he has overcomeit and is stronger. During his time away, he had a chance to get in theweight room and keep his weight on. He wouldn’t have been able to play 33minutes at the beginning of the year like he did against Georgia the otherday.”
On defending against Tennessee’s three-point shooting:
“I know Tennessee is one of the best three-point shooting teams in theleague. Tony Harris is right up there at the top. It is going to be a realfocal point for us, because they can all shoot the three. Ron Slay willshoot the three and C.J. Black will take the three. Terrence Woods hasreally been shooting the ball well from the outside. We have to make aconscious effort to stay out on the shooters.”
On the importance of keeping Tennessee out of transition:
“They score a lot of points in transition, and they are always looking torun. With their size and rebounding ability, they can really get the ballout on the break. Jon Higgins and Harris are both very good at pushing theball up the court. It will be important that we contain them.”
On UK’s offensive rebounding:
“We have done a better job of that in the last few games. We wereoutstanding on the offensive boards against Georgia. I think a lot of thathas to with having Jules back. He has been our best offensive rebounder allyear.”
On the role J.P. Blevins:
“J.P. has been handling the ball well all season. He is beginning to playwith a lot more confidence, as well as being more aggressive offensively. Ithink that comes from us, believing in him, that he can get it done, andgiving him the chance to perform. What we need is team play. As long as hekeeps doing teamwork, he’ll get quality minutes.”
On the C.J. Black-Jamaal Magloire matchup:
“They are both very good players and outstanding athletes. They are veryaggressive defensively, probably the two best post defenders in the league.It is always a battle inside. I can see where both players will bephysical. I never look at it as a matchup against a certain player. It is amatchup of a Kentucky Wildcat versus a Tennessee Volunteer.”
UK Player Quotes
#42 Jamaal Magloire
“We’ve been playing really well. Our stroke is definitely getting better.This game with Tennessee will show who leads going into the SEC tournament.Beating them up here earlier in the season has a little bit of an effect onthis game. It showed us that we can play with anyone. They’ve improvedsince then though, and so have we. I think fans will see a better game thanlast time. This game will be more up tempo than before.”
On how the match-up with C.J. Black in the last game will effect this game:
“Being shut-down offensively definitely makes you adjust. With every gameyou try to improve on your weaknesses. This game will be interesting. It’sreally important for me to stay out of foul trouble. In order for us toplay to our full potential, I have to make myself available to stay in thegame.”
#3 J.P. Blevins
On the importance of the Tennessee game:
“It’s big. It was more the Louisville and Indiana games for me until I gothere. Everyone sees this one as more important. They don’t like Tennessee.”
“They’re good. It’s going to be tough. We are on the road in the SECagainst a top-10 team. It’s going to be a challenge.”
On the line-up changes:
“We don’t talk about it. If there are changes, we don’t learn until aboutfive minutes before the game. It’s not talked about. Coach puts in theplayers that need to be in. Whatever he decides, it’s right.”
“Tennessee pressures the ball hard. They play good man-to-man defense. Butwe need to take care of the ball, stay strong and not back up. We need tostay aggressive.”
