Feb. 1, 2002
Coach Tubby Smith
On preparing for South Carolina…
“We had a day off Wednesday and got back to work yesterday in trying to get ready for a good South Carolina team. They had a great win over Georgia and I know they’re coming in fired up. We were fortunate to get that win down in Columbia on the last-second heroic shot from Cliff Hawkins.”
On USC’s pressure…
“We turned the ball over a lot against their pressure and they do a good job of trapping in the half court. They like to change up their defense at every dead-ball situation or free throw.”
On USC’s lineup…
“I noticed that they shook up their lineup like we decided to do. This time of the year it’s tough to be changing lineups. I don’t know why they changed, but it looked like it worked pretty well for them – they got a good win. I assume that they’ll stick with the same lineup they started with the other night.”
On Kentucky’s lineup…
We’re not sure who we’re going to start. We’ve been looking at guys during practice to see if we are going to stick with the rotation we had against Florida or go back to the lineup we had previously.”
On goals for game…
“The thing we have to do is take care of the basketball so we can get more shots. We got very few shots when we played them down there because we turned it over 20 times. Rebounding wise, they’re very tough on the boards and we have to do a good job of boxing out like we did in the second half against Florida. I hope we can carry that momentum over into tomorrow’s game.”
On play against Florida…
“Keith Bogans played really well against Florida, but Chuck Hayes was the guy that really set the tone in that game. It will be tough for him to not be in the lineup.”
On who will start against USC…
“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know who’s going to start. After we played with the guys we started the other night I don’t know who we’ll start. But I’m more concerned with how we finish the game than how we start it anyway.”
On senior point guard J.P. Blevins…
“J.P. Blevins will play and I believe he’ll give us a lot out there. He’s about as tough as they come, he’s a mentally tough kid. He’s a leader and he’s been through the program. He knows what we want from him and he’s going to give his best effort every time.”
On talking to team about NCAA’s sanctions on UK’s football program…
“I haven’t talked to them about it yet, but I probably should. I’ve been through this before when I was at Tulsa. It’s tough to punish those kids by not letting them go out and strive for a bowl game this year. They are planning on appealing that and I hope they do.”
On negative effects of sanctions…
“Any time you have a negative happen in an athletics program it effects the overall morale. Dr. (Lee) Todd is forming a committee to evaluate the entire athletics area so it does affect everyone. I’m sure this will be for the betterment of the entire department.”
On freshman forward Chuck Hayes…
“I said at the beginning of the season that Chuck Hayes was the most physical player that we’ve signed. He’s had to learn the three, four, and five position because he’s so versatile. We want to use him in different positions because of his energy and versatility. I thought his toughness was the key to winning the Florida game.”
Keith Bogans
On the starting lineup…
“It’s coach’s decision. Whatever he decides to go with, we’re going to go with. It’s always better to play the last 30 minutes rather than the first 30. It’s not who starts, it’s who finishes.”
On the Florida game…
“We were very pumped up going down there. We knew we had our backs against the wall so we wanted to go down there and play with pride and keep our intensity going.”
On his season so far…
“It’s been a little rocky, but it’s just something I’ve got to deal with. It hasn’t been the way I expected but things don’t always go that way. We’ve only played half the season so we’ve got plenty of games left.”
On the starting lineup against Florida…
“Those young guys came out and played well. They did what they were asked to do – go out there and work hard.”
Chuck Hayes
On starting…
“It’s pretty neat. I enjoyed it. You have to take a different approach to the game – be up on your toes instead of being on the bench watching what’s going on.”
On whether he’ll start against South Carolina…
“I don’t know. I won’t know until coach puts the starters on the board right before the game.”
On the two halves against Florida…
The first half I was concentrating on my defense – trying to maintain their guys. I noticed at halftime that I didn’t have any rebounds, so I figured I wasn’t in the paint that much. I figured that in the second half I had to get in there and bang a little more.”
Tayshaun Prince
On having J.P. Blevins back…
“It will mean a lot just to have that leadership back on the court. Plus, it will get Gerald (Fitch) back to his natural position. He’s been coming along pretty good in practice and we’re looking forward to having him back.”
On Erik Daniels and Chuck Hayes starting against Florida…
“They brought a lot to the table. They helped out a lot on the boards and gave us plenty of opportunities at the basket. The effort was there defensively. Those two guys did a great job on (Udonis) Haslem and (Matt) Bonner. Overall, for their first start, against a team like Florida, you have to be very appreciative of them.”
On who will start against South Carolina…
“I don’t know. It’s not my decision. Whatever lineup he goes with, we have to be ready.”
J.P. Blevins
On coming back…
“I’m going to go out and play my hardest. I think I can bring leadership to this team. Some of the guys will be able to go back to the roles that they were playing beforehand. I just want to get back in there and compete with my team and be a contributor.”
On his wrist…
“It feels pretty good. It’s not 100 percent, but it’s pretty close. I was able to do pretty much everything in practice yesterday and that’s the first time I’ve been able to do that. I’m looking forward to getting back on the court.”
