Please note that the Fact Book and Media Guide for the 2008-09 men’s basketball season are now available.

Head Coach Billy Gillispie

On whom he expects to be point-guard…

“I don’t know yet. I like the guys that we have. I like the talent that some guys possess. We were talking this morning about maybe having Jodie (Meeks) a little out there, DeAndre (Liggins) out there, maybe a lot. We were talking about having Kevin (Galloway) out there a little, maybe a lot. We were talking about having Michael (Porter) out there a lot. I don’t know yet. I think we’ll know more after we practice a bit.”

On his thoughts about boot camp…

“I thought (boot camp) was great. I think they approached it the right way. Boot camp is really good for eight days. Most everyone else starts conditioning the first day of school because they’re allowed to do that. You have six hours of conditioning that you’re allowed to do per week. Once school starts, we choose not to do that. We condense down to eight days, and I really like that concept. I think the players like it more. In those eight days I thought they approached it the right way. The best thing about boot camp, in my opinion, is that it keeps those guys in better condition all year. As soon as the season was over last year, they were thinking ‘Man alive, we have boot camp coming up.’ Boot camp is not that hard physically but it’s very difficult mentally. When you see something that you wouldn’t do normally, and know that it’s coming about and that it’s going to bring some kind of physical pain to you. You know you don’t want that physical pain, so you are going to prepare yourself so you can lessen the physical pain. You’ve already accomplished something by the way they conditioned themselves in the spring after we got done, in the summer, and also in the fall.”

On if this is the best conditioned team (Coach Gillispie has worked with)…

“To this point it is. To their credit they worked very hard in the spring, summer, and fall.”

On the possibility of using Jodie Meeks as a point-guard…

“(Jodie Meeks) has really evolved. I think he’s going to have a fantastic year. I wouldn’t limit him in any respect. I don’t know if that will be something that happens, but there will be times when he will initiate offense. There may be some situations in which we’re trying to get him a quick shot or use a set to where he will initiate the offense and receive the ball back off some kind of situation. It’s something that’s really been brought up an hour or two ago and I haven’t thought too much about it. His approach to everything is great, he’s physically fit, he’s healthy, his attitude is great, and his leadership qualities have really come to the forefront. He’s really matured in every sense of the word, which probably has to do with him being healthy. I just expect a huge year from him based on what we’ve seen so far, and I don’t want to limit him in any way. He’s been playing so well when we have had an opportunity to practice at an off-guard position, and we’re not going to take away from that.”

On DeAndre Liggins and Kevin Galloway…

“I think they’re both very talented. I think they both have a lot to learn at this level, and that’s to be expected. We haven’t practiced a lot, so you’re not going to come in and be commander of that position. But I like a lot of things about both players. I like a lot of things about Mike Porter. Mike has improved drastically from last year, and he’s a guy that does have experience. I think we’re going to have a good mix of options to where it may change directions as we continue on with the season. I don’t know due to a lack of practice, but we’ll know more after a week or two of practice.”

On what he expects from Darius Miller…

“I see (Darius Miller) playing a big role for us. He has a great understanding of the game and he has to adjust to the pace of the game at this level. He’s a very intelligent person and a very competitive person. I think he’ll understand what is necessary to do in order to get a lot of playing time. He has the intelligence and skills. He has the body and size. He’s a state champion. He’s done nothing but win. He comes from a great program with a great coach. His dad was a great player. He has a lot of things going for him. Most importantly he is a great person that really wants to play. I really expect a lot from him as a freshman. I think up to now when you have a little bit of structure but not a lot of practice time that you don’t see the best of (Darius Miller). I think you see the best when you get into structure and when you have to have a better understanding of the game. Some players do better in that and some don’t. I expect that as the game and practice gets more complicated that he will step to the forefront quite a bit more than he has so far.”

On Michael Porter’s improvement…

“Really, his approach has improved. He was like everyone else last year. He didn’t really know what to expect. He was a guy that didn’t play a lot as a freshman. I probably wanted more for him last year than he wanted for himself. I think he grew and matured into that thought process later in the season. I thought he played well late in the season with limited opportunities. I think he made his mind up that he is a good enough player to play at this level. He has worked extremely hard this summer. He’s showing a great deal of leadership.”

On replacing Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford…

“It is going to be hard to replace Joe (Crawford) and Ramel (Bradley). Once we all got on the same page we did much better. It is very difficult to go through the adjustment, as a senior, when you get a new coach and they had the success that they had. I thought they played fantastic and I was so proud of those guys. I was as proud as I have ever been as a coach because of the sacrifice they made to this program. They both showed a tremendous amount of leadership as our season improved and we moved into conference play. The thing that was most impressive about those guys was their play in the last five minutes during conference play. They played at an unbelievable level. They rarely missed a shot. We will be in tough situations again and we can draw up plays or whatever, but we have to have guys that are willing to make plays. We will miss the experience and a lot of different things from Bradley and Crawford.”

On the team’s personality…

“I think our personality has totally increased. I like to recruit spirit. I think spirit is very important and one of the least recognized and appreciated in recruiting. I like guys that are fun to be around and who want to be there. I like guys that embrace hard work and challenges. That’s where spirit usually comes from. I think we have a lot of guys that have a great deal of spirit.”

On the importance of being vocal…

“It is a pretty vocal group. DeAndre (Liggins) is going to have to be more vocal, but he’s a freshman on this campus for the first time. He will have to be more vocal because of the position he plays. I want all of them to be more vocal because I think talking is one of the most important aspects of the game. I think they have to learn how to talk to each other while the play is going on and they’re moving so many miles an hour. I think that we all need to be more vocal, but I’m not concerned about it at this point.”

On his expectations for Patrick Patterson…

“Every time he had a check up he was way ahead of schedule. He was out for a while but he’s in pretty good shape right now. He’s not in the condition he will be in and that’s understandable. He’s learning how to run again and that’s not as simple as people may think. He’s learning how to shoot and dribble again. That sounds drastic, but I’m not concerned about Patrick at all. He has the right attitude and approach. He is a little bit rusty right now, but his rusty is better than a lot of people when they are at their best. I don’t have any concerns. We just look forward to him having a great year. I think he will be able to be more versatile this year. I want him to try to be the best player in college basketball. He has a lot of components that give him a chance to have a fantastic year and he’s going to try to do that.”

On Josh Harrellson and the interior players…

“I’m really excited about Josh. He’s way ahead of where I thought he would be at this point. He has a great understanding of how to play. He’s got unbelievable feet for a guy with his weight. He’s got fantastic hands that he can score on the block and he can score from beyond the 3-point line. He’s another guy that’s been very well taught and coached. He had a really good fundamental high school coach. I would be surprised if he didn’t have a really good year. I believe he will make a major impact on our team. I go into the season with a lot of optimism for the amount of versatility we are going to have in the interior. These guys are pretty athletic and they are very well conditioned right now. We have strength and I think we can score on the block.”

On Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris…

“Experience is a great teacher and a great confidence booster. They played a ton of minutes last year. They seem like they’ve been around for a long time but it’s only their junior year. Ramon [Harris] has a great deal of confidence. He understands better what he needs to do, what he can do and what his limits are. He has worked on the things that he might not have been really good at and he’s improved in those areas but he has not forgotten about his strengths. I think he will have a really good year. Perry (Stevenson) was close to a savior last year. He played great. I thought he would be a key to our team this time last year and it turns out he was a very acute component. He has a lot of confidence and he played very well. He’s a different player and a different person. He’s happy knowing, not hoping, that he can do something. I think he has a great future ahead at Kentucky, but also a long basketball career ahead of him.”

On Matt Pilgrim and Donald Williams…

“Matt Pilgrim is a transfer so he won’t be able to play this year, but he’s a very talented player. He’s a tremendous athlete. He has a great deal of power, quickness and strength. He can shoot the ball and score on the block. He’s a ferocious rebounder. He’s the guy that’s going to make you compete every single practice and play. He’s going to get better, but we are also going to get better because of him. Donald Williams is a guy we added late. He has the ability to shoot the ball. He’s been great so far as far as conditioning and being tough and a great teammate. I think he’s going to be able to shoot the ball for us. We expect immediate things from him. Hopefully, he can help our team; he has a lot to learn because he’s a freshman. The thing he has already mastered is playing hard. He comes in everyday with the right attitude. If you do that and you’re as athletic as him, you have room to improve.”

On being comfortable as the coach…

“I think it would be fair to say that I may appear more comfortable, but I don’t think I am. You just put your heart out there everyday. You go to work and try to do your best for the program every single day. There is never a moment we aren’t looking to make the team any better. We aren’t in any relaxation mode I can promise you that, but it may come off as appearing more comfortable.”

On this year’s differences…

“The biggest differences are the interest and the passion. That’s a positive. The fans, the media and the players are all passionate. The passion and the interest are great. It’s great 365 days a year. It means so much too so many and that’s the greatest thing about it.”

On being overwhelmed with the program…

“I think professional coaches have a certain amount of tasks to do. The ones that end up being successful are the ones that figure out what needs to be done first. They put their heads down, go to work and try to get those things done. We are going to try to handle those tasks and enjoy every single day of it. That’s the only thing I know to do.”

On the newcomers…

“Right now they are trying as hard as they can to swim upstream. They are doing a really good job at it because they are trying extremely hard. We have very limited time that we can use. We need more time to teach them exactly what we want them to be thinking and what they need to be expressing to their teammates. They have a ton of natural ability so they are way ahead of other people. They just lack experience right now. Experience only happens over time. There are times they will play very well because they have talent, but there will be some growing pains too.”

On the memorial for Mr. Keightley at Big Blue Madness…

“I think it’s great [having his name on the uniforms]. I’m not sure whose idea that was, but I think they should be applauded. We can never do enough for him. It’s going to be something that’s very important to this university, state and the basketball program. I think it’s a great honor. I can see his face right now, he never wanted to put attention on himself, and he always wanted to put it on the Wildcats. I think it would be very pleasing to him once he thought about it. We can never do enough to honor him for the service he gave for so long.”

On team chemistry…

“I think the teams we have had in the past have always played very well together. I thought our team played extremely well together last year in conference play. They really cared about each other. They really embrace leadership roles. We have more experience than we’ve had. I think those guys are very determined and they understand that they have to be very vocal and leadership oriented which will make it easier for the new guys. I think we’ll see cohesiveness and exhilaration.”

On Patrick Patterson playing fewer minutes this seasons…

“I hope not, I like to get the best ones out there as much as possible. He probably will play fewer minutes but it won’t be many less. I think rest is overrated for college age people. We have timeouts every four minutes that usually last two minutes. I’m not into rest for rest’s sake. I think you have to utilize the rest opportunities around timeouts.”

On his optimism before the season…

“I’m really excited about this team. I’m really excited about having the opportunity to coach this team. I understand there are going to be challenges we are going to have to face. This year we have a ton of questions but the way the players have gone about things, in the classroom, on and off the court, and their attitudes toward each other should be commended. I commend them for having that approach. It makes it exciting as their coach. We know we have inexperience at the point guard position and that’s a critical position for me as a coach. We have interior guys that have a little bit of experience. We have guys that are going to have to play major roles in the interior and on the perimeter. We have what could be considered the best players coming off of injuries. There are a ton of questions, but I’m really excited because of their approach and their attitudes. I don’t think there are going to be a lot of distractions for this team. I think when you eliminate distractions you are able to get better.”

#1 Darius Miller, Fr.

On why No. 1…

“There was not a specific reason. I didn’t pick that number, it just came to me. It was a not big deal to me about which number I have. I am just happy to have a jersey to wear.”

On boot camp…

“I think it is going to help us out a lot throughout the course of the season. It was a great experience and it will make us a tougher and better team. The hardest part about boot camp was coming everyday ready to go 100 percent. Coach had us working as hard as we possibly could and we will be successful because of that experience. We do so many drills that push us, so we get mentally and physically tougher.”

On Big Blue Madness…

“It was an amazing experience. The fans were fantastic and it was a great atmosphere to be in. One of the best things about the whole night was sharing that time with my teammates. Big Blue Madness gets everyone so excited to get the season underway and start playing games.”

On Coach Gillispie…

“He really pushes us, to get the best out of us. I know his coaching is going to get the best out of all of us. He is a great coach and a great person who has always been there for me since I have been here.”

#2 Matt Scherbenske, Jr.

On the upcoming season…

“It is going to be very exciting. I think we all know what to expect a little more from coach Gillispie as far as how he wants us to play and how hard he wants us to go out on the court. We have an incredible amount of talent this year, and I think the fans are really going to enjoy watching us play this season. We are playing up-tempo and everyone on this team is tall. It is going to be fun to watch this play.”

On the new teammates…

“They are all great and I know they will all be helping us one way or another. This is going to a fun year with the offense we are running and the guys we have to run it. Every new guy is extremely talented.”

On Gillispie’s second year…

“Already we know what to expect coming into the season, where last season with a new coach it was a huge question mark. It helps knowing how hard Gillispie is going to ask us to play. We are coming out of the gate so much stronger this season, we are all just dying to get on the court and start the season.”

#3 Kevin Galloway, Jr.

On his previous collegiate experience…

“It really helped me out just being out on the court and getting more experience. I got to play at Kansas and a couple other big schools so being in that environment really helped me know what that is like. Being at a junior college really helped me to work on parts of my game that are going to make me a much better player.

On the adjustment of playing college ball…

“Going through the transition from my last school has made me much more mentally tougher. I am prepared for anything and ready for a new season. I have time on the court and playing in some big games, so the adjustment shouldn’t be as tough as it was going from high school to college.”

On his height and position…

“I know my height will help out some but it basically comes down to hard work. The harder I work the better player I will be. I don’t think I have any edge over DeAndre (Liggins) for the point-guard position. I know the harder we both go at each other in practice, then the better players we will both be. This is a tough position to play but we are getting better everyday.”

#11 Adam Delph, Fr.

On being a walk-on to the team…

“Even though we are labeled as a “walk-on” we are still a University of Kentucky basketball player. To get to this level you have to be somewhat good. If we produce in practice and beat people out Coach (Gillispie) will let us play.”

On his strengths as a player…

“I’m a really good team player. I get along with all the guys off the court. On the court I can shoot pretty well and hopefully that will be my role if I make it into any playing time this season. For me to find time on the court, I have to be able to play defense, but everybody on this team can play defense. I have to surpass people in shooting. I have to be able to shoot better than anyone else on the team. I’ve been working really hard on making my shots.”

On being a member of the University of Kentucky team…

“It’s awesome. It’s hard work on the court. Coach Gillispie expects 110% every time we come out. Off the court, the fan support is great. Even though I am a walk-on I get the same amount of support that every one else gets. Everybody gets along and we are exceptionally close. I’m excited to be here. Being from Kentucky this is my dream come true and I’m living it day-by-day.”

#12 Mark Krebs, Jr.

On his difficulties during his career…

“It can be difficult to go through a coaching change, but it’s been unbelievable. My first year with (former UK head coach) Tubby (Smith) I redshirted, but I got to be on the bench. With Coach Gillispie last year I broke my foot early on, so it’s been a tough road but it’s also been great. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.”

On growing up a UK fan…

“I grew up a huge UK fan especially watching the wins in 1996 and 1998 and the 2003 team was amazing. There have been so many great teams and so much history; it’s hard not to be a UK fan.”

On transferring to UK…

“I went to Thomas Moore out of high school and played there for a couple games and ended up wanting to transfer. I finished my schooling there for that year and then came to Kentucky with (former UK head coach) Coach (Tubby) Smith. I talked to Coach Smith a lot and he said it would be great to try things out and see how they worked. I spent my first few months at school not knowing if I was on the team or not. I was playing pick up games but finally Coach Smith told me he wanted me to be part of the team. Then Coach Gillispie came and he accepted me with open arms and told me I was still going to have to work hard. From then on it’s been the same, I have to work hard and play hard to keep my spot.”

#13 Michael Porter, Jr.

On preparing for this season…

“Over the summer I worked on my shot a lot and on my ball handling. I think everyone has been working hard so it’s going to be enjoyable [for the fans] to watch us play this year.”

On playing shooting guard…

“I’ll play whatever the team needs. We haven’t practiced much so we don’t have designated positions. Whatever role I fall into will be fine. As far as my role goes, wherever there’s a spot that needs to be filled I’m ready to fill it. Whatever Coach (Gillispie) needs from me is what I’m ready to do.”

On his impressions of the team’s newcomers…

“They’re good and they can all play. They all bring a different aspect to the game that we need. They are all athletic and competitive. I think they will definitely help us win games this year.”

On his improvements in the off season…

“I’ve improved, not just my basketball game, but my attitude has changed a lot this year. Every day I come in a little more positive. I’m ready to bring energy to guys who aren’t as enthused about practice that day. I think it’s mainly because my attitude has changed and I’m more confident in myself.”

#14 Mark Halsell, Fr.

On being a member of the UK basketball team…

“This is a dream come true. Since I was little I dreamed of playing at this top Division I level. To have the opportunity to come and play here is amazing. The team is great. We are like a family of brothers here. They have made the transition easy. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

On his experience at Big Blue Madness…

“It was amazing. I was so excited. I was speechless. When the music came on and the fireworks were going off I got goose bumps. I can’t explain it.”

On preparing for this season…

“I am working hard on my game overall. I’m trying to push my teammates to get better. I want to help the team overall so we can have a great season.”

#15 A.J. Stewart, So.

On how the newcomers are doing so far this year…
“They are doing well. We really haven’t been giving them much help other than ‘touch the line’ when you run and little stuff like that. They are all coming along really well and we are going to have a great team this year.”

On if one newcomer in particular is really looking good…
“I can’t really say if one guy is looking better than another, but I can tell you that the team really looks good this year.”

On what he did in the offseason to get better…
“I did a lot of running. I felt that I needed to get my shot better so I put a lot of shots up and just tried to get better overall.”

On if he feels he is become a more rounded player…
“I feel like I have done that a lot by working out this summer. I know that I am athletic enough to play at this level and now I have to get my skills more developed. I have really been working on that this summer.”

On if he is excited for the upcoming season…

“I am really excited about this season and this team. I have a great feeling and I’m ready to see where we go with this.”

#20 Jarvis Walker, Fr.

On what he sees as his role on this team…
“I will help out wherever I am needed at. Whether it will be on or off the court I am willing to help out.”

On what the best part of his game is …
“I can do everything, pass, shoot, rebound, and defend whatever they need me to do. Overall, I think we are going to have a great team this year.”

On if he likes his chances of playing time considering Mark Coury’s time last year…
“As a walk-on it is very hard to find a spot on this team because we have so many scholarship players. But if you come in and work and play hard then you are going to succeed.”

On his impressions of Coach Gillispie…
“He is a very good coach. He will teach you every aspect of the game and does not want you to ever give up. He works everybody very hard and we are going to have a great team this year.”

On the chemistry of the team…
“We are all really close on and off the floor. It is a very group oriented atmosphere. It feels like we are all one big family. If somebody is going through a tough time we will be there to help you up and that’s important.”

#21 Perry Stevenson, Jr.

On what he has seen so far this year that has impressed him the most…
“The newcomers have really impressed me. Coach expects you to play at a high level when you first step into the gym and they have all been doing that.”

On the chemistry of this team…
“That comes from being around each other so much. Everybody on this team has such a great personality that you can’t help but to have fun with each other. I think that is the way it was last year, and Coach always preaches for us to be a family and that’s what we have become. We are a very close knit group and are going to have a lot of fun out there on the floor. I just hope that will translate to wins.”

On if he has been working on his outside shooting game some this offseason…
“Absolutely, I have been working on it. I don’t know how effective it is yet, but I promise I will work on it hard enough that I get it there.”

On his confidence growing as a player…
“That comes from having all the coaches believing in me and I start believing in myself even more. My teammates tell me everyday ‘you need to be more confident’ and it helps me even more.”

#22 Ramon Harris, Jr.

On how his offseason went…
“I have just been trying to work hard and stay in condition. I worked some on my shot and on my ball handling skills and some other things that I needed to improve on to help the team.”

On what he feels is the most important thing he needed to work on…
“I just need to be more aggressive on the offensive end and try to help out my teammates as much as possible.”

On his role on this year’s team…
“I think that my role will be the same as it was last year. Coach expects me to be the same type of player that I was on the defensive end but he wants me to become more aggressive on the offensive end.”

On what it meant to him to be a fan favorite last year…
“It means a lot. Everybody knows that Kentucky’s fan base is the best in the world and when you have such huge fan support it will only lead to confidence.”

On how the newcomers are coming along so far…
“I don’t think that it is ever easy to go from high school to college because there are a lot more demands on you, but I think that they are doing well. The guys are all working hard and trying to always make that extra effort. With most guys being here from last year we know what to expect and try to show the newcomers what Coach Gillispie will be expecting. They have all been listening well because they really want to learn and when you have guys who want to learn like that it will only make the team better.”

On if he feels he has taken a leadership role with this team…
“After going through it all last year I know what to expect and what to do. I can tell the new guys ‘Hey do it like this, or he wants it done this way,’ that way when they get on the court they have an idea of what Coach Gillispie wants. I try to tell them how practice will go and things like that. The key is if these guys will listen, and you can tell they really do want to learn and that just tells you the kind of guys we have on this team.”

#23 Jodie Meeks, Jr.

On dealing with lingering injury last season …

“It was definitely difficult, since I had never been hurt in my career. Having to have the whole year bring hurt, it was definitely difficult.”

On coach Gillispie’s mindset during his injury …

“I think coach Gillispie was in my corner the whole time, he knew I was hurt and he just told me to do anything possible that I could do to get on the court. Or just do rehab and stuff like that. He was in my corner the whole time, just trying to stay positive.”

On his excitement to start the 2008-09 season …

“I am definitely excited to start the season, being healthy and looking forward to getting out on the court and playing my game.”

On how he would describe this year’s team …

“Exciting. From practices the past few months, I would say this team is very exciting, and very athletic.”

On the team’s togetherness during Big Blue Madness …

“Well, hopefully it will translate into the court. I think people are excited about the new guys. They are very good, from the freshmen, to the new guys that came from junior college. Everybody is doing very well throughout workouts. The freshmen are doing well; they are adjusting well to not only the basketball, but also the classroom and all that. The junior college guys are also adjusting well.”

On potentially playing point guard …

“If the team needs me to do it, I will. If coach asks me to do it, I will. I am willing to be the guy to take the shot, but I am a team guy, I want to do whatever the team needs, rebounding, playing defense, however I can help the team.”

#25 Donald Williams, Fr.

On his role …

“Whatever I can do to help the team that is what I want to do. Whenever coach Gillispie calls my number, I want to be ready to help the team, and make the team better because it is all about the team.”

On whether he thinks he can start …

“All my years playing basketball, I have been a starter. I am not really thinking about that this year. I am just thinking about being apart of the team, having a positive attitude everyday and just winning.”

On competing for playing time …

“It is a motivating factor. I want to play harder and get better. We have great leadership with Jodie (Meeks), Ramon (Harris), A.J. (Stewart), Matt (Pilgrim) and Patrick (Patterson), so it is a real challenge, but I am looking forward to it.

On his style of play …

“I would say I am just a hard working player. People say I can shoot, but I just want to work hard and I just want my team to win. I would just say I am a positive player.

On whether the transition to college has been difficult …

“Not really, because I have really great players above me and I just want to do what I can to help them. Ramon (Harris) and Jodie (Meeks) are great, great players who I can learn from. I’ve picked up things such as dribbling, finding ways to get open shots, just learning things that from them.”

On his teammates …

“There is not really anything I can say about one player, because as a team, we work so hard together. The team, really works hard, especially for boot camp, we worked very hard. Everybody showed together how strong they were and how mentally tough. Boot camp was a great experience. If for some reason we didn’t have to do it, I would want to. Like coach (Gillispie) said, it makes you a man. I would prefer boot camp over a regular conditioning program, for a good two weeks.”

#30 Dwight Perry, Jr.

On team unity …

“It has been real good. I think this year, we have come together immediately. I think the chemistry is there and I think that is going to pay off in the long run.”

On a Billy Gillispie practice …

“It is intense, drill to drill. We are going full speed, every time, every second. Every time you step out on the court you are going as hard as you can go.”

On the team reaching goals …

“I think everybody is stepping up and doing everything they can do to help the team win. The goals, in terms of individual stuff, those will take care of themselves if everyone just gets it done.”

On players taking a leadership role …

“I think everybody has kind of taken a part in stepping up. Veteran guys that were here last year, they are kind of helping out the young guys, telling them what to do, what to expect from classes, practices and workouts.”

#33 Matt Pilgrim, So.

On the dunk contest at Big Blue Madness …
“My legs were gone. Everyone’s legs were gone, even my teammates were disappointed. I just have to make it up during games and dunk on someone.”

On playing in the scrimmage at Big Blue Madness …
“Well, it felt the same as playing pickup, except there were 23,000 fans looking at you. It was fun, it wasn’t really that different.”

On improving himself and others during practice …
“Coaches told me to try to be a leader, so I am going to try to push everyone in practice. My job is to try and push Pat (Patterson). I am a big body – not as big as Pat – but I am a big body. I can push him around down low and try to get him better, get A.J. (Stewart) better, get Jared (Carter) better, get Perry (Stevenson) better – Perry is strong he is just REALLY instead of real skinny.”

On his happiness of being at the all-time winningest program in college basketball …
“This is just a blessing from God for me. It just happened and I pray every night just like everyone else, in their own form, but it just happened and I am so glad to be here and a part of this program.”

#34 DeAndre Liggins, Fr.

On boot camp and working hard…

“Everyday I get more used to it. I’m playing harder and not giving up on drills. I feared boot camp a little bit at first, but once I started working, I felt like I could do this. It took a little while, but my teammates helped me and told me different things to do. I adjusted well and started to figures things out at the end.”

On figuring out what coach wants from point guards…

“He wants you to think like him and that takes a lot. Being the point guard is a hard position in basketball. You have to think about feeding the ball to the post, cut through and pushing the ball every time I get the rebound. Coach wants the ball pushed every time and that’s what I’m good at, that’s the way I played in high school. I have good people around me to help push the ball down the court. I’m thinking more about what I have to do now than I ever have before. I know I’m a freshman and I have a lot to learn, and I’m willing to work hard to become a better player. If you are working hard and pushing yourself coach won’t say anything, but if you’re not going hard, he’s going to get on you. And that’s what I want him to do, that’s what I came here for, and it’s what makes him a great coach.”

On having Patrick Patterson on your team…

“Patrick is a great player and I think I’ll get a lot of my assists off him. He’s a great player and a hard worker; I just love to be around him.”

On becoming a more vocal leader on the team…

“I have to talk to my teammates more and make them feel more comfortable with me. I have to let them know that I have their back and they have mine. I can’t be nervous. I am very confident in my abilities. Boot camp really helped my confidence and it’s growing every day. I can do what the coaches expect me to do.”

On what he’s learned so far…

“You have to push yourself hard and feed the ball, getting players the ball without turnovers. One of the big things is that you need to know what you want and do it to perfection every time. My shot has gotten a lot better and I think coach knows that too. There’s not that much thinking, I just do what the coaches tell me to do. Playing at Kentucky is more than I expected. It’s a great time, and there are a lot of great guys who are willing to put in the work to become successful.”

On playing with Kevin Galloway…

“I think he has a bit more courage than me, he knows what it takes and what the coaches expect out of him. I think we’ll play well together. He’s a great player and I think we compliment each other well. We both have long, lanky bodies and we both do things well in different areas. I think we’ll make a big impact on the team. I think Kevin can play on the wing, point guard, he can do a lot of things and same with me.”

#43 Jared Carter, Sr.

On how you kicked off the season…

“We kicked off with boot camp which is a big part of the season. It gives us a chance to come together with the new guys and form a family and increase our chemistry as a team. A lot of people view boot camp as a negative thing for the players and the season but it’s not at all. I think it is a good time for everyone to get together and become a team.”

On the leadership roles among the players…

“We lost two great leaders last year and we have a lot of people stepping up and trying to take on that role. It is a great thing to have a bunch of guys trying to step up and be leaders on the team, to help uplift everyone and really help out the new guys.”

On the transition from last year with Gillispie to this year…

“It has gone smoother because last year, going into the season, we were not really sure of what was going on and didn’t really know the coach very well. But now we have a year under our belt and our relationship with Coach Gillispie is a lot better. It was easier to go into boot camp because we knew what to expect and we know what he wants now.”

On being a senior this year…

“It is my last year and I just want to work my hardest to contribute to the team and come into practice everyday and give my all. I want to try to help all the new guys and young guys and get them picked up when they need it and help make an impact for next year.”

On what he would like to improve on…

“Throughout the summer I’ve been lifting and doing a lot of conditioning. There’s nothing in particular that I’ve been working on. I just want to be a dominate post player and be able to get a lot of rebounds and overall be a great defensive player.”

#54 Patrick Patterson, So.

On how good his game is coming off of an injury …
“I’m just now starting to step back on the court and do stuff with my teammates. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back up to a 100-percent. Right now, I’m just trying to work on my game. I’ve been doing some drills with facing the basket, handling the ball a lot more and shooting a lot more.”

On being a leader …
“Pretty much, coach expects Jodie (Meeks), Perry (Stevenson), the other returners and I to be the leaders this year. I think that that’s one of the main things we need to do especially with all of the freshmen and transfer newcomers.”

On possibly making it to the Final Four this year …

“Yeah, it’s realistic. A Final Four is realistic and a championship is realistic. Whatever we want, we can obtain. It just all depends on how we play on the court. Whatever we put in is how far we can go.”

On knowing coach Gillispie …
“Being in the system for a year really helps out a lot. To know him, it really helps out a lot especially for the returning players. We know that we need to all step up and be leaders this year.”

On Jodie Meeks …
“He’s all-star potential. At Big Blue Madness he was able to come off of screens and knock down shots and create shots for himself. He is getting back to 100 percent Jodie Meeks. And seeing that is just a great feeling. I just hope he has that during the season.”

On taking it slow off of his injury …
“Not really. You have to go out there and give 110 percent every time you step out onto the court. And that’s what we all do. And as far as me, I haven’t been on the court for a while so I can gradually come back and progressively get my stride back and everything. I just want to go out there a give a 100 percent.”

On the NBA …
“The NBA is always there, but right now we are just focused as a team for what we have ahead and that’s the NCAA Championship. I want to put the idea in the back of my head until the end of the season. Right now, the entire season is all I am worried about.”

On the difference between this year’s team and last year’s team …
“There’s a huge difference. We are a lot more athletic this year. We have a deeper roster. We have a lot more people to utilize this year than we did last year. Technically, we didn’t have that many people to use last year. This year, we have a lot of returnees that know what to expect with coach. We have a lot more people that we can put in the game.”

On growing out a “Fro” …
“My teammates and I have been talking about some people growing afros this year. We all talk about growing our hair out and some people did and some people didn’t. So, it’s basically a bet with some of my teammates to see how long I can keep it going. I’m going to let it go as long as coach Gillispie will let me.”

On having help in the post positions …
“I’m really excited. At the end of last year we were able to see what Perry Stevenson was capable of and Josh (Harrellson) is a big man that can step out and shoot a three. I really believe that we can have a great year this year. We have great people and great distance in the team this year.”

On Perry Stevenson from last year to this year …
“His confidence level went up a tremendous amount. From last year to this year he is shooting the ball a lot more, he has a lot more confidence in his shot, he’s able to turn around to the basket, he can run up and down the court, and he’s been playing a lot more physical. So I think what he did last year is continuing over to this year. He did really well at Tennessee (last season) and now he feels like he can do that against any team and anybody that he plays.”

On anticipating the season off of an injury …
“It’s a huge anticipation. I just want to get back out there with my team and be able to play with them again and contribute to the team. Sitting on the sideline last year, and seeing what the coaches see, really helped out a lot for this year from my standpoint. I’m really trying to be leader this year with all of the other returners.”

On Patrick Patterson from last year to this year …
“Since I have been able to get back on the court I have been working on my game – ball handling drills, drops to the basket, my turn around face-up game, shooting threes and broadening my range. Basically, a little bit of everything. I have been trying to utilize everything that I have and just progressively getting back into the game. We all want to be the best players that we can. We all want skills that can help the team and I feel if I can step out from the basket then that will open up some inside game for Josh (Harrellson), Perry (Stevenson), and Jared (Carter) down low. That way, it will broaden their game and open up some room.”

On improving his jump shot off of his injury …
“Coach says I need to get it up. It’s been kind of flat. I haven’t been able to shoot the ball a lot over the summer. I’ve just been standing and shooting without jumping, but I have been progressively getting better.”

On participating in boot camp …
“Yeah, I was able to participate in boot camp. I was out there with my teammates cheering them on and pushing them through it. And it’s great. We have a lot of newcomers in this year and they have never been through something like boot camp before. It’s definitely all mental. So, having a year of boot camp under my belt is great. I got to help my teammates through it because I knew what to expect and I knew what the coaches wanted. And so, for all of us to go out there with all of the newcomers this year made it a lot easier for us. We were able to push everybody and one another through it.”

#55 Josh Harrellson, So.

On the fan support and amount of attention…

“All the attention is not overwhelming in a negative way, it is definitely more positive. It just makes you feel more welcomed here. Going away from home, I was really nervous about being six hours away. I didn’t know how comfortable or settled I’d be here. But the fans welcome you with open arms and it has been great.”

On his journey to playing basketball at UK…

“The process was a long, hard journey. I started playing basketball as a freshman in high school and I wasn’t good at all. I played freshman basketball and I was the fifth center, I wasn’t very good. But I worked every day in the off season and then my sophomore year I played varsity and I was the sixth man off the bench and led the team with 10 points a game. We had five seniors and coach was really strict about starting all the seniors. Junior and senior year, I came out and really surprised everybody. I just kept developing. At junior college I went there and we were really good, we were fourth in the nation most of the season and my name just got out there. (UK Assistant) Coach (Jeremy) Cox saw me play one game and they started recruiting me ever since. I waited to play basketball till freshman year in high school because I played baseball before. I grew about three inches from fifth grade to freshman year and my high school coach saw me and said that I was going to play basketball.”

On what he has learned…

“To play low, don’t stand straight up and down because you can move better when you are low. The number one thing I’ve learned as a person here is to not take life for granted. You just have to work hard and do the best you can and any dream can come true. I’m definitely working harder now than I had thought I would; it’s been a big change. But I’m open arms and taking in all the hard work and doing what I need to do to be the best I can be.”