On the health of the team with the big stretch of games coming up …

“I think we’re improving. During any season, you’ll go through your ups and downs. Our guys are doing a good job of taking care of their bodies. The folks here are doing everything they can to get our guys in the best position to be healthy and ready to go on game day.”

On what the team took from the UCLA loss into the win against Valparaiso …

“Anytime that you go out and compete, especially against a team as good as UCLA, they’re going to make you be as close to your best as you need to be. What we were able to do was find out through the film the things that we needed to do to beat a really good team. The focus continues to be on what we need to do and ourselves, not just in the games, but every single day to be the best collectively and also individually. That’s the best thing. If our guys are going to be their best, it has to be a daily thing. You come to practice and have to be focused on what you can to do to become better and help yourself and the team.”

On what he tells the freshmen about what’s coming in Camp Cal …

“You have to embrace it. As we go through the recruiting process, a big part of coming to Kentucky is to be the best version of you. Whenever classes end and you can focus solely on basketball – (practicing) a couple of times a day, getting a chance to work on your skills, and allowing the coaches to focus at that time of year after playing 10 or 11 games – you really settle in and say, ‘OK, this is what I look like when I’m at my best.’ If you embrace that and are excited about it, it’s a fun time of year. After that, the game seems to maybe slow down for our freshman because they’ve gone through a bunch of practices and then it’s game after game. Let’s slow down, talk about you and us, and not really have to focus on anything else.”

On if this period of time during winter break could be a big jump for the young guys … 

“You hope so. It is a time when there really is no other thing going on other than basketball. We’ll have a couple of practices. They get to go out as a team and rest. Cal mentioned playing video games. It’s a time for them where they can just focus on basketball. By that point, a lot of the stuff that we’re trying to focus in on as a team is in. Now it’s getting back to the individuals and becoming the best version of you. They’ve seen 10 and 11 times in the games and after 50 practices they know, this is what Cal wants me to be. This is what it looks like. Now we get to do that a couple of times a day.”

On players understanding their roles at this point in the season …

“That’s something that is a piece that has been communicated individually. It still takes time for it to really sink in. Even now, there are different lineups. There are different combinations. There are times when guys are playing extended minutes or not as many minutes, whether that’s through foul trouble, learning and making mistakes, or playing through mistakes. It’s one of those things that isn’t etched in stone. But, I think we have an idea and Cal has an idea of what everybody looks like at their best.”

On any evidence of a “breakfast club” starting with this group …

“I know guys are working, but I don’t know if we’ve gotten to that point yet to where there’s anything that’s established. As a group of guys, this group is working. They love to be in the gym and they love to be around each other. They drag each other, whether it is to the weight room, to watch some film, or to get up some extra shots, this group is working hard and it’s contagious. They love to be in the gym and have a tremendous thirst for that. I think that goes back to Isaiah Briscoe and his leadership with this group, and I think that is something that we’re trying to continue to get him to drag us. For us to be our best, he needs to continue to be that guy. Cal has said that and hats off to him for doing that.” 

On the big games coming up …

“I think they’re all big. For our guys and young guys, even the exhibition games are big. When you walk out to 23,000 people in Rupp Arena for an exhibition game, it’s a big game. It’s a big game for the opponent, so I think our guys are still getting used to the fact that we have Kentucky on our shirt, and you walk out there and it’s the biggest game. Whether it’s Hofstra, Chapel Hill or anyone else, we’re going to play in the upcoming games. It’s a very big game for the guys on our team. I think that’s what we’re focused on.”

On bringing energy into every game …

“I don’t think I can say why it was lacking against UCLA, but I can say that Isaiah Briscoe was a big part in getting that back for us the other night against Valpo. He was tremendous. He had a big smile. One thing that Cal wants us to do is talk, touch, and he was all over the place. He was engaged in the huddles and pregame. That’s Isaiah at his best. As someone who’s on the team with him, it was great to see. I was happy. It was great to have him being his best. That was a lot of fun, and he was a big reason why we were who we were the other night.”

On the development of Bam Adebayo …

“Bam is one of the first guys to practice every day. He is another guy who wants to get better every day. He asks questions. He is inquisitive. He is a guy that just wants to engage you in any way so that you can help him get better. He is always a guy that is listening. When you first get to know him, he’s a very bright kid and that is the thing that I, and we as a staff have been the most impressed with him – how much he wants to learn, how great he listens and how much he wants to improve every day.”

On if there’s one more key to improving Adebayo’s game … 

“I don’t think it just could be one thing. I think he is a guy that, like I said, is in there with Kenny (Payne). Cal is working with him. He asks everybody questions. He comes by the office. He just wants to be around. For someone that age, that shows tremendous maturity on his part. If he keeps that up, he is going to go further than any of us can limit right now. By just putting one thing that he can improve, he is going to be that guy – like some of the guys we have here – that just goes beyond and you just go, ‘Holy cow.’ ”

On Adebayo and Derek Willis defensively … 

“I think that they are improving. That is coming as a staff that Cal is asking us what we need to do and how we can help them daily. How can we help them individually? How can we help them within the framework of the team and individual drills? Those guys are both working really hard themselves doing things individually. They are here. They are there. They are doing different things, guarding guards and guarding bigs. That is a good thing for them that they are embracing it. Some guys maybe run from that challenge. Those guys are really embracing the fact that they are going to improve and that we are at our best when they improve in those areas.”

On if other teams are going at those guys defensively … 

 “I can’t speak for them. There are times when our guys are probably all getting picked on and maybe that has to do with how they see their strength.  I don’t know that you can pick on one guy on this team because we do such a good job of helping, and our help defense is something we talk a lot about and pride a lot about. We’re not going to let someone get picked on.” 

On what has made Dominique Hawkins so much better this year …

“Dom is a guy that has put a lot of time in. He has a great sense of self about what he brings to our team, and is confident in who he is and what he feels he can bring to our team every day. He’s making us better. I think everyone can see what he does on game night, but it’s what he’s about to do in practice that no one sees. That’s what is making this team and our other guards go. That’s the biggest thing that he’s done for this group is in the practices. I think that’s where he’s gaining his confidence, and in the games is by what he does every day in practice.”

On Isaiah Briscoe’s court sense this year …  

“The biggest thing is energy. When he comes in and has the energy, both on the offense and the defensive end, that’s when he’s at his best. This team is different than last year’s team. How we’re playing is different, and I think you can just look at the numbers of how fast we’re playing and how the ball is moving. I think that is a part of something what (Briscoe) does. The biggest thing for him is when he comes in and he’s got that big smile and he’s laughing and talking and touching and bringing that competitive spirit to practice. That’s when we’re at our best.”

On how he sees Hofstra on film …

“It’s going to be a good game for us. Obviously they have a group that has some experience and youth that can take advantage of some of our weaknesses, but I also think what we can do can take advantage of some of their weaknesses. We go against the team with the biggest rebounder in this game and last game the second-leading scorer in the country. I think it gets our guys attention when you can throw those numbers out. For us, what Cal wants our guys to really know is that it’s about us. As long as we keep doing what we need to do and Isaiah keeps doing what he needs to do, we’ll be fine.”

On if he agrees when UK assistant coach Joel Justus says Briscoe is the key to UK’s energy …

“Yeah, and then everybody responds off how I’m playing. If I’m bringing energy, they look at me and follow along. Yeah, I think Coach Joel is right about that one. They feed off my energy.”

On if playing with more energy was a point of emphasis …

“Yeah, that was very important for us just to see how we were going to bounce back.”

On the lack of energy in the UCLA game …

“After the game, Coach (Cal) called me into his office and he just told me like, ‘What happened today? You weren’t yourself. I didn’t see the energy or anything like that.’ Me, being the leader of the team, I had to accept it. I told him, ‘Yeah, I didn’t bring energy.’ I felt like that one was on me. But coming out when we played Valpo they were just making an emphasis on me bringing energy. In practice, the time we had in between (games) in practice I was going hard, giving it my all and he was just saying, ‘That needs to be you every game, and that needs to be you every day in practice.’ That’s just what I’ve been focusing on.”

On it being surprising that he wouldn’t have the energy for a big game like UCLA …

“Yeah, that was kind of weird, but there will be days like that. I’m not really trying to have a lot of days like that, but that one’s behind me. Just looking forward.”

On what the team learned from the loss …

“That we can be beaten. I think that some of us thought we were so good that we can just come out and play and they’ll see that it’s Kentucky and think we can just get the win based off that. UCLA is a good team. I’ll give them credit. But also we didn’t have our best game, and we didn’t play to our full potential. We let that one slip away from us, but like I said, that one’s over with. We’re judged on what we do from here on out.”

On what the young guys can expect from Camp Cal …

“This time coming up is very important because we only really have to worry about one thing and that’s basketball. If that’s what you want to do for the rest of your life, this Camp Cal – or whatever y’all call it – should be fun. Last year it was fun for me. No school, just all basketball and getting better. That’s the things I live for and I’m sure the freshmen, great group of guys and I know that they love basketball, so I’m sure they’re looking forward too.”

On Coach Cal saying Briscoe makes Mychal Mulder more comfortable on the court …

“I think I make everybody more comfortable on the court, just by talking and being there for them. But Mike’s my guy, we’re cool. That’s my roommate when we’re on the road. Mike, he just needs somebody to encourage him because Coach is on him pretty tough because he’s a senior. He’s expecting a lot out of him. I think Mike likes the message when it’s coming from me rather than Coach. Whenever Coach is getting on him I’ll pull Mike to the side and let him know, ‘Yo, just do this and this and you’ll be fine. He won’t say nothing to you,’ and things like that. Mike’s been playing well, he’s been getting after it, and he’s been working on playing defense. Like I said, I’m the leader of this team. I’m trying to keep everybody on board and trying to get Mike better.”

On if he’s sticking up for Mulder because of all he can bring to the team with his outside shooting and athleticism …

“Absolutely, and we’re going to need Mike. I think we’re going to need a lot of people on this team and I don’t want anybody to fall behind.”

On battling De’Aaron Fox in practice …

“It’s fun. It’s always been fun. We’ve been battling since we stepped on practice. We’ve actually been winning this time so it’s been fun.”

On Coach Justus saying Briscoe is the guy who makes the team go …

“I’m cool with that. I don’t think anybody wouldn’t be cool with that. But like I said, I’m fine with that. It’s a lot on my plate, but I asked to eat. This is what it comes with. I’ll take care of it.”

On knowing this was all coming …

“I knew it was coming. Yeah, it feels good. I’m not new to this. I’ve done it before. It’s all just coming into play.”

On how the team has responded to him …

“They respond well. Like I said last game, Coach made it clear that he wanted me to bring the energy and he wanted it to start with me because against UCLA I didn’t do that. I went out and did it and everybody else followed right after me. Dom (Hawkins), Malik (Monk), De’Aaron (Fox), everybody wanted to lock up and that’s when we’re at our best to get in transition. Then we’re good.”

On how frustrating the UCLA loss is …

“It’s frustrating, but it’s over with. It happened, we lost. We got plenty of games left in the season. The only thing we can do now is just get better.”

On the weather in Lexington …

“It’s different. It’s different. I looked outside at one in the morning because it looked like it started snowing. So I looked outside and the whole car was white. I think is was supposed to be blue. It’s different. I’m not used to this.”

On his feelings of where his game is right now … 

“I mean the last game wasn’t so good. I’m just trying to brush it off and try and have a good start.”

On Isaiah Briscoe …

“He makes a difference when he’s on the floor. Not only scoring but as a guard, he rebounds. Defensively, he’s the best guard in the country. Offensively, he just talks us through things so when he’s on the floor you just fell how different it is.”

On his relationship with Malik Monk…

“I mean we’ve just been together more so the chemistry has grown. Somebody that you like being around and on the court it has just made things easier for the both of us.”

On what is different about Malik Monk now …

“His confidence. We’re just so confident with each other with both of us on the floor. I feel like we help each other out. Just being around him off the court has helped us on the court.”

On the controversial triple-double …

“I didn’t care. I don’t care. I’m not playing for stats so if it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen. (Coach) Cal told me that night on the phone and I was like, ‘I don’t care.’ They made a big deal out of it, but if it didn’t happen it didn’t happen and if it did, it did. I’ll just move on.”

On if he watched the play where the questionable assist happened …

“I was like, ‘How is this controversial?’ It didn’t make sense to me, but they’re doing their job and they said it stands, so it stood.”

On what he needs to do to play better …

“Honestly for me it’s just coming out with more energy, focus more and just be ready for the game. Sometimes I’m just out there in what I call ‘chill mode.’ I’ll be on the court sometimes some people say I’m playing good, but I just know there is more in me that I haven’t shown. It’s really just the energy part. Sometimes I’m not focused. Other than that, sometimes I’m just chilling on the court.”

On what Coach Cal thinks about ‘chill mode’…

“Oh, he hates it. He calls it causal. I call it chill. He’s just trying to get me out of that. Creating habits.”

On how to get out of ‘chill mode’…

“It’s something that you have to practice. Always be ready and always bring the intensity and energy.” 

On Camp Cal …

“We had two-a-days on the weekend (before the season). I’ve never had three practices in a day, so I really don’t know what to expect.”

On what the older players say about Camp Cal … 

“I haven’t even asked. I haven’t heard anything, but I’m pretty sure no one likes three practices in a day, so we’ll just see how that goes when it comes.”

On adjusting to life in college …

“Just having to handle a college schedule. You know when practice is, getting up for class and now with this weather it’s harder for me to get to class. In high school, you were always in one building so it was warm in the whole building. Now you know, when you’re walking through 30-degree weather, it’s different. It’s different as a college student.”

On the weather getting even colder …

“Yeah, it’s going to be really difficult. It’s difficult for me. I’m used to 100-degree weather, not seven.”

On how much pride he has in his assist numbers …

“I’m not taking pride in my assist numbers. It’s just setting up teammates. If they make the shot they make it and it gives me an assist and if they miss, they miss. Just play it by ear. I mean I’m not looking at the numbers. I don’t see the sheet during the game so sometimes I end with 10 assists and sometimes I end with four. It just depends on the game and depends on what happens. I’m not really worried about it.”

On finding his shooting rhythm …

“I’m still trying to find my rhythm. I feel like it just hasn’t set in yet. I’m going to keep playing basketball and at some point it will start falling. It will be more difficult for teams to guard me instead of going under screens and things like that. I’m just going to continue to play basketball.”