KENTUCKY 69, SOUTH CAROLINA 63
POST-GAME NOTES
Kentucky is now 8-5 overall, 2-0 in the SEC.
South Carolina is now 9-4 overall, 1-1 in the SEC.
This was Kentucky’s fifth consecutive win overall and fourth consecutive home win.
Kentucky now leads the series 25-4 and has won eight straight over the Gamecocks.
Key run: tied at 61, UK outscored South Carolina 8-2 during the last two minutes of the game. The Wildcats made 4-4 free throws in the final minute, two each by Marquis Estill and Saul Smith.
Kentucky is now 5-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
After struggling early in the season in close games, Kentucky has now won the last three games by two, four, and six points.
The Wildcats return to action on Sat. Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. at home against Notre Dame.
Tubby Smith Quotes
On the game…
“We did what we had to do to win. We knew they would be ready to play after a big win over Florida. Eddie Fogler did a good job getting his team ready. They have had a lot of improvement, and they were ready to play. We have this MO (modus operandi) of giving up leads. We had a lot of open looks, but the shots just weren’t going down. Our bench was outstanding, and that was key. We need more production on the boards. This is the third straight game we were out rebounded.”
On giving up the lead at the end of the game…
“It was important South Carolina didn’t take the lead even though they tied it. Our guys didn’t let the pressure get to them. The free throw difference was also important. We told them that South Carolina was hitting more free throws than their opponents were taking. I guess we just didn’t listen because we kept fouling them.”
On J.P. Blevins…
“He is playing with a lot of confidence right now. Defensively he did a very good job. There were a couple of times when I thought he had drawn charges, but they weren’t called. He gave us a big boost.”
On Gerald Fitch…
“Fitch really energized us. He has a nose for the ball, and he was our top rebounder. When we can play uptempo, with baskets off turnovers, we are tough. His play really got us to push the ball up the floor.”
On the Cats’ press…
“It is something we tried to do to keep the ball out of Aaron Lucas’ hands. Early in the second half we were able to do that and make the run to increase the lead.”
UK Player Quotes
J.P. Blevins #3
On his play…
“When I enter the game I am ready to play. I am energized. I want to get in there and contribute to help this team win. After playing two good games back-to-back the confidence is there. I knew that if I continued to go as hard as I could, good things would happen.”
On South Carolina’s comeback…
“We played really tough on defense and I think the team just got fatigued. We let it slip a little, but we still got another win and that is what’s important.”
On the Notre Dame game…
“Notre Dame is a good team and they are ranked. It would help tremendously if we got a win. We want to beat the Irish to prove a point and let people know that we are a good basketball team. We will be ready to play.”
Tayshaun Prince #21
On the lead slipping in the second half…
“It has happened a few times now and we know that when we get a lead we have to stay aggressive. When we get up on a team we have to put them away. Tonight South Carolina got in an extended zone and made us move the ball. These are good teams we are playing tough, and we are winning so we are in good shape. This team is becoming more mature.”
Gerald Fitch #4
On his game…
“My shot wasn’t falling so I work harder at the other things. I try to stay around the ball and hustle. When you are in the middle of the game, you don’t stop to think about what to do, you just do it.”
Marquis Estill #50
“We tried to come out and get a good start at the beginning of the game. We tried to take them out of the game, but they kept fighting. I think we just start to relax too soon. We have to keep our intensity level up until the end of the game.”
On his improvement at the free throw line…
“I am a good free throw shooter. Each time I step to the line I feel like the ball is going in. I am very comfortable at the free throw line.”
Keith Bogans #10
“This team is really starting to mature. Things are starting to fall in place for our team. We are winning close games and things are really coming together for us.”
“I stepped on someone’s foot tonight. My ankle is a little sore, but it will be fine. It will just take a little time to get it as strong as it was.”
Jason Parker #42
On such a close game…
“It happened again. I guess we just lose our focus when we get a big lead. This is definitely something we need to work on. We need to improve in this area throughout the season.”
“It seems like we know what to do now in those close situations. We have been working on that in practice. These last couple of games it has been very close at the end, but we got the wins so the practice definitely helped.”
South Carolina Coach Eddie Fogler
Opening Statement…
“First, I would like to wish a speedy recovery to Cawood Ledford. I understand he is ill. I would think Kentucky fans all over the state and everyone involved with basketball understand what a great man he is and hope they are thinking of Cawood.
“Secondly, I want to congratulate C.M. Newton. I understand he is going to be named Naismith Sportsman of the Year on Saturday. He is a wonderful man and a great coach. Thirdly, congratulations to Coach Tubby Smith and his Kentucky team on an exciting, hard-fought win.”
On his team’s performance…
“We played reasonably well, but you can’t play reasonably well and expect to get a win in Rupp Arena.”
On the performance of Aaron Lucas…
“Lucas takes losses harder than anyone else. He played really well tonight. I love Lucas. He’s a terrific kid. He has improved so much from last year, cutting down on his turnovers. He has really come a long way.”
On South Carolina’s comeback…
“On the road, your goal is to keep close and try to win the game at the end. The key was that we didn’t panic when we got down. We made some key shots and got some easy hoops that got us back into the game. We executed our offense better and got some help from the foul line.”
On Kentucky having problems closing out games…
“I don’t know too much about Kentucky problems. I’d like to have their problems.”
South Carolina Player Quotes
Aaron Lucas
“We came out to play hard. The little things, though, are part of basketball and they count. I think we did a great job at keeping our composure and working hard.”
“We wanted to play well on the road. It is a different atmosphere and takes some getting used to. The energy and enthusiasm of the crowd here makes it tough.”
“I take my hat off to my team. It was a close game and they played hard. Kentucky has a lot of young players with potential this year. They just need to come together.”
“We are building confidence but it still takes those little things. We tried to focus on Kentucky’s different schemes. We did a good job in the first half but UK is good at improvising.”
“We ran some good plays but we missed some easy shots.”
Marius Petravicius
“I thought we started strong in the first half but slowed down in the second half. (Aaron) Lucas had big plays down the stretch but we couldn’t pull it out.”
“We play Tennessee this weekend and they are very good. We beat them last year so they will come out ready to play.”
“We needed to win away and started off the first half strong. Unfortunately we didn’t begin the second half as well.”
“We are going to have to play hard at the start of the conference schedule. We have a tough Tennessee game coming up this weekend and it will not get any easier.”
“We are going to have to practice hard because it is going to be a long season and we need to get ready.”
