Kentucky opens the 2006-07 campaign with two exhibition games, the first of which is against instate foe Lindsey Wilson College.
Kentucky earned its 15th-consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament last season, the third-longest active streak of tournament appearances in the country. It was also UK?s record 47th NCAA Tournament berth.
UK lost eight lettermen off last year?s 22-13 squad, but returns three starters, including pre-season All-SEC selection Randolph Morris, senior forward Bobby Perry and junior guard Joe Crawford. The Wildcats host South Carolina Upstate in their second and final exhibition game Monday, Nov. 6, before opening the regular season at home against Miami, Ohio, on Nov. 15. Big Blue plays 16 regular season games at Rupp Arena this year.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES – 11/1
Head Coach Tubby Smith
Opening statement?
?This opening game will be a great way to evaluate our players and see how they?ve progressed and we?ve progressed as a team. All we have been able to do is practice against one another and so this will be a test for us. Our energy level at practice has been high but, now we have an opponent. The players are ready to get into a game-like atmosphere and get in front of the fans. I?m sure they will come out with intensity, but we also know we have some things we want to work on and address. Our probable starters are going to be Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, Randolph Morris and Bobby Perry for sure. Our fifth guy is still probably up in the air right now. Sheray Thomas will be suspended for the first three games of the season, so he will not play and he will not dress. He?s likely to be our fifth starter when we get under way, but as I said he?s not playing tomorrow night. Lukasz Obrzut has had a good pre-season so we may put him in there and let Randolph play the four. This game will also be real good for our freshmen, let them get in there and get some game experience. I feel like they?re learning the system and they?ve been practicing well so this is their chance to get in a real game and play.?
On what the team?s practices? focus has been?
?I think it?s really 50-50. Our defense is probably ahead of our offense right now just because we?re still putting things in. But, we spend 50-50 on offense and defense. This will be good for us to play against somebody else because in practice we can?t really fool anybody. The defense knows the offensive plays. We?ve put in a zone defense and a full-court press but, we haven?t really been able to work on it.?
On Joe Crawford?
?I?ve always thought that he?s been one of our better shooters. He?s always shot the ball well. I think the biggest thing I?ve seen with him is that he?s maturing; he?s older now. He?s playing better defense and looking for his shot more.?
On changing the starting lineups throughout the season?
?I think what you?ll see this year is a more consistent starting line-up but, maybe different combinations. We have some guys that can play a variety of positions. Bobby (Perry) can play the four if we want to go small. Randolph (Morris) can also play the four if we want to go big, things like that. Bobby and Joe (Crawford) can both run the right and left wings interchangeably, so we?ll be able to mix it up a little bit. But, I think you?ll see the same guys. Sheray (Thomas) will probably be starting when we get him back too.?
On how he plans on playing the players in the exhibition game?
?I guess I do kind of have a script. I don?t have it written down or anything, but I know that I want to see the guys on the floor and see different lineups. If they?re (Lindsey Wilson) playing a zone I want our best zone offense in there. The staff and I will talk it over, but no I don?t have it written down.?
On scheduling exhibition games?
?We schedule games that will help us. Lindsey Wilson had a really good season last year, they played well and won some games. I don?t really go out and look for a team that plays zone if we?re struggling with our zone offense. I schedule games in hopes of getting looks at my guys and games that will bring a little competition.?
On the changes in the backcourt?
?I think the biggest thing that will change is our size. We have a lot of big guards. Joe (Crawford) is 6-5, Ramel (Bradley) is 6-2 so we?re going to be big. It certainly creates some match-up problems on offense but, it helps us a lot on defense.?
On the absence of Rajon Rondo?
?Rajon was an outstanding player. We have three new guys in Michael Porter, Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks who came in and can contribute. Ramel (Bradley) and Joe Crawford have experience and are ready to step in. I think we?re still very talented in the backcourt, but obviously there are some new faces.?
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Kentucky Players
#33 Randolph Morris, F
On playing Lindsey Wilson on Thursday ?
?Actually, it feels like it is about time we play someone other than ourselves. This is always one of the hardest parts of the season before you play your first exhibition game because you are going multiple times a day against each other. It is exciting to change it up and play someone other than ourselves.?
On the best thing about pre-season practice ?
?I think just the way we have come together and the unity that we have are the best things. The competitiveness in practice has been crazy. Everybody is really getting after it. We?re just trying to get more people involved in practices and everybody is playing hard to win their drill.?
On how the freshmen are progressing ?
?I think that they are coming along well. They are gradually learning and it?s always a good thing when you are learning. They have done well ? they are learning the nuances of the college game like when and how to rest and recover from practice.?
On the team?s goals in exhibition games ?
?We are just trying to fine-tune ourselves and our team. Any kinks that we are going to have, we want to be able to work out in the exhibition games.?
On playing alongside Lukasz Obrzut in the post ?
?I think it gives me a lot more freedom and as a team it allows us to be more physical. Lukasz is tall and strong as well. It gives us a really interesting look inside.?
#32 Joe Crawford, G
On Thursday?s exhibition vs. Lindsey Wilson ?
?I can?t wait, [two-a-days] is taking its toll on me. I just can?t wait to get out there and show coach that all that hard work has been paying off.?
On the team shooting well in practice ?
?We are shooting pretty good. All the shooting we did in practice and during the summer is going to help us. You just try to incorporate game shooting in practice every way you can.?
On displaying some leadership with the freshmen ?
?We definitely want to show the freshmen the type of intensity you have to practice and play with. I guess it is a feeling from last year; we just want to have a better season. We are just ready to play and take on someone.?
On whether the freshmen will be nervous playing at Rupp Arena ?
?I am sure they are a little nervous because this is actually their first game but they have responded well playing in Rupp already, so I am expecting them to have a good season. They all are capable of playing good.?
On the versatility of Bradley and Crawford in the backcourt ?
?I think we will have two guards who are looking to attack. Last year it was more Rajon [Rondo] creating for everybody. I think that this year, Ramel and I can create for the whole team. I think it will take pressure off one person to do all the work. It will take some pressure of Ramel and allow me to create some shots for him.?
#13 Bobby Perry, G/F
On the team shooting well in practice ?
?Yeah we have been shooting tremendous. It comes from a lot of things, a carry over from the summer, having our legs, hard work in the weight room, having that stamina to keep on shooting effectively. I am shooting the ball extremely well – shooting it great – a little follow over from last season, the summer, and working out trying to get extra reps.?
On the team?s confidence ?
?I am very confident right now. That is something we lacked last year, that swagger which comes from hard work, togetherness, and good chemistry, knowing that we have each others back. That confidence and swagger is going to show.?
On his goals for the season ?
?I think we have a great team and a wonderful opportunity to do some good things this season. The freshmen coming in and the returnees, we are all on the same page and we are just going to keep reaching for that common goal.?
On playing exhibition games ?
?I can?t wait, that is always a plus getting into the season. Practicing with your teammates for several weeks and really all summer in pickup games can get tiring. It is nice get a chance to play against other teams to get ready for the season.?
