UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEDIA DAY
OCT. 20, 2021
MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.
UK Assistant Coaches
Orlando Antigua, Associate Coach
On coming back to Kentucky …
“It’s like good shoes that you’ve worn, and you know and you’re familiar with and it’s been great. It’s great to be back and seeing friends and family and just the acceptance that everyone has shown myself and my family has been tremendous.”
On the fanbase and the excitement this season …
“Yeah, it’s exciting, it’s exciting. To feel the energy amongst the fan base and to feel the energy with the staff and with Cal and with our players you can feel how excited we are about the upcoming season. We’ve had that energy throughout the summer and early fall. Knowing that this year was going to be a great challenge for us and looking forward to doing those challenges and in front of this fan base is really motivating for our guys.”
On the team …
“Our guys have been working extremely hard to try to improve and push each other. That feeling amongst them has really created a chemistry that has been a bond, it’s been really, really, special to see this early on with a team. What I can say, what has been perfect has been the synergy and the chemistry, the togetherness that you try to build with a team, that you need time to build. We’ve been fortunate that the chemistry has been that good early on that we’ve been able to speed, and advance some of that quickly.”
On the Blue-White game …
“I’m looking to see guys competing. I’m just seeing what we see every day, guys pushing each other, executing a little bit cleaner. Now that we start trying to prepare for going up against live bodies and other bodies, so there will be some mistakes. There’ll be some film for us to watch the following days to try to improve as we start to get closer to real live games”
Ronald “Chin” Coleman, Assistant Coach
On the toughness of Chicago athletes and the pipeline to Kentucky …
“I think a lot of it has to come from what we call ‘Chicago toughness,’ the way the game is played and how you have to survive in terms of being tough mentally and physically. It’s how the game is played and how you have to survive, there’s no other way, there’s that four-letter word that no one wants to be called coming from Chicago. You represent those people that you are talked about with Anthony Davis, Antoine Walker, Nazr Mohammad, Tyler Ulis, all of those kids that have come here and been successful. They all had that in their pedigree. It comes from the playground, it comes from the gyms, and all of these other off-brand places where everybody plays at, you build that, and it becomes a part of you. So, the Chicago toughness is definitely something that is real.”
On if the coaching staff at Illinois was heartbroken when Bryce Hopkins committed to Louisville …
“I was very heartbroken. It’s crazy because I kind of recruited Bryce twice and I recruited TyTy (Washington) three times. I recruited TyTy once at Illinois, then when he de-committed from Creighton, again at Illinois and then here at Kentucky as well. So, I guess the third time is a charm with TyTy, but Bryce had already committed to Kentucky before my whole situation was even thought about. Very heartbroken, both of them are really, really, good players. I guess you could say I kind of knew something, in order to identify them and recruit really good players, they are both great kids and really good players.”
On if recruiting Chicago is a priority to this program or personally …
“No not at all, it’s not a priority at all. I’ve always been a national recruiter. Even at Illinois we had recruited guys from all over the place. I think that at a place like this its wherever the talent is and wherever that takes you, in the Midwest, East Coast, overseas, and in Europe. I think that we all have relationships that reach far outside of what people may think our wheelhouse is. I’m from Chicago, I obviously know the terrain there, I know the powerful courts there but I don’t own that real estate. I will go wherever my relationships take me.”
James “Bruiser” Flint, Associate to the Head Coach
On what the differences he’s seen from last year than this year …
“We’ll play a lot faster. I think our ball handling is a lot better. Our shooting, when your 9-16, there’s a lot of things to improve on. But I think the things that people will see is how much faster were playing and how much better we are with the ball. I think that will be the two major things that will be different from last year.”
On how the experienced players are helping the freshmen transition …
“I think the experienced players are about business, so show the younger players this is how you do it. Come to work every day, you come in and you’re ready to practice so they – you know Cal’s not used to having teams that way, but he has a team this year that the older guys have been good about how they work, work ethic, and how they come every day. And now as a freshman, you have to follow suit, or you stick out like a sore thumb. So, I think that’s the biggest thing, they brought a certain work ethic that comes every day, which comes through the experience because you know what to expect and you’ve been through some things through your career and I think just passed it down to the younger guys.”
On if because there’s an older group the team can do different things …
“I think you probably don’t hit on things as long because even the guys who weren’t here, there are some concepts they have an understanding of what they need to do a little bit. When you have a young team, it’s all about teach, teach, teach, teach, teach. You have to because you’re pretty much starting at ‘A.’ These guys have a little bit better idea of it. Coming to work every day, so we’re going to hit on this. We are going to do it quick then we are going to move on. You can do that with an older group. You’re not necessarily doing that with a younger group. I think that’s one of the things that’s been pretty good this year.”
On if the team looks different than last year …
“The team does look different so hopefully we can translate it into more wins this year. But you know I think we’ve had some great practices, guys have looked good, So I think the dynamics of our team have changed a little bit. We play a little bit faster. I think our ball handling is going to be a lot different, hopefully. But the dynamics of the team have changed and we have a little bit more balance too.”
Jai Lucas, Assistant Coach
On the players’ roles on the team …
“We give them the opportunity to wake up and compete every day. If you start or don’t start, you are going to have a big effect on this team.”
On the likelihood of using three guard lineups …
“We have looked at three guard lineups, four guard lineups. We are still experimenting on how we want to play and what we want to do. We have a lot of ways that we can go.”
On who he expects to be the team’s leading scorers this year …
“Through the first couple weeks of practice, TyTy Washington has done a really good job, as well as Kellan Grady. Another one you can see that would score is Davion Mintz. Oscar Tshiebwe, Keion Brooks and Sahvir Wheeler as well.
On the probability of seeing Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington on the court at the same time …
“With TyTy’s ability to shoot and score with the ball and a guy like Sahvir with his speed to push and give people shots, it could definitely work.”
On the team’s ability to shoot the ball …
“They are doing a good job at shooting the ball right now in practice, but it is always different when the lights come on and the game starts. The big difference from last year to this year is the shots that are actually being made in practice.”
UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEDIA DAY
OCT. 20, 2021
MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.
UK Student-Athletes
#11, Dontaie Allen, RS-So., G
On going back to his elementary school to hand out tickets to Big Blue Madness …
“It was awesome. It was kind of like a spur-of-the-moment type thing. Just kind of woke up, and everybody was like, ‘You’re going to hand out tickets somewhere,’ and I was like, ‘Well, might as well take it back to my elementary school, my old stomping grounds.’ It was fun, man, just seeing a lot of people in my community, and everybody there just engaging and having fun.”
On what he is doing to be more competitive …
“I feel like my game is basically being competitive. I mean, say if I get scored on, I’m coming back down the floor wanting to score. But also, when we come back down the floor, I’m making sure that guy is getting stopped, he’s getting clamped up. So, you’ve just got to pride yourself on certain things, and I feel like that’s what I do, and if I make a mistake and then if I see the ball on the floor, I’m going to dive on it. Like, it’s just about competing and wanting that spot.”
On the advice he can give as a veteran on the team …
“I think mainly just being at the age that I am, like being a junior, I’ve been here three years, so I can just help them know what (head coach John Calipari) expects. I think at the end of the day, that’s the only thing they need to know, and that will help them get in a better mojo, get in a better piece of mind while they’re playing. So, I feel like telling them what he wants and what he expects will help them a lot.”
On the big game he had in the SEC Tournament last year and the confidence it gave him …
“I think it was as you can expect. I mean, obviously, we needed to have a game like that going into the offseason, we were going to end it with confidence. I feel like I’m a confident player, so I feel like I just pride myself on working hard. Regardless, I was going to work hard, but that definitely gave me more confidence.”
On how this team compares to the 2019-20 team …
“Honestly, as far as pieces, it’s very similar. There are obviously more grad transfers and transfers with more experience as far as coming from other colleges, but as far as pieces, I feel it’s similar. There were a lot of returning guys that year and freshmen that came in like Tyrese (Maxey), who just did his thing. So, I feel like it’s very similar, I really do.”
#12, Keion Brooks Jr., Jr., F
On how ready the team is to get the season started …
“We’re super excited to compete against somebody else besides ourselves. Beating up on each other is fun, but it gets old. You know we want to be together as a unit and play somebody else.”
On where he has seen his biggest growth in his ability …
“My ability to shoot the ball. I shot it well from the free-throw line, shot it well from two last year. I’ve been stepping behind the 3, expanding my range, also expanding my versatility, guarding multiple positions, being a Swiss Army Knife at times and doing what the coaches need me to get done.”
On using his voice more as a leader …
“I understand what it’s like, especially going from freshman to sophomore year and to now. I mean, it wasn’t in my cards to be one-and-done or two-and-done. Fate intervened with some things but moving forward I just understand that being here and playing here isn’t easy. It’s hard, and me being here for some time I can, you know, share some of that wisdom that I’ve gained from my past two years with my younger teammates and the guys that transferred in here.”
On having the fans support at home back this year …
“I’m extremely excited to get our fans back. We have the best fans in the country, and our fans travel well, too. It’s just been good to know that they’re coming back into the gym and that we can, you know, get our home-court advantage rocking and get Rupp (Arena at Central Bank Center) live like it should be. It’s an honor to have some great fans like that, and we can’t wait to go out there for them and put on a show.”
On the most vocal players on the team …
“I think we got a lot of guys that really talk well. Sahvir (Wheeler) being the point guard, directing traffic, he’s great at communicating. Lance (Ware) is also really good, playing the five, being in the back line he can really see everything. We’ve got a whole bunch of guys who are ready to speak up and help direct traffic out there on the court.”
#14, Brennan Canada, Jr., F
On what he’s telling the new guys about Kentucky basketball …
“None of the new guys or transfers kind of really knew. They didn’t know it was as huge and big until like last weekend at Big Blue Madness. I remember me and Kellan (Grady) were walking out on the floor and he’s like, ‘Oh my gosh I wasn’t expecting it to be like this.’ I think that was kind of like eye opening for all the guys, like seeing that all the fans came to like a little 3e-point and dunk contest and stuff for our introduction. I think those stages show what the fans will be like all season.”
On his leadership as a veteran player …
“I feel like a vet, especially being here for two years, it feels like you’re a vet. Being able to help the guys on drills and plays, knowing what’s going on and what coaches want during certain situations in practice, it’s always good to help.”
On the team’s chemistry and cohesion …
“Honestly, I would say the first week of us being on campus this summer, we all just molded and bonded together. It’s kind of like the team my freshman year with Ashton (Hagans) and all those guys. It was like instant team bonding as soon as we got here. We’re all so close now.”
#4, Daimion Collins, Fr., F
On the team and being like a family …
“I mean being one of the younger ones on the team to play with the older ones has played a big impact on me. I can see myself being better and being able to play with them and stuff so being able to look up to them has been a big help to me.”
On team chemistry …
“I like this group a lot. We all pretty much get along real good, you know? No favoritism, everybody’s equal. I mean, we basically do everything together so yeah this is a really good group.”
On playing with Oscar Tshiebwe …
“It’s definitely a battle, I mean Oscar is a big dude so yeah it’s a battle every time. I was real sore after the first time I went up against him. He’s helping me learn how to hold my ground against a bigger opponent.”
On having older players …
“Having the older guys is helping me, being able to look up to them has made me better and better. Being able to see how they play, and how playing here goes I have been able to see how the game goes and be able to see how I can fit in.”
On what to expect from him …
“I mean, I’m a rebounder. I can block shots. I can shoot the midrange. I can play above the rim, finish around the rim and I can step out and shoot the 3 too.”
On playing defense …
“I am a real good defender. I take pride in my defense because you know they say defense wins championships. Without defense there’s no offense, so that’s why I take real pride in my defense”
On dunking vs. blocking …
“I think blocking brings me more joy I’d say because you know being able to keep somebody from scoring and then you block a shot and you go down and your team is able to score, knowing that you do that is a big momentum change.”
#1, CJ Fredrick, RS-Jr., G
On nonconference being a ‘reset’ for league play …
“I mean I wouldn’t necessarily say ‘reset.’ We just have to continue to just keep working. You just have to go in and have good practices and just get in right with the game plan and make sure you know exactly what is going on and be able to execute.”
On what he thinks he will bring to Kentucky this season …
“I hope to bring a guy who’s going to be able to consistently and constantly knock down shots, and be able to guard on the perimeter, playing just with a lot of energy. I love playing the game of basketball and showing up.”
On whether he would say he’s a good shooter …
“I would probably consider myself a very good shooter. It’s something I’ve always practiced since I was a kid. I used to just roll up some socks and just shoot it into my little hamper in my room. It seems like everyone’s going to complement each other, and we have a lot of playmakers which opens up shooters.”
#31, Kellan Grady, Gr., G
On how well he knew Coach Cal before the recruiting process and if there is anything about Coach that has jumped out at him since getting to know him …
“Personally, before the recruiting process I did not know him at all. Obviously, I’ve had a ton of respect for him, been aware of who he is and his accomplishments and the success he’s had in college basketball but, you know, I definitely didn’t expect how much he cared about each player, but it’s just been very evident to me since I’ve been here how focused he is on adding value to each player within a team. It’s been a joy.”
On his initial thoughts on Big Blue Madness and if it met his expectations …
“No, I just kind of had an idea that what’s really exciting is the excitement from fans, just really the whole life scenario. It absolutely is a ton of fun just to be out there to play basketball in a fun, basketball type atmosphere. Just to be able to go out with the teammates and everything so it was definitely kind of a good first taste of what that actual crowd is going to be like in a few weeks and I am very excited to be able to play an actual game”.
On how he feels about Lexington …
“I am a city boy. It is not quite like Boston, my hometown, but it’s unique in its own way. I have enjoyed Lexington so far, it’s been, I think, when you decide to do a grad transfer here there are definitely some positive elements in terms of going to a similar environment as to where you were before, but coming from, you know, an affluent small town suburb, like Davidson, to transferring and being in a relatively decent sized city and just having that experience on an everyday basis, I think it’s, you know, correlated or something like that. So, I’m glad to be a part of that.”
#23, Bryce Hopkins, Fr., F
On being one of the strong guys in the post on the team …
“Yes, I am pretty physical for my size. That’s one thing Coach Cal likes about me, is my physicality, how I can get other players the ball, and how I can drive and make plays for other players.”
On what he’s working on …
“One thing he wants me to do is rebound and my defense so those are two things I have been locking in. Other than that, I have been trying to make my jump shot more consistent. Just trying to check all the boxes so when the time comes around for the season, I will have all those boxes checked.”
On how competitive practice has been …
“Practice has been really competitive. Everybody is pushing each other, and iron sharpens iron is one thing we say. Everybody is making each other better.”
#10, Davion Mintz, Gr., G
On the necklace he wears with his grandma on it …
“That’s a special woman. She is the reason I am here today. You know my dad had lost his parents at a very young age and she took him in. It was her daughter that my dad lost, and she raised him from an infant to the man he is today. When she was alive, she would tell me stories of how tough that was for her. And they were living in a home that had one bathroom, two bedrooms, and there were like eight children in there. So, for her to manage that alone – the things she has taught me throughout my life. Unfortunately, it ended in 2014, it was something I would remember forever. So that piece means a lot to me.”
On the transfers coming in and the difference it has made …
“It has been significant. Having older guys come in, just the maturity level, the way we’re able to have a feel for each other at an early stage like this is going to pay a difference for the season. Just guys that can shoot the ball, guys that have seen high-level teams at different places. Like CJ (Fredrick) from Iowa, Kellan (Grady) being successful at Davidson, Sahvir (Wheeler) at Georgia. You just have guys that have seen different things and that is helping us a lot.”
On guard rotation …
“You have guys that can do that. We have guys one through four that can bring it up. I mean, we have guys that have different talents. You can have your guards sprint up the floor if they don’t have the ball. Different guys can bring it up with it being such a talented team.”
#20, Zan Payne, RS-Jr., G/F
On practices with this team …
“It’s super competitive. There’s no off day. Everybody comes in and works super hard and they try to beat you up because everyone is fighting for a position on the starting five. Nothing is easy; everybody goes out there and competes super hard.”
On ‘Swaggy Cal’ being back …
“We’ve been saying that. He has all the nice shoes. He gets all the exclusive ones nobody else can get with his name and the UK sign on them. He gets all the good stuff.”
On what he’s most excited for this season …
“Just being able to go to the games and have a lot of fans there, since last year was a COVID year and we didn’t have the super crazy environment, so I look forward to that.”
On this team being vocal …
“We have no choice but to talk out there, because if you’re not talking on defense, Coach Cal is going to pull you out. He’s already said it in practice about a million times. He gets on everybody about it in practice.”
#0, Jacob Toppin, Jr., F
On whether he was able to play with his brother during the offseason …
“We couldn’t do any of that just because of (COVID-19) and everything. I was hanging around my brother since I was living with him when I was back home, so I got to spend time with him, but I didn’t get to do anything else.”
On the difference between college and professional basketball …
“Definitely the speed of the game and the pace of the game. You have to find your pace and just be able to focus on that. Everything else is really the same. Just the pace, and the speed of the game is a lot faster. So as long as you get used to that, you’ll be good.”
On the skills he’s developed since last season …
“We’ve been focused on me playing low so I could work more on making my handle better. We worked on my shooting, so my shooting has gotten better. So, I feel like I’ve definitely gotten better both shooting-wise and handle-wise.”
On his winning the Big Blue Madness dunk contest …
“I mean, it’s known that I’m a bouncy player and that I could do a lot of dunks, so I didn’t really get any feedback. There were lots of people giving congratulations and stuff, but it was really just another day for me.”
On his athleticism and the skill level of his teammates …
“The game has changed, and it’s based on skill now, so that’s what we focused on in the offseason, and not just me, everybody here. We all focused on little things we needed to get better at so our skills could be better. This offseason was definitely big on skill development, and that’s what we did.”
On whether there are higher expectations going into this season …
“I don’t really think there’s any pressure on me. I’m really focused on what I can bring to the table and how I can help this team win, so I’m not really focused on myself. I know if I put myself into this team, we’re all going to win, and I’m not really focused on what other people see me as or how other people view me.”
#34, Oscar Tshiebwe, Jr., F
On what it’s like during practice …
“Coach (John Calipari), he puts you in a situation where you might be uncomfortable during practice, but it’s to make you comfortable with it. He pushes you to try things you’ve never done before and then pushes you to do it every day. I think I’m getting more comfortable now, and I’m so excited to get through the season to show people the stuff I’ve been working for.”
On what it’s like being around players who already have college experience …
“It’s so good because all of these guys can play basketball. We know how college basketball is and that we have to give everything we have. We can’t say we’re better than everyone else, but we just know we have to be focused and know that we’re going to run this race until we’ve won.”
On what it was like having to sit out last year and not being able to contribute …
“Yes, it really hurts when I sit on the bench and I can’t help. I kept thinking that I cannot wait to come back so I can help this team, and I know I bring energy, so I helped motivate them as best I could. You have to be focused on one thing if you really want to be a champion and not focus on anything in the past. You have to keep moving forward and get better every day.”
On storming Kroger Field after the Kentucky football win over Florida …
“That was great. We didn’t expect it, and that was my first football game, so I stayed for the whole game. We were playing Florida, who was a good team, and they always think they can take us and always beat us. It was amazing to beat them and celebrate.”
#55, Lance Ware, So., F
On how a full arena will affect play and what the team is doing to prepare …
“First of all, I think it’s going to be good for the team. You know the returner guys, we all kind of all went through the same thing, different arenas. But fans are a big part of the atmosphere and the game, so being able to feed off their energy, you know, go on runs and to be able to have them be there with you is going to be phenomenal and help us in the long run.”
On whether he has superstitions …
“No, I just kind of like to just go out there. I know my job. I know what I have to do, so leading up I just kind of think about what I have to do to make my team better. I just kind of go out there and do it.”
On John Calipari being called “Swaggy Cal”…
“I think this year he’s coming in with different energy. Obviously, everyone knows about last year. So just being able to see when something doesn’t go as planned, you have to adapt and fix. So, seeing him come in with different energy, different drills and stuff like that is great to see that he has a swag about him, and he’s energetic, and even with the new coaches, everybody is high-energy, so it’s good.”
On the team’s speed …
“It just been like, just like everybody else, the only person probably used to playing that fast is Sahvir (Wheeler), because he’s the fastest person on the team. So obviously it’s been an adjustment conditioning-wise, and just being able to keep running and to keep running and to keep running without getting tired. It’s been good, though, but takes some time to get used to.”
On his approach returning for the season …
“I feel like just like anything, I got my year. I got my feet wet. I now know what to expect. Even with last year, I wouldn’t count as a real year that I had. I’m still learning stuff and there’s going to be a lot of new experiences even though I was here last year.”
#3, TyTy Washington Jr., Fr., G
On the adjustments he’s made coming into this season …
“It’s been real fun, like you said, just getting adjusted to the whole college speed, this is my first year in college so when we first got here, we were running a whole bunch. Now in practice we have just been playing at different types of gears, in the backcourt we are just pushing the ball up the court, were in fifth gear going fast, but once we are past half court and realize we don’t have anyone to pass to, we’re bringing it out into third gear and kicking it out, pretty much setting the offense up. Just playing with a good group of guys, every day battling with them, against each other, it’s just making us better.”
On what the freshman class brings to this Kentucky team …
“I feel like we bring a lot. I mean all three of us play different positions, so we’re just unique in our own type of ways. So, I feel like us three are going to bring a lot of excitement. We’re all good dudes. We’re always smiling and happy, so I feel like when game time comes and all three of us are on the court together, we are going to be pretty good.”
On his first real experience of playing at Rupp Arena in front of a full house …
“So, my first time just seeing the crowd there (at Big Blue Madness), was amazing everywhere I looked. I looked up at the very top-top and the seats were full. So, I mean going in there and seeing that, it was just so unreal to me because growing up watching Kentucky basketball, seeing the crowd and everything, that played a huge role in me coming here.”
#25, Kareem Watkins, So., G
On whether anyone’s skills have surprised him …
“Not really. I mean, with the new guys coming in, I’ve seen highlights and stuff like that. I saw some of them playing in high school, so when they came here and did what they did, it wasn’t really surprising.”
On what he expects his role on this team to be …
“I just have to get guys to be better, whether it’s in practice or just anything in general, just keeping them focused and helping them improve their game.”
On what it’s like working with new faces on the coaching staff …
“As soon as they came here, we clicked. They just became comfortable with everybody, and we all just clicked immediately.”
#2, Sahvir Wheeler, Jr., G
On being the team’s only All-SEC player …
“It is a great feeling knowing that your work has been recognized from the previous years. There is a whole season that is still to be played. We have guys on our team that are fully capable of being in that position at the end of this year.”
On cleaning up his turnovers …
“In scrimmages so far, I’ve been going 3:1 turnover ratio. I’m getting it up to 4:1 for the season.”
On adjusting to the fast tempo at Kentucky …
“I don’t think I’ve had a big adjustment to it. My last two years at Georgia, we were the No. 2 team in transition, as far as pace, in the country. I think that’s predicated to the point guard and getting guys to run, and that’s what we’ve been doing here.”
On the difficulty to have fast feet and slow minds during a game …
“Yes, especially if you’re new to it. If you’re a freshman or new to the SEC level, the game is so much faster here. If you’re experienced or in this program, this game should be slow to you.
On helping younger teammates …
“I think the biggest thing with us is that we’re willing to share our experiences and our knowledge. I think that has been able to help everyone and catapult them to the next level.”
On the biggest difference between Kentucky and Georgia …
“The amount of coverage you have and the support from the fan base. The amount of notoriety and exposure from a day-to-day basis has been the biggest thing.”
