Kentucky Basketball Previews Florida
UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UK MEN’S BASKETBALL
MARCH 8, 2019
Head Coach John Calipari
On Reid Travis …
“Reid came as a graduate student from Stanford, all-Pac 10 (12), MVP of their league. (He) comes here to say, ‘I want to grow. I want to grow on and off the court. I want to take and soak everything up.’ And you know what? What a pleasure it’s been to coach him, and I’ll tell you. Without Reid, we would not be sitting where we are right now, with a chance to do something special. We need him to do something special, but he’s coming back from an injury. (He’s) just a joy to coach, so engaged with the coaches, so focused on what we’re doing, so much of a talent is as far as his commitment and his drive, and his energy in what he does. I’m really proud of him.”
On Jonny David …
“Jonny came here as a preferred walk-on. I coached his dad a little bit when I was at the University of Pittsburgh as an assistant. We talked about his son, and (Jonny) has been such a positive addition, a positive teammate. We’ve scholarshiped him, well deserved, earned scholarships. This guy’s been in great shape. He hasn’t had many opportunities to be on the floor, but it’s hard here. But you know what? He’s grown. He’s added to this program. He’s left his mark. Congratulations, Jonny.”
UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UK at OLE MISS PREGAME MEDIA
MARCH 4, 2019
JOE CRAFT CENTER – LEXINGTON, KY.
Associate Head Coach Kenny Payne
On what he can tell them about Reid Travis and his availability …
“I think he’s day-to-day. I think he’s going to be able to do a little bit of stuff today in practice. We hope he’s getting better. We know that, and hopefully he’s ready. We’ll see.”
On if he can give them any assurances it’s not one of those injuries that lingers …
“I wish I could give you some assurances. But what I’ll say is Reid has done an unbelievable job from the moment it happened ’til today of diligently working every single day, two or three or four times a day, on getting healthy. We’re happy that he’s going to start doing the little stuff here. Doing some stuff, maybe half speed, I don’t know, but we’ll see.”
On if he plays how cautious they will be with Travis …
“A lot of this depends on him. It depends on Reid and what he’s feeling. We’re not in the business of forcing kids. He knows what his body is, and he’ll let us know and we’ll go from there with it.”
On if some of the guys who aren’t seniors but might play their last game should take a minute to soak in Rupp Arena one final time on Saturday …
“So if you’re asking me specifically about PJ (Washington), PJ hasn’t made a decision yet, but if PJ decides this is it, reflect back on your career. Reflect back on the two years that you’ve had here. What did you learn? How did you learn it? What did you walk out of here with? Because whatever that is, it’s going to last you for the rest of your life.”
On how much more difficult it’s been for Washington without Travis on the floor …
“The No. 1 thing I think every team is just gearing their defense to stop him. They’re double-teaming. They’re triple-teaming. They’re clogging up lanes. He’s been really good at finding his teammates, creating offense for other guys, letting it come to him. I would have liked for the last game for him not to get two fouls. We addressed that, not in a nice way. [Media laughs.] I mean, I couldn’t be prouder of a kid because look, he came here and he had a lot of people questioning the way he finished last year. That last game where he played his heart out and missed all of those free throws. From that player to this player we have today. Just think about the growth, the maturity, the change of his body, the 3-point shooting. From A to Z, he has had a major impact on this program and on our team. He’s not done yet. There’s still more in there. There’s still more growth. We need more from him. There’s still moments of lapses, which is normal. We’re going to address that and make sure he knows that we can’t have that because look, you come to Kentucky to play basketball. November, December, January, February, that’s great. This is time. The time is now. So, there’s an urgency amongst all of these kids to play their best basketball right now starting now.”
On Washington’s first two fouls against Ole Miss …
“I would say that they were ticky-tack fouls that were retaliation of somebody maybe pushing him and he pushes back. You’ve got to be smarter than that. You’re impact on this team is vital. We can’t afford for you not to be in the game. We just can’t.”
On Jonny David and his impact …
“Jonny David is one of the kids that has been here that’s made a major impact through practice, through being a positive influence on his teammates. He gets along with everybody. He’s supportive of everybody. He doesn’t get the credit, which none of these kids do when you’re in a role like he’s in, but the day-to-day stuff that he brings to the table keeping guys positive on the bench, working out in practices, playing every position on the floor. I’m sure you guys don’t know, but he’ll guard Reid, he’ll guard EJ (Montgomery), he’ll guard Ashton (Hagans) and then to see his work ethic to be prepared for that. Being on the treadmill, coming down on my end of the court working out with the bigs, just everything that he can do to help he does.”
On if David is allowed to wear shoulder pads when he’s guarding Travis …
“We do. We do. We don’t want Reid to put him on his butt.”
On Coach Calipari saying David can take Nick Richards in a mud-wrestling match …
“I don’t know about that. [Laughing.] Nick would try and take his head off. He will battle. He’ll do whatever it takes to help Nick and to help any player get better. That’s his role and he’s been great at it.”
On practicing with only three big men available and if he’s had to get in there …
“No. [Laughing.] It’s been a little difficult, but we had to change a little bit of how we practice. A lot of stuff now is four on four. Simulate different things, trying to get toughness and competitiveness, things like that. It’s been very competitive in how we practice because we can’t go really five on five. We don’t have enough, but we made the adjustment and tried to address it.”
On how many other teams in the country would like to have three bigs despite an injury to the fourth …
“Every team. I mean, our team is unique in that the fact that when Reid went down it allowed Nick and EJ and PJ – they stepped in. At all times it hasn’t been perfect, but they’ve stepped in and been positive.”
On Washington dealing with the adversity of his numbers being down the last two games …
“Look, I can tell you guys this. This morning I texted PJ, ‘I watched the first Florida game, and man you’re 10 times better than what you played. Ten times better. What is that? Why is that?’ I just saw him in the locker room and he said, ‘I played bad, but I still had a double-double,’ or whatever it was. ‘That’s just not good enough.’ That was our conversation. You’re at Kentucky. Your game, your standard of excellence is beyond what ya’ll think it is for this team to be great, and this team has a chance to be great. It starts with his veteran leadership, his ability to go out and dominate not just play better, dominate his position.”
On Washington seeing how the coaching staff operates in terms of motivating him …
“He buys in. I mean, I think that he – well, PJ wants to be great. PJ’s done an unbelievable job of he’s going to bring it, and his heart is to bring it. We just have got to be patient and let him know we’re not accepting of mediocre or average or above average. You’re that. You walked in the door being a good college player. We need more.”
On the impact of Travis being out has had on Washington …
“I would say that the biggest thing since Reid has been out, I personally haven’t seen the 20 points, 12, 13 rebounds. I don’t want 13 and one. I don’t want 15 and two or three or five. I want PJ Washington to have an impact, 20 and 12, 20 and 15. Dominate the game and when do you score that 20? What is your impact on the game when the game is in the balance? I want to know. Since Reid has been out, that’s what I’m personally looking for. It’s hard. The other team, again, is gearing toward him. A big piece of our physicality, a big piece of our scoring, Reid Travis. That’s gone, so you’re going to isolate PJ and see what happens.”
On Washington playing more from the high post against Ole Miss …
“I think that’s a great point, and I think Cal has done a great job of finding different ways to get him the ball so that teams can’t just pre-rotate. Part of that is facing up, just having him move to the post at time, having him be at the top of the key and drive where he can, assess what the defense is doing, and he is a willing passer which makes, again, you’ve got a choice to make. ‘Am I leaving Tyler Herro to go help on PJ?’ Well, if you do, you get burned. ‘Am I leaving Keldon Johnson?’ If you do, you may get burned. ‘Am I leaving Nick?’ Well, if he sees the lob, you may get dunked on. So, he’s done a great job of that, but again, I’d like to see that rebound numbers, assist numbers continue to go up.”
On Johnson and Herro bouncing back from the game at Tennessee …
“I just think the mental approach. For me watching the game, assessing what I’ve seen on tape in the Tennessee game, their minds were racing. Basically, another way of saying it is Tennessee hit them in the mouth, they were, ‘Whoa, what is this?’ And, they were the aggressors at the last game. They were the aggressor. I talked to Kermit (Davis) right after the game, and he just bragged about how good Keldon and Tyler were, especially defensively.”
On how Florida is different than the last time the two teams played …
“I just think Florida is a well-coached team, very good team. (Jalen) Hudson has made a big resurgence. The last five games he’s averaging around 18 a game. They’ve got really good guard play. Look, this team can come in here and beat us. We’ve got to play well. We’ve got to be good on the boards, rebounding. We have to defend. That’s what we hang our hat on, and we’ve got to be the aggressors.”
On this being a jump start to the postseason …
“I think Cal has talked to this team a lot about it’s different when you’re not playing for something when you’re playing Kentucky. Well, when everybody’s playing for something, it’s a little different. There’s a different pressure to it. That’s why we play all of the nonconference games that we play, so we get used to playing in big games where it means something. So, we’ll see. Hopefully, we come out and play with energy and play with effort and be the aggressor and put them on their heels. That’s our game plan.”
On what Johnson and Herro did well on the defensive end against Ole Miss …
“Just being disruptive. We don’t want offenses to come into games and just be able to move the ball and drive the ball, pass the ball wherever they want to get it. We want to be the aggressor. We want to disrupt what they’re doing offensively, and then we want to rebound and fly. Yeah, it’s easy to look at what they did offensively but defensively they played hard. They played hard.”
UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PREGAME UK vs. FLORIDA
MARCH 8, 2019
JOE CRAFT CENTER– LEXINGTON, KY.
Kentucky Student Athlete Quotes
#10, Jonny David, Sr., G
On Saturday being his last game at Rupp Arena …
“It really didn’t hit me until today. A lot of stuff was coming out. Obviously, I’ve thought about, yeah, it’s my last time at Rupp and everything. But it kind of hit me today, it’s the last time, I got a little sad for a second. But it’s more about celebrating it and celebrating the four years and I’m looking forward to it.”
On if he will hesitate taking a shot on Saturday …
“I’m not going to unnecessarily force anything up, but I won’t pass up a shot, I’ll tell you that.”
On being a fan favorite …
“It’s something that’s special about the BBN. They have that love for me and kind of support me. There are not really words to describe it, it’s just something that happens. It makes my day, makes everything. It’s something special. Only here.”
On how he hopes Saturday finishes …
“I just hope as a team, we get better, we get the win. That’s really what it’s all about. I’m a team guy, not a selfish person at all. If anything else happens, that’s a bonus.”
On if he thinks he will be emotional on Senior Day …
“I don’t know, that’s going to be an in the moment thing. I think I’ll be more happy. It’s more about us celebrating four years being here. It’s going to be an in the moment kind of thing.”
On what he will miss at UK …
“Just everything. The program in general. It’s the top in the country. The people, especially all of the behind the scenes people that I’ve become close with over four years. The coaches, the town. The relationships that I’ve built are definitely going to last a lifetime, but those are things I will definitely miss.”
On Tyler Herro’s development defensively …
“He, like everyone else, has gotten better defensively. Everyone comes here with raw talent, and our coaching staff does a great job of molding them and helping them reach their potential and reach where they should be. Ty is a perfect example of that and how he’s evolved from the beginning of the year until now.”
On his best memory at UK …
“It’s still probably my freshman year, down in Miami, we played USF and I got to play against my brother, score my first points. He still brings that up when Isaac (Humphries) swatted him when he drove. That’s probably still one of my best memories.”
On how his relationship with Coach John Calipari has changed over four years …
“We’ve definitely gotten closer over four years, you couldn’t help but not. He hasn’t really changed too much, to be honest. I say I’ve gotten better at reading him and knowing what he’s feeling and I try to help other guys out, like how he’s thinking, how he’s feeling and I always try to help the guys with that aspect.”
#25, PJ Washington, So., F
On whether he will have any special emotions considering it could be his last home game …
“Honestly, I haven’t even really thought about it. I’m just trying to go out with my teammates and have a special moment with Jonny (David) and with Reid (Travis) and just try go out there and get a W.”
On the season flying by …
“Yeah. It’s gone by, like right out the window. I can remember the Bahamas like it was yesterday. I can remember having so much fun throughout the season and it’s just fun to look back and see how much we’ve grown so far.”
On early foul trouble …
“Honestly, I didn’t think they were fouls. Sometimes you just gotta play smarter, and I feel like that’s what I need to do. Just try not to get into altercations like that and be physical but not be too physical, I guess.”
On getting the ball in different spots …
“On the left block, they usually try to play my right hand and just have somebody come from the backside. They tried to put me in the top of the key and I just basically got to my right hand and got to my left hand and finished through contact. We work on that every day and I’m pretty used to it now. I expect teams to double me in the post now.”
On Ole Miss’s coach complimenting his maturity …
“I’ve gotten a lot better. Just to know all the sets we’re in and stuff like that and just trying to be a leader on the court. I’ve just gotta do that for these young guys so we can get in a better position to win games. I feel like I’ve done a great job and I’m just looking to do better every day.”
On what that kind of respect from opponents means to him …
“It’s great. It just kind of shows that the hard work is paying off a little bit and basically I gotta keep working. I got a lot more left I have to prove and we have to prove as a team. So we just gotta go out there and just work all together and have fun.”
On what he wants to prove …
“That we’re one of the best teams in the country and even without Reid we can be one of the best teams in the country. We feel like we’re going to have a special run in March and we just gotta stick together every day in practice and just getter better.”
On what it’s been like without Travis …
“It’s been tough. Guys have definitely stepped up. It’s just great for EJ (Montgomery) and Nick (Richards), obviously, to get some time and fill out their roles a little bit. There’s definitely some good and bad, but we’re a good team without him and we’re a great team with him. Just to have him back on the court is going to be really good for us.”
On whether he will take an extra moment to reflect, knowing it could be his last game at Rupp …
“Man, I don’t know. It’s just a lot. I’ve done a lot here and I’ve grown a lot here. This place is really special to me and I don’t know how I’m going to feel (Saturday). I’m just going to go in with a happy heart and just try get a win.”
On the mindset changing now that it’s March …
“I think it’s really switched. It’s switched ever since we started losing early in the season, honestly. Since going on that 10-game streak and then on from there. We’re just out to win every game and be focused in practice and walkthroughs and stuff like that. Just to focus on every opponent and not take anybody lightly. We’ve been doing that and we know everybody’s going to give us their best game of the season. We’ve just gotta come out and be the aggressor.”
