Dec. 27, 2002
Lexington, Ky. –
Head Coach Tubby Smith
On the starting lineup…
“We’ll stay with what we did last Saturday. But then again, that’s subject to change.”
On Antwain Barbour…
“He’s been working out with us, and he’s looked good the last couple of days, so he’ll be available to play Saturday. He brings us athleticism, and his defensive ability on the perimeter will be a big help. He’s another body that we can utilize if we want to pressure more. He’s a very good passer and an excellent rebounder, and he was playing well before he went out. Hopefully, he can pick up where he left off, and if he can do what Cliff did for us last week and bring that type of energy and hustle (off the bench), that would be a big help.”
On Louisville…
“They shoot the ball extremely well. They’re athletic. They’re obviously bigger now with Marvin Stone in the lineup. They really push the ball up the court and play the way Rick Pitino’s teams usually do. They try to pressure you. We’ve got to try to contain their transition game as best as we can and execute on offense.”
On Marvin Stone…
“Marvin has always been capable of starting. He has showed good quickness and good touch and he is making shots around the basket. He’s making jumpshots, and he looks like he’s in good shape and playing pretty well.”
On defending Louisville’s three-point shooters…
“We did a good job against Indiana, but we’ll have to do a much better job because Louisville shoots a higher percentage than Indiana. Their outside shooters are as good as Indiana’s. They have guys like Reece Gaines, Taquan Dean, Francisco Garcia and Erik Brown who can all shoot the three. When they get on a roll, they can make a bunch in a hurry. So, we’ve got to challenge those shooters.”
10 Keith Bogans, Guard
On playing against Louisville…
“Going against Louisville is always a big game, emotions run high and it’s a huge rivalry, so everyone is ready to play. This year they have the home court advantage and all their fans will be fired up, so we have to be ready for the atmosphere. We’re excited and ready to play.”
On the difference between Louisville from last year to this year…
“They are a better team than they were last season. They have more guys that are capable of putting the ball in the basket. They put a lot of pressure on you defensively, so we can’t get rattled. We just have to play our game and we’ll be fine. This game is always a lot of fun and we’re ready to play.”
50 Marquis Estill, Center
On going against his friend Marvin Stone…
“I’m looking forward to matching up with Marvin. He’s a big guy and a great interior player. He’s very versatile and is a tough matchup, but I’m excited about playing against him.”
On dealing with double teams from Louisville’s defense…
“I work against double teams every day in practice, so it’s nothing new for me. Hopefully it’ll open things up on the perimeter and we can get some open looks. They like to double with their post players too, so we should be able to get some easy baskets underneath. I’ll have to make my move quick before they get a chance to trap and rotate.”
Cliff Hawkins
On the Indiana game…
“The team played pretty well, and I came in and provided a spark off the bench. I was just happy we got the win.”
On defending Louisville guard Reece Gaines…
“We have our hands full trying to guard him. It’s going to be a collective effort. We’re going to do the best we can. He can score from a lot of different places. He can shoot from outside, take it to the basket, and he also can post up. He’s the total package.”
On the importance of the Kentucky-Louisville game…
“It’s a big game, and it’s probably even bigger now that Rick Pitino is at Louisville. There’s a lot of people in this state who want Louisville to win and a lot of people who want Kentucky to win, so emotions are going to be high in Louisville.
On returning to the rotation…
“It’s been a long four weeks, and I can finally get back out there and have fun. I’ve been sitting on the sidelines at practices and at games. It’s hard on me because I really haven’t had to sit out like this before. I’m just excited to get back out there to play again.”
On preparing for his return…
“I’ve still been able to do a lot of shooting, because I broke my left hand and I shoot with my right hand.I’ve been in six practices since we started two-a-days over the Christmas break. Now I feel really comfortable practicing full speed.”
On playing in the Kentucky-Louisville game…
“It means a lot. Kentucky-Louisville – everyone grows up wanting to play in this game. It’s an even bigger rivalry now, and it’s one of the biggest games of the year.”
