John Robic filled in for John Calipari on the Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Teleconference this morning. Read what the assistant coach had to say about an upcoming matchup with Texas A&M and Saturday’s comeback win over Tennessee.RobicOn UK’s matchups this week …“We got two home games coming up this week, Texas A&M on Tuesday and Georgia on Saturday. I’m impressed really with both teams and what their new players are doing for them. I like the physical nature of both teams. Right now, both teams are playing very, very well. We’re going to have to play a heck of a game in both outings.”On the similarities between Texas A&M’s Jamal Jones and Elston Turner …“You know what, that’s a great point. Really like Jamal Jones. It seems like he should be averaging more than 12 points a game because it seems like every time he shoots it it goes in. He’s really a smooth player, really good with the ball. He can create his own shot. He’s a very shooter off the catch. It gives them that No. 1 scoring option for their team. He’s really more of a three than he is a four. Sometimes he has to play that four spot, but it can create matchup problems because he can draw you away from the basket.”On Texas A&M leading the league in defensive field-goal percentage …“They mix things up defensively between their man-to-man and zone. I really like (Alex) Caruso as a defender. Really anticipates well. They play solidly defensively. Not a whole lot of risk factors in trying to steal balls. They wall up really well in the post and make you take tough shots in and around the basket. We’re going to have to do a good job of penetrating, being ready to shoot and hopefully do a little bit of damage on the offensive glass.”On rebounding issues against Tennessee …“You had two 6-8 kids that weigh about 275 pounds and they had their way with us. They were space-eaters inside that were really, really physical. I believe it’s the first time all year we’ve been out-rebounded and we got our butts kicked on the glass, especially offensively. We showed that tape to our players yesterday before practice because we were plus-13 going into the game rebounding-wise. We were fortunate to come away with the win. There were a lot of those plays though there were probably two or three, sometimes even four offensive rebounds per possession. But we have to do a better job keeping guys off the glass for sure.”On why Willie Cauley-Stein struggled against Tennessee …“If you watch the film, once they made contact he didn’t fight back. He had a big height advantage over them. He just has to get down and be physical and make the first blow with contact and then use his size to rebound it above the rim.”On Dakari Johnson’s improvement …”Well, we were really happy for Dakari. That’s probably the best he’s played and he’s realistic about it. There are some games where it’s a tough matchup for him, when the post players are a little smaller and thinner or quicker and can take you out away from the basket. He’s really gotten in the best shape he’s ever been in. He’s running the floor well. He used his size the other day. That was a great matchup game for him. Defensively, he was pretty solid. Set good screens offensively. But how did he develop it? He’s been in the gym getting extra work in and making sure he’s doing extra conditioning and just focusing on the things that he can do to help us win a few more games.”

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