On preparation for the NCAA Tournament?
?We haven?t practiced since we returned from the SEC Tournament. I gave our players a day off yesterday to take some time to enjoy the day. We?ll get started again this afternoon. They got a lift in this morning, and for the most part they are healthy, except for a few nicks and bruises. I think Gerald had a thigh bruise, but he?s okay. Cliff had treatment for some tendonitis, but otherwise, the guys have been okay. It?s always difficult to prepare for a game not knowing who you?re going to play. We?re excited about being in the tournament, being in this region, and our guys are focused and ready to play.?
On whether he uses Kentucky?s disappointing 2003 finish to motivate the team?
?I?ve never brought it up. In their minds, the last game is usually what sticks with you. There are a lot of teams running around that started the year being motivated by what they didn?t finish last year, I would guess. The teams that made it to the Final Four were probably pleased with where they were. We knew we had unfinished business. I think the most inspiring part about it is you have another chance to improve as a player and as a person. I think our seniors have seized the opportunity this year to leave a good legacy here from their playing days.?
On whether a serious injury would put Kentucky in the difficult situation it faced a season ago?
?We have more veteran players and more experienecd players than last year, and that will be very beneficial. The way our players have accepted their roles, and the way our freshmen are coming along gives us some versatility. The way Kelenna has come along, he?s been as consistent as anybody on our team the last month. I think those are the things that are different and what we could have utilized last year to help us overcome the injury to Keith Bogans. So, I don?t think we?re in that position. This year, it?s different.?
On Kelenna Azubuike?
?He moves well without the ball. He is the best player we have at moving without the ball. He understands that if he cuts to find open spots that there are guys like Erik (Daniels) and Chuck (Hayes) and Cliff (Hawkins) who are willing to give up the ball. He has the strength and explosiveness to go inside, get bumped and still get the shot. He?s fearless when he goes inside. It goes back to being more aggressive and moving without the ball. We have challenged him to do more of that.?
On Chuck Hayes?
?Chuck is the best help defender I?ve coached in a long time. He?s willing to rotate over and not only take care of his responsibilities, but help you when another player breaks down. For the most part, I think all of our players do it, but he does it better than anyone else. That?s been the most stabilizing part of our defense. People will beat you off the dribble, but what matters is how quickly you can recover to protect the basket. Not only does he recover and protect the basket, but he recovers to his man and gets the rebound.?
On the quality minutes turned in recently by the Kentucky bench?
?I was elated going into the half against Florida because I knew we had good, solid control of the game. Our starters benefited by getting the rest. The Florida players kind of hit the wall when Erik, Cliff, Gerald and Chuck went back into the game. I?ve got a lot of faith and a lot of belief that our bench players will improve. If you?ve haven?t developed the ability and intensity in the SEC Tournament Championship, you?re not ever going to have it. It was a good test on their part, and I?m glad they all passed. You may never get that chance but when the chance does come, you?ve got to perform. I think early in the year, they weren?t experienced enough because they weren?t getting that amount of time to prove they deserve more playing time.?
On whether he discusses officiating with the team during the post-season?
?We don?t talk about it. We might talk about it among the coaching staff, but we?ve only done that once or twice with the team. I don?t mention officials and I don?t even know who is officiating until we get out there. I don?t even want to know.?
On whether Cliff Hawkins has accepted more of a leadership role?
?I think so. I think it happened right around the Georgia game. He was a little frustrated. He wanted to call everything, and that?s why I told the team, ?Get the ball to Cliff.? He?s a playmaker, he?s a point guard and he?s the leader. We were having everyone trying to do things. My way of doing it was to get the ball to Cliff. It gave him the confidence to just get out and run. Cliff was forced to be too many things. Now, he?s just the point guard. I like our match-up anytime we put Cliff at the point.?
On Sheray Thomas?
?Sheray has proven he is willing to do the things that are necessary for him to earn minutes: play solid post defense, aggressively attack the offensive and defensive boards and pass the ball. He understands his role. He screens well. Earlier in the season, he would get himself in foul trouble. Now, he?s learned to set screens the proper way, without moving. That?s a maturing process. He?s done that as well as anyone. He is as athletic as anyone on the team.?
On the keys to a long post-season run?
?We must have good leadership, and we have that. We?ve got enthusiastic guys who enjoy playing together and enjoy each other. We have guys that are very unselfish. We?re a very tough-minded team; we?re tough physically and tough mentally. We understand we?re not going to get too high, and we?re not going to get too low. We need to keep balance throughout the game and handle the exposure, the media, the lights and the hype.?
