Jan. 2, 2002
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Head Coach Tubby Smith
On the game…
“We had a good night. The guys were very active and got off to a good start. We had some guys shoot well. It’s good to start the new year this way, and there was no let-down after the Louisville game. Shawn (Finney) has done a good job, and he has a good team. But our depth and talent just wore them down.”
On Gerald Fitch hitting his shots…
“Any time we make a run and he hits shots, it gives the team confidence. It opens up one-on-ones for Tayshaun (Prince) and Keith (Bogans). This is a good-shooting arena. This type of game gives us a chance to iron out some kinks before we enter SEC play.”
On Tulane’s defense…
“Tulane likes to trap inside. They did a lot of collapsing, but we were able to get a good advantage on the boards. Tayshaun (Prince), Marquis (Estill) and Jules (Camara) did a good job getting on the offensive boards.”
On the Southeastern Conference…
“The SEC is a very balanced league. Mississippi State is a very hot team right now. We just have to stay focused. I’m not really as surprised with them as I am impressed. They are really good.”
On Cliff Hawkins…
“He’s been shooting well in practice. We’ve been telling him not to think about shooting, but to just catch and shoot. He missed his first few shots but finished well.”
On the team working together despite the loss of Marvin Stone and J.P. Blevins…
“The guys are coming together and playing unselfishly. The chemistry is good. It’s a good sign, and I think if we can keep that up it will be difficult for other teams to beat us.”
UK PLAYERS
Tayshaun Prince
On the play of Gerald Fitch…
“It is something special to have a 6’3″ two-guard on your team that can get a double-double. To have him attacking the glass like that really helps us.”
“The main thing we wanted to do in this game was get on the offensive glass. We wanted to attack the glass to give us more opportunities. We are getting ready for SEC play, so we wanted to come into this game and make a good statement.”
On UK’s bench play…
“It is fun to get those guys in the game to contribute the way they did. To see them respond the way they did was great.”
Keith Bogans
“We are getting better each game. We know that we can’t afford to take a night off. I think we are playing well right now, but I also think we can get a lot better, especially at defense.”
On Kentucky’s tough play tonight…
“That is the mentality we want to have. We want to come out and play the same way each game no matter what name is across their chests. When we play like we played tonight it is going to be tough for anybody to beat us.”
On the shooting of Rashaad Carruth…
“Rashaad is a great shooter. He is a catch-and-shoot kind of guy. If they leave him open he will knock them down.”
Cliff Hawkins
On his performance…
“It was an all-around team effort tonight. We were able to push the ball up the floor and got easy buckets out of our fast break. I feel really good, the guys have confidence in me and we’re playing good team basketball at this point of our season.”
On the way Kentucky is playing…
“A lot of guys shot the ball well today and there were some outstanding individual efforts. I think (Gerald) Fitch played really well tonight. Different players are stepping up each night to carry their part of the load and it’s translating into wins and good team basketball for us.”
On UK three-pointers…
“That was good for us. We’ve been working hard in individual workouts, concentrating on hitting the outside shot. Everybody seems to be coming around now and if they were open, they knocked it down tonight.”
Gerald Fitch
On what he brings to the team…
“I think I add the all-around player. I’m a type of player that can do a lot of different things on the court. You want players on your team that can get it done defensively, offensively, pass and get the boards. With me, I just try to work hard and do whatever the team needs to be successful.”
Tulane Head Coach Shawn Finney
On the UK squad…
“I think Kentucky is by far the best team we’ve played this season. They are definitely a top-five team that has a chance at being one of the best in the country.”
On Tayshaun Prince…
“Tayshaun is definitely one of the best in the country and a first-team All-American.”
On UK’s second-half play…
“They were ‘on’ offensively and defensively and that put us back on our heels. We wanted to fight back and we got it down to 18 or 20 and for whatever reason we relaxed and then they popped it back up to 30.”
On Cliff Hawkins…
“He brings great emotion. He’s a hawk on the ball. He brings intangibles to the game with his aggressive play and hustle and effort. He’s very good in the open court in his decision making.”
On how this team differs from the UK teams from when he was here…
“They have depth and weapons. Guys who can score on the block and guys who can step out and shoot the three. And then they have defensive stoppers in Gerald Fitch and Jules (Camara), who with his quickness around the basket, makes it hard to shoot over him. They have a lot of versatility, they play well in the half-court and in the open court with all the ball handlers they have.”
On Tubby Smith’s defensive schemes…
“Tubby Smith defense tonight was outstanding, as it always is.”
On Tayshaun Prince vs. Duke’s Jason Williams…
“I think Tayshaun brings a lot to the team. He can post up or he can shoot the three and he gets other teammates involved. He can play inside and out. Jason Williams, I think, is the best guard in the country but I think Tayshaun brings more to this team.”
TULANE PLAYER
#2 Brandon Spann
On this UK team…
“They are certainly one of the nation’s top teams. We hope that by playing teams like Kentucky and Florida that we will be tougher in our own conference. You learn more about yourself and your team when you play the best.”
On UK’s backcourt…
“They are well-coached and well-disciplined. They do a lot of things right. They shoot the ball well and they rebound well. Kentucky’s guard play may the best that I will see all year.”
