Feb. 11, 2003
Recap?|?Box Score?|?Notes?|?Photo Gallery | Photo Gallery II
UK Coach Tubby Smith
Opening statement…
“I thought this was a very complete game for us. We were able to accomplish a lot of good things against a very good team in Georgia. They have some of the best talent in the country, especially Jarvis Hayes. He’s an excellent player. But our kids came out ready to play and very focused. We were challenging a lot of shots. The key to the game was our rebounding, as I thought it would be from the beginning. Georgia is a solid team and we were fortunate to play them well here before we have to go down [to Athens].”
On perimeter defense…
“Keith Bogans’ attitude has been excellent. When you challenge him to stop someone, he rises to the occasion. We made sure to be right there when Georgia caught the ball, especially guys like Ezra (Williams) and Jarvis (Hayes), and to not let them shoot the three-point shot.”
On balanced scoring…
“This is a very unselfish team. One of the most unselfish teams I’ve ever been around. They enjoy passing the ball and setting each other up. Everyone works extra hard, even the guys that are on the bench. And they all deserve a lot of credit for the way we’re playing. We had Chuck (Hayes) and Quis (Estill) with double-doubles. It starts with guys working on the perimeter, taking second and third looks to get the ball inside.”
On long-range shooting…
“We have been shooting excellently from three-point range. We’re getting very good looks. Gerald (Fitch) and Keith (Bogans) are both hitting – and Cliff (Hawkins), when he starts hitting you can’t stop him. There’s no answer because if you play too far out on him, he’s so quick that he’ll go right by you.”
UK PLAYERS
44 Chuck Hayes, Forward
On why the team is playing so well…
“I don’t know what’s making us play so well. I don’t know how we’re doing it but we’re doing it. We’re just having a lot of fun. We laugh and joke with each other, but when it’s time to get serious, we’re very serious.”
On if the defense has become instinctive…
“Yeah, I think so. We’re starting to understand what Coach Smith has been preaching to us and it’s paying off. It becomes routine. We know where we’re supposed to be.”
1 Cliff Hawkins, Guard
On his second half shooting…
“This year I’ve been looking for my shot. Once I found that they were leaving me open I got a little anxious. But I settled down and was able to get my feet set and find the range.”
On the impact of the win…
“It was a big win for us, but we’re going to enjoy it tonight and start getting ready for LSU tomorrow.”
4 Gerald Fitch, Guard
On the second half start…
“We’ve always had second-half let downs and everybody on the team knows that. We just wanted to come out and not have one. We did a pretty good job of it.”
On working on defense…
“Defense is a lot of hard work, but when you have everyone playing as a team it makes it a lot easier. It’s a team effort. We have a team defense and when somebody has a let down, somebody else is there to pick them up.”
Georgia Head Coach Jim Harrick
On the difference between Kentucky last year and this year…
“They’re more athletic. They’re better rebounders. They come together and they’re really unselfish. Gerald (Fitch) wasn’t shooting consistently and (Keith) Bogans wasn’t shooting well last year. They’re really playing well right now.”
On his reaction to the game…
“Rebounding was key in this game. They were just playing volleyball with us. We stopped them early on in the first half with the zone, and then they got four offensive rebounds and we could never recover. In the second half, they just put us away. They’re doing everything well – transition defense, shooting the three. Even Cliff Hawkins is shooting the three. They’re playing well and that’s a credit to Tubby. He’s got a plan and they’re playing like a championship team – playing championship basketball. They’re defending, they’re rebounding, they’re shooting. Their defense is very, very good, but their offense is outstanding.”
GEORGIA PLAYERS
5 Ezra Williams, Guard
On the difference between Kentucky last year and this…
“They have momentum right now. They are a lot better group this year, where last year they were individuals. Their team chemistry is much better this year.”
On his reaction to the game…
“It was a home game for them and they played very aggressively. They had a better night than we did tonight, but they aren’t unbeatable.”
33 Jonas Hayes, Forward
On what Georgia has to do to rebound from this loss…
“We just have to work on a lot of things that we need to work on and take it one game at a time.”
On how long Georgia will remember this game…
“We’ll remember it this one for a long time. We definitely won’t forget about this loss, but we’ll try to move on and get better.”
