Kentucky Basketball Previews Vanderbilt
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FEB. 16, 2021
ASSISTANT COACH BRUISER FLINT
On the team building momentum off the Auburn win …
“I actually told them they had some momentum coming from the Tennessee game. So, we didn’t finish it well, but I thought we played better. We did a lot of things that we’ve been discussing. So I think the guys played a little bit better, although we had our problems at the end of the game. I think our guys didn’t think that we were going to lose. They thought we were going to win (against Auburn), so we made some plays at the end of that game that helped us pull out the victory.”
On the defensive struggles of late …
“Playing faster. Playing faster so a lot more possessions in the games. Both teams get a lot more possessions We were playing a lot slower and now we’re playing a bit faster, so we can get a little bit more in transition. So, you’re also going to let the other team get a little more in transition. So, it’s just a matter of the speed of the game and how we’ve been playing offensively. So, the games are a little bit higher scoring, a little bit higher for both teams because there’s way more possessions in the games the way that we’ve been playing.”
On the biggest difference in Vanderbilt since they saw them earlier in the season and the job Jerry Stackhouse has done …
“One, they play really hard. I know they haven’t had great results, but those guys really play hard. Some of the other guys other than (Scotty) Pippen have been stepping up a little bit. (Dylan) Disu had a good game against us, and he’s been playing better. Maxwell Evans played really well against us. He’s been playing pretty good for them. Number four Jordan Wright, I think his name is, he’s actually played a lot better for them. So, they’ve played a lot of close games. Their games remind me a little bit of some of the games that we’ve played. They’ve gotten out ahead. They just haven’t been able to close it out at the end. But one thing I will say, when you watch them on film, you’re going to get good effort from them. I think that shows that they’re still engaged with their coach because, you know, they’re really playing hard.”
On what makes Pippen effective and what challenges does he present …
“He’s a very similar talent, a very similar player to (Sharife) Cooper. I think he’s a little bit more of a scorer. Where I think Cooper is more of a passer. He’s a better finisher around the rim. He shoots it better. But I think he likes to pass. I think he likes to get in the lane. I think he likes to pass the ball and get his guys involved. Cooper is probably a lot better passer than him, but I think you have the same type of challenges. They get into the lane. I just think Pippen is a little bit better scorer. But they can control the game by their scoring and by their passing. I think we have very similar challenges that we had with Auburn with Cooper.”
On if Davion Mintz has a knack for making plays in big moments …
“Well, he’s open. So, he was open in those situations. He was open the play before and didn’t shoot it (against Auburn). Cal was screaming at him on the bench when we ran the play again for him to shoot the ball. Cal’s been big on that with these guys. When the opportunity is there you’ve got to take advantage of it. That’s been one of our problems I think at the end of ball games is we’ve been tentative. You can’t be afraid. You can’t just stick your toe in the water, you’ve got to jump into the pool sometimes. I think after the last trip down which he turned it over and they tied it up, Cal was screaming at him to shoot the ball. We went right back to him again and he knocked it down.”
On recruits being unaffected by Kentucky’s struggles this year …
“Why wouldn’t they? That’s my thing. Why wouldn’t they? Why wouldn’t they feel good? They see the results that they’ve had with the players. I mean, teams go through stuff like this sometimes. This is my first year at Kentucky, believe me I didn’t think it was going to be like this. But people understand what Coach Cal has done, what type of coach he is, what type of program this is. This is as storied of a program as there is in college basketball. So, you have a little bit of a hiccup, and you’re having a hiccup for a whole year. Everybody knows on this zoom, you know, 2020-2021, has not been regular. All you’ve got to do is just look at the history of it, and not only that, but in terms of what Coach Cal has done with recruiting, how he’s developed his players. I know we’re having a tough season, but anybody that looks at that and thinks this is going to continue they’re out of their minds. So, I think the kids understand that and they love Kentucky basketball. I think that’s why we’re still pretty good with the recruits.”
On if Calipari’s history of having his teams play their best at the end of the season can give this team confidence to do the same …
“I think you always look for – you’re talking about a guy that was a mid-major coach for a long time when that weekend at the end of the year was very important to you. A lot of times you weren’t getting an at-large bid. So, I think that’s what all coaches try and say, ‘Let’s finish it off. Let’s go win the conference tournament. Let’s play our best basketball at the end of the year.’ I can say honestly, I think we’re starting to do that. We’re playing our best basketball at the end of the season. Has it been tough? Yeah, we’ve had some tough sledding. But I just think that we’ve continued to get better. So hopefully we can continue to keep riding this. Keep playing better the last couple of weeks of the season and be going into that conference tournament with some confidence.”
On the team rolling with the punches with the travel schedule this week …
“I think so. Staying on the road for a week is not that hard, as long as you’ve got a chance to get your practice times. These kids today. It’s not like the old days where you went outside. These kids they plug up stuff on their TV. They can entertain themselves, believe me, for hours on end without being outside. So, definitely, I mean it’s tough. We had to leave, and it was a last second thing, last minute thing to get everybody together and go. But it was a smart thing to do looking at the weather and everything. I think it’s fine. We had a good practice yesterday, so we’ve got to continue to keep focusing and doing that when we play tomorrow.”
On the uneven play causing challenges to the scouting report …
“For me, it’s a little bit different because it’s my first year being in the conference. I think once you’re in the conference, like Cal and Tony (Barbee) and Joel (Justus) and those guys. They understand what those guys are trying to accomplish. They’ve played against these coaches a lot of times. But I mean, it’s one of those years. I think one of the biggest things that goes unsaid is there are no fans. You know what I mean? That makes a huge difference in some of these games when you go into some of these buildings and it’s going crazy and the way the kids play. So, now you’re coming in and it’s a free mind. Nobody is screaming at you. Nobody is screaming at the referees. You know what I mean? I think that’s a big reason why people have gone in and been able to win games or lose games that people are a little surprised. It’s got to do with the fans and the buildings you’re going in. Without them having that it’s a little bit easier to play in those types of games. That part of the pressure is not there anymore. I think that’s been the reason why, plus the league is very even in a lot of ways. The older teams in the league have been very successful. The younger teams have struggled. So I think that’s one of the things that you see within the league.”
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#10 Davion Mintz, G, Gr.
On making the key shot against Auburn after having passed up a shot on the previous possession …
“Yeah, I mean, it was my responsibility to knock that down. I mean, the first possession I had. Coach Cal has an extreme amount of confidence in me and sometimes, his confidence is so high that even when I don’t feel that I’m open, he feels it. Looking back at the play, I was definitely open but sometimes in the game, I need to have my feet set, stay ready to go ahead and knock it down and I almost put us in a position to lose that game towards the end. I knew when the ball was coming back to me again, because I knew the play was for me and I know I can step into it and knock it down. Do what I do.”
On the feedback he got from family and friends after making the big shot …
“It was love because everybody forgot about the mistakes.”
On what this season has been like and how he is staying engaged and if he’s thinking about returning …
“Still excited. Like I said, it’s the best decision I ever made still. And, I’ve been running my marathon and I’ve been chasing my dreams for years. And coming to Kentucky, I knew that a place like this would get me exactly where I need to go at the next level. I don’t know how long that will be, I don’t know what’s my plan, my path, what’s best for me and that’s what I have to evaluate at the end of the season with coaches and my family. But, right now, I’m focused on Vanderbilt and our next upcoming games and how can I help this team be in a better position.”
On if Calipari talks about his former teams that have made late-season runs …
“Oh yeah, Coach Cal and our coaching staff have been very optimistic. The faith that they have in us is unbelievable. The spirit is never low. No one is worried about, OK, super down season. OK, how can we still pick up the pieces and try to put this puzzle together? That’s been their focus all season. No one is ever pounding our heads, making us lower ourselves because of our current situation. Now, it’s like, how can we make a run with what we have and our circumstance? That’s what we’re trying to do right now.”
On if he dreamed of hitting the last second shot and played that out while growing up …
“It’s crazy because I have a big back yard at my house, where there’s grass right behind my goal. And in my head, I would imagine there were a bunch of fans right there and I would do my five, four, three, two, one count but the terrible thing about right now is, I’m making the shot with no fans. I know some of them, no disrespect to our BBN, I love them and I feel the love, but I’m imagining it’s a lot crazier in my head as a kid. I used to do that a lot, actually, growing up.”
On how he reacted, growing up, when he didn’t make the last-second shot …
“I would be (mad) every time I missed it. I had my older brother outside with me and when he would make it, I would throw the ball at him. I’ve been super-competitive as a kid.”
On how his graduate studies are going …
“It’s going really well. I think I just received a senior award or a watch list or something like that. Support and everything has been great here. I’m not sure, I know that it’s something that I’m on route to achieve maybe later this year, just depending on how that is, for my Master’s degree. Like I said, it will be one of those things where I will have to evaluate more with my coaches and my family. I’m very serious about my dreams and I know that, whatever that is, this place can get me where I need to be with my work ethic. So, I’m just going to finish out the season and see where that takes me.”
On how he feels seeing his former team, Creighton, doing so well …
“I’m extremely happy for them. Those are my brothers still. It’s just amazing still seeing them do well. They’re still super happy for me. There’s a few of them I talk to after every game. I’ll tune in to almost all of their games, they’ll watch mine. I wouldn’t want it any other way for them. They’re still very encouraging to us. But, I think they were, I’m not sure what they are in the poll. I definitely do wish we were higher than them, yeah, but it’s still good to see them happy and it is what it is.”
