UK Head Coach Tubby Smith
On UK’s 2001 recruiting class:
“We are very excited about the three signees that we have been able to attract. I have been very impressed with the three of the young men. In Josh Carrier, we have an in-state player who understands what Kentucky basketball is all about. He is an excellent perimeter shooter and we expect him to have a great senior year in high school then continue his basketball career here at Kentucky. He is the son of Darel Carrier, who was a former ABA star, so he comes from a family and a background that understands what competing at this level of competition is all about. I think that is going to be a big help for him.
“Chuck Hayes is 6-7 and 235 pounds from Modesto Christian. He has posted great stats over the years and his goal, as is with all these recruits, is to be the best senior that he can be and hopefully win a state championship. He will be able to come and give us a toughness that we need and versatility by being able to play inside or outside.”
“With Rashaad Carruth we continue the great relationship that we have with Oak Hill Academy that started with the signing of Ron Mercer and has continued with Cliff Hawkins and Jules Camara. Rashaad is quite a shooter, and along with Josh Carrier, we are getting two of the best shooters in the country in my opinion, and that is something that we were looking to do. I think they’re both versatile players that can play the style of play that we want to by getting up and down the court. Having said that we know that Mr. and Mrs. Blackshear are excited that Rashaad is here and I am sure that the Carriers as well as they Hayes are happy that their sons are here and I am looking forward to coaching them.”
On whether UK is done recruiting for next season:
“We never stop recruiting. You have to keep working so we recruit year round. It is the life blood of our program and it is the life blood of any college program so we are always looking to improve.”
“As I said before, I am always looking to improve our team. If that means someone in our midst then we are always looking for someone that can contribute.”
On UK’s shooting slump
“We feel like we have people who can put the ball in the hole. It is just a matter of time before guys like Gerald Fitch’s and Cliff Hawkins’ shooting comes around. I believe we are a good shooting team even though we didn’t shoot well with our two games in New York, but we had some factors involved that will work their ways out.”
“I am sure that missing shots can become a mental case, but I don’t think that is the case with our guys. We just need to have a good shooting night and I think we will be alright.”
On the performance of the post players:
“I thought that after watching what Jason had to do to try and get shots, I thought the new extended trapezoid lane took him further away from the basket and that hurt us in some ways. When our post players did have a chance to capitalize they just didn’t convert from floor or the free throw line. Consequently now I have to think about if games are close, am I going to stick with a guy who is not making free throws, or are the perimeter players even going to throw it in there if he is not going to convert when he gets fouled.”
“We pretty much have taught what we think is the proper way to defend the post and keep the ball out of the post. Sometimes you need to front people and sometimes you need to play on their side depending on where the ball is and who you are playing. The physicality is always going to be body contact. The new rule is getting your elbow off and not allowing you to use your forearm as much. There were a couple calls on Jason and on Marquis for using their forearm, so that is a change, but that is not something we have taught. We have always taught them that once their player catches the ball to get your hands off and move your feet, so it should not affect us that much. It is a matter of us adjusting to the game and how it is being called.”
On free throw shooting:
“We will just shoot more free throws and maybe bring someone in to work with him. We have been shooting more free throws in practice. Trying to make 10 in a row or seeing how many they can make out of 100. Putting pressure on them by stopping them in the middle of practice and having them shoot a one-and-one and if they miss it we run. Also we have them run laps for the free throws they miss.”
“Marvin Stone has a tendency to sling the ball. He gets it back behind his head and it is a hard habit to break and we have been working on it for a year now. During the game, fatigue sets in and you revert back to what your mind says is comfortable to you. But with game time and experience he will be able to make the adjustment.”
On Jason Parker’s performance:
“He was going up against guys that were very athletic and very good defenders. Jason is a good player, but he still has a lot to learn. It was only his first and second games at this level. I thought he had a pretty good game as far as defense and plus/minus is concerned. It is just going to be a matter of time before he realizes that he has to take the ball to the basket with two hands and not expose the ball. “
On Athletes In Action:
“They had 17 threes against a good Tennessee team. Tennessee had to beat them late in the last seconds so I guess they have beaten some good teams but they have lost a few games. Tonight they play Alabama. They are coming here with some experienced guys. Take a guy like Ryan Hoover who has good outside range. One of their players had seven threes in a game and that is an area where we have struggled in defending the three-point shot. We are going to have to step up our game on the perimeter and do a better job of contesting those shots. I expect it to be a good test for us. Athletes in Action is an experienced group of guys who have played in the NBA or played collegiately so you will see a more mature group of players compared to our players. We are trying to be as positive as we can, play the right way and try to establish an up-tempo game.”
On remaining positive with the team:
“We always try to be positive with our team. I feel like we need to be a little more intense. Doing the little things that make you a better ball club. If we were diving on the floor and hustling for loose balls and being intense, I think we could be 2-0. Those are the areas I just don’t feel comfortable with our team.”
“We are getting to the point now where we have to condition our players and teach them the value of a scouting report. Those first two games, we didn’t have the luxury of a day in between to really get ready for UCLA. Although we are more focused on the things we want to do well, we still want to help them understand and get a visual perception of how they need to play.”
On the team playing without a sense of urgency:
“When you have a young team, they just do not know how to act and how to prepare. You can talk and teach all you want, but until they actually face a game situation, they will not face the same type of challenges they are going to face in a college atmosphere.”
Player Quotes
J.P. Blevins, G
On getting ready to play after two tough losses…
“We’ve had some really hard practices lately. We’re definitely ready to get back on the floor. We believe we could just as easily be 2-0 instead of 0-2. We feel like the St. Johns’ game just slipped away from us. The only thing we can do now is look forward.”
On playing with a sense of urgency…
“Maybe some guys were a little lackluster on defense in New York, but nothing in the last few days of practice has been lackluster.”
On recent practices…
“Let’s just say guys will be diving on the floor if the ball’s anywhere around them. We’ll be putting more pressure on the ball…high intensity.”
On losing Jamaal Magloire’s intensity in practice…
“Anytime you lose an NBA player it’s going to hurt your team. Jamaal brought aggression and a sense of confidence to the floor that very few people have.”
Keith Bogans, G
On walking off the floor in Madison Square Garden with two losses…
“I was very upset with two losses, but we played a lot better in the second game against UCLA. We had a lot of positives come out of that game. We saw that we have a lot to work on.”
On starting the season with two losses…
“It’s tough but it’s early in the season. As we move on down the schedule we can get the problems worked out. Now we see that we need to play with a lot more intensity than we did in New York.”
On problems that need to be addressed…
“It’s not anything major, it’s the little things like getting the extra rebound or getting to the loose balls. Personally, I have to work on getting my intensity level up and playing hard defense.”
On playing Athletes in Action…
“We have to be ready to play every game. We can’t take any games off. AIA is as good as any college team out there.”
Marquis Estill, F
On the team’s attitude after dropping its first two games…
“Everybody is thinking positive. We are all still working hard and preparing for tomorrow’s game. We have a great team, and we are still working to get better. Our confidence is really high.”
On playing his first games as a Cat on the court at Madison Square Garden…
“I came out ready. I was a little nervous, but once I got on the floor, I was okay. I think I played well, and it felt very good to come out and be able to finally play a game.”
On playing another exhibition after the slow start…
“Coming off the two losses, it’s really good to have another chance to work on some things and get better. This game will help us a lot. We can go out there and see where we need to improve some more. Then we can get better.”
