On if De’Aaron Fox will practice today …

“Don’t know yet. I think he’s day-to-day. Waiting to hear. That’s all I’ve got on him.”

On what Fox means to the team …

“A lot. I think you saw a little bit of the adjustment that we had to make. We went through a spell where, without him, we were a little confused and discombobulated, but we got it together, which is a great sign of a good team that – with any missing piece – can win games.”

On what made him recommend playing Dominique Hawkins at the point guard position to Coach Calipari …

“I think the fact that he doesn’t turn the ball over. I think Isaiah (Briscoe) has done a great job, but I also think that he can play both on and off the ball. If turnovers are the issue, which – in spells – has been an issue, we go through a four- or five-minute stretch where we’re turning the ball over and give it to somebody that doesn’t turn it over. It stabilizes us.”

On how Hawkins has always found a way to be ready when he is needed …

“He’s been really, really steady and the most important thing that he does for this team is put pressure on the ball. That’s where we need him the most. He’s been good for us. I’d like to see him get more shots and be a more aggressive offensive player. He’s done a really good job.”

On how Isaiah Briscoe has helped in the absence of Fox …

“I can’t begin to tell you guys – I don’t know how much of this you know – but from last year to this year, Isaiah Briscoe is not the same basketball player. Not mentally, not physically. He’s at peace with his self. He’s playing the best that he has ever played. It’s not talked about a lot, but he should be really commended on what he’s done this year. 

On what he means when he says Briscoe is at peace with himself …

“(He’s) playing within his self and being confident and assured of who he is and what he is as a player. Some people will look at him and say, ‘He’s not a point guard.’ I would say to you, ‘Do your homework.’ He is a point guard, but he can guard four positions out there on the court. (He’s) invaluable to this team.”

On Isaac Humphries and how he has been playing lately …

“I think Isaac has been playing with more energy, more toughness. (He’s) rebounding the ball and giving us consistent, steady minutes when Bam (Adebayo) is off the floor. He’s been good.”

On Briscoe not getting the same attention as Monk and Fox … 

“I think it’s easier to talk about Malik (Monk) and De’Aaron (Fox) because they’re so athletic, they’re so fast, they’re so dynamic — along with being really young. Again, Isaiah Briscoe stabilizes this basketball team. He’s been great for us. He’s been a leader on and off the floor. He’s done everything that we could ask him to do. I think when the season ended last year, and you look at his free-throw percentage and 3-point percentage, all of that stuff has (gone up).  At times he surprises his self because he’s bragging about what he’s been shooting from three.”

On Wenyen Gabriel improving his game …

“I can’t begin to tell you what Wenyen and Derek (Willis) from that four spot has meant. The way they played the last couple of games, the last three games or so. We’ve been in battles. (I am) proud of both, really proud of Wenyen because when Wenyen was struggling his effort wasn’t struggling, it was just production. Now he’s knocking down shots, now he’s playing more confident, now he feels more reassured in what he is doing and you are seeing the real him. That is who he is.”

On the dramatic change in Gabriel’s game …

“For a high school player to walk into college basketball, there is nothing to equate to what we do. High school kids come in and they think, ‘I can play like I played in high school.’ Not at Kentucky, not here. Wenyen had to come in and the one thing that he has never changed was his effort, his energy and his effort. Now he’s learning to be an offensive player that takes open shots which Coach Cal is on him about and he’s rebounding the ball better. He’s playing excellent defense. He’s helping off the ball. He’s doing everything that we ask him to do.”

On the change from high school play to college play for Gabriel …

“I just think the competition wasn’t the same. What he played against — I just think that in high school you can get away with being a volume shooter because there is no other player on your team besides yourself. Then when you talk about coming to college, it’s important for young people to know you gotta share. To be on a great team and play with other great players, you have to share and Wenyen has done that and embraced that, but it’s an adjustment. It’s a major adjustment from going from a high school player where I can take 30 shots to I’m going to get five, six, eight shots.”

On demanding Bam Adebayo gets more touches in the post …

“No question. I think that is the finished product of what we are trying to do as a team. If we get Bam to be more aggressive without a play being called — meaning he sprints the floor, the ball is on the left side of the floor, he sprints the right side, he sprints over to the post, demands the ball. It’s not a play. We don’t have to force feed you, when you can get it within the flow. If he figures that part out, I mean it changes the whole dynamic of what we are.”

On Adebayo being too unselfish in demanding more touches …

“I think so. I think he is too nice and too unselfish. I really do. I think that if he had a little bit of DeMarcus Cousins’ mentality, he changes the dynamics of this team. Every game I’m telling him, ‘Take over the game for us. Dominate the game for us. Don’t sit back and let the game — and five, six minutes, you don’t touch the ball. Say a word. That’s not who you are. That’s not how good you are. You’re a special basketball player. Go and dominate the game.’ ”

On Adebayo beginning to develop that mentality…

“No question about it. No question about it. But, again it is an adjustment. It’s an adjustment.”

On how often he has seen someone improve like Briscoe …

“Very rare. Very rare. Some people will say you are what you are. I’ll say to you that for a kid to not believe the ball is going in the hole, a year ago, from the free throw line, from the 3-point line. To going from that to, ‘You can leave me if you want to. I’m going to shoot it and I’m shooting it with confidence.’ Whether the ball goes in the hole or not, he believes that it is going in. The reason that he believes is because he put in the work.”

On Isaiah Briscoe’s 3-point shooting … 

“He takes pride in I’m not going to be the weak link from the 3-point line. The pressure is on him to continue to get better shooting it. We know that the scouting report from other teams is going to be. You’ve got to back off of somebody, let it be Briscoe. I encourage it. I think it’s good for him to prove to people that you’re not going to play defense like that against him.”

On Wenyen Gabriel and gaining confidence …

“No question. He is a good offensive player. He’s always been. The problem is between his ears. When you go out and play, you play with confidence and you live with the results. Do it within the concepts of what your coaches and what your team needs and do it with confidence and you’re good.” 

On Mychal Mulder’s possible return … 

“Mychal is still sick. Hopefully we get him back soon. We need him. He’s been playing well and we need him. We need him.” 

On the mindset going into the Tennessee game tomorrow …

“I think a couple of things. I think one, Tennessee can beat us. Regardless of what their record is, we’re playing them at Tennessee and they’re going to be hungry and aggressive against us. We’ve got to go out and play well to beat them. It is what it is. They’re a good team. They’re a tough, scrappy team. We’ve got to defend and rebound and play Kentucky basketball and be efficient.” 

On how this game compares to playing Kansas on Saturday … 

“Not with us. Every time we step out on the floor you can see it. They’re coming with their best game whether it was Mississippi State, whether it is Tennessee. We can’t afford to look ahead to anybody. We know that we can be beat by anybody.” 

On a learning experience for new players …

“I think it’s a little bit a lack of focus making easy plays. It’s more the turnovers that’s disturbing. But, we just gotta continue to be solid – get through those spells and limit them. And go out and play well.”

On there being no such thing as a trap game … 

“No. Not with us. I don’t think so. I mean if you look at everybody that we played, especially on the road – the crowd is there. It’s going to be a dog fight. We’re expecting it.”

On the younger guys dealing with a trap game …

“Coach Cal has talked about how they beat us last year, how scrappy they are, and how physical and hard they’re going to play against us. They’re very well coached and have a great coach in Rick Barnes. They’re going to be ready for us.” 

On how you feel about a 9 p.m. start …

“I think as adults we worry about it. I think as kids they could care less. They probably have more energy at 9 p.m. than we will.”

On Coach Cal bragging about how well he played against South Carolina …

“Yeah, I didn’t hear anything, but if he is that’s good. I just think that, like I said a couple weeks ago, I was just trying to get out of my little funk. Yeah, I think I have. I’m, honestly, just trying to do better every game.”

On if he’s trying to think less and just play …

“Yeah, for sure. Like I said, I’m trying to not think any further than just the game on the day and that’s what it is. Just what I need to do in that game, how I can get better from last game, and that’s all for me. Not looking ahead at anything else.”

On how much better he feels about his game …

“I just feel a lot more confident, honestly. I trust myself more, I feel more comfortable out there. I just needed a little bit to get me going. I think I’m good now.”

On being more aggressive …

“For a little bit there, as I was trying to find my footing, it disappeared. That was a big issue for me. I had to kind of find it again. Through practicing and trying to get like that in practice, it came back and I’m starting to feel more comfortable with being aggressive and stuff like that.”

On his defensive development …

“I’m trying to just be active and stay in control and active on the ball-screen defense. Just bouncing and trying to be aggressive, again, on defense because you gotta be aggressive on defense as well. Trying to see both, both my man and the ball, and just trying to be aware of everything as opposed to just my guy and helping my teammates. I did have that little stint where I was just worried about my guy and not trusting myself that I can help and get back. Now I’ve gotten into it a bit and I’m comfortable with helping off my man. That’s what I’ve been working on, on defense.”

On what he remembered about last year’s game at Tennessee …

“I remember it being just a crazy atmosphere, obviously. I mean, everywhere we go it’s a crazy atmosphere. It was just a strange series of events that went down. We were up 20 and then – was it an overtime game? [Reporter: You lost in regulation.] Wow. That would kind of make it better if it was overtime. [Laughter.] I just remember it being a good atmosphere and obviously they’re a good team this year. I’m excited to play them and redeem ourselves from last year.”

On if he can see himself being a great player in 2-3 years …

“Yeah, I think so. I can see such development here. It’s crazy how everyone changes in such a short period of time. It’s just crazy to think about three, four years, but like I said, I’m not thinking about three, four years. I’m thinking about every game.”

On how often he goes against Wenyen Gabriel in practice and the development he’s seen from him …

“I go against him not a lot, but enough for him to have that experience with the big guys because, you’re right, he does go against Derek (Willis) most of the time. But we’ll be switched on each other or I’ll be playing the four and I’ll be guarding him in practice. Me being aggressive with him helps him, like you said, and you’re right, he has been playing really well. I think he’s just finding his footing and he’s finally figuring it all out for himself. I mean, he’s a freshman, he’s young – he’s probably older than me, I think he is (laughter), but he’s a freshman and it does take some time, but I think he’s figuring it out now.”

On how it helps him to defend Gabriel …

“Yeah, our different games help each other in practice and all that sort of stuff. But it’s like everyone here. Going against everyone here we get better. So, it’s just what it is.”

On what Bam Adebayo can be when he starts demanding the ball and how often he hears associate head coach Kenny Payne telling him to do that …

“Yeah, all the time, because when the ball is thrown in the post something good happens, so why wouldn’t we continuously do that? It comes from specifically what you’re talking about: Bam calling for the ball more and stuff like that. So, I think just demanding it and wanting it helps all of us because it creates everything for everyone else.”

On how different of a team they are without De’Aaron Fox …

“We’re obviously different because it’s different personnel, but I think it’s like the other day, we handled it fine. I think (Dominique Hawkins) played the point and he’s fine with it. He plays the point in practice. He slows it down a bit. He controls it. It’s just a different sort of style of play, and we have to adjust to it. It’s fine. We adapt on the run, and it’s all good.”

On why he thinks Adebayo doesn’t demand the ball …

“I mean, he obviously wants the ball, and we all want the ball, but we’re taught to be so unselfish and it’s a team thing here. It’s not about what am I doing for myself. That’s what we’ve been instilled with from day one. Honestly, I think it’s just that. I think it’s just the unselfishness of our team, everyone is happy for each other, whether we’re scoring or not.”

On Kenny Payne saying Tennessee is a team that can beat Kentucky …

“Because they have in the past, A, and two, I think they’re a really good team this year. I think anyone can beat us. If we don’t bring it anyone can beat us. They shouldn’t, but they can.”

On the difference in his game …

“I think I’ve built some more confidence recently, knocking down some more shots. I feel like I’m playing my game now and everything’s just starting to come to me now.”

On whether he envisioned taking eight 3s in a game when he came to UK …

“I had those type of expectations at first. Obviously things changed at first, going through learning curves, but I’m coming back, building my confidence again as usual and kind of finding my role on the team. I’m just excited right now.”

On whether taking so many 3s is an illustration of his confidence …

“I feel like every single one is going to go in, so that’s why I’m shooting. Trying to make every shot that I’m taking.”

On the difference between high school and college …

“It’s a big change. Everything – the jump from high school to college – is real different. The physicality, the speed. You gotta learn the game real quick. You gotta learn how to play really fast now. Learning to share and play together is something we’re getting used to now as freshmen and I think we’re becoming better as a team.”

On whether college is a whole new way of playing …

“A lot carries over. I feel like we just gotta adjust how we play to the college game. My skill obviously carries over. Just being able to use that during the game and use my energy. You learn how to play harder at this level.”

On throwing his weight around more of late …

“I’m kind of just learning. Learning how I can use my weight to my advantage. It’s not always about your size. I know I’m strong. I use my strength in different ways.”

On Derek Willis’ improvement and whether the two of them face each other in practice …

“It’s funny, we don’t usually go up against each other in practice. We’ll be against different teams, but sometimes he’ll be playing the three on the other team and he’ll be playing the four or I’m three on the other team. So we’ll switch off like that. That might just be a coincidence that we both started playing good at the same time.”

On who he goes against in practice and if anyone has helped him improve …

“I’ve been going against Sacha (Killeya-Jones). I go against Isaac. I’ll be battling against the bigs, too. Sometimes I’ll get switched and I have to guard Tai (Wynyard). I think that’s probably what helped my rebounding lately. I learned how to use my strength against those big guys down low.”

On what he expects at Tennessee …

“I expect every game to be a dogfight. To be playing at Kentucky, I expect everybody’s best. I just go out there and try to play my best every game.”