Kentucky-USC Upstate Postgame Quotes
KENTUCKY BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
#23 KENTUCKY VS. USC UPSTATE
HISTORIC MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.
November 12, 2025
Kentucky Quotes
Head Coach Kenny Brooks
Opening statement…
“I thought we had better energy tonight and that’s something we’ve been searching for and trying to be consistent with that. We have a new essentially, a new team, that you’re trying to get integrated with each other. So that’s something that we’ve been searching for. I thought we were better at that tonight and like throughout games like this. We considered the process, and you get an opportunity to get better, and whether it’s communication or guarding a play the way you’re supposed to guard it. Just little things we’ve been looking for to improve upon, and I thought we got a little bit better tonight. We got tremendous performances. As we mentioned, Tonie, very proud of her the way that she’s come along. It’s been a lot of fun watching her develop into our system, and her willingness to just really recreate herself, so to speak, she’s played one way for three years. She’s come here, and she’s been very accepting of anything that we’ve been throwing at her. She’s always wanting to watch film, trying to get better. And tonight was kind of like the fruit of her labor, because she worked hard to get there. And then tonight, she was really on point with understanding where her teammates were, how to get it to them, when to get it to them. They were able to capitalize on it. Clara did a really good job. I think she has had a career high in rebounds. She just has a nose for the ball, but also proud of her, you know, stepping up and shooting a three other than that first one that she shot, I think that the big fan was blowing too hard on it, but she’s stepping up. So you’re seeing kids develop into what we want them to be, and so tonight was a really good step in that direction. Questions, what do you focus on going up against a team that you should be dominating against you know, we talked about it, you know, I said, don’t play the score. Don’t even worry about the score. Play the possession and try to get better than everything. We’ve got things that we need to work on that has nothing to do with shooting the basketball or rebounding basketball. We’re trying to, we’re trying to be on point with our communication, understanding each other, getting the chemistry down pat. You know, we worry about, we were about the energy, the effort, and our attitude, and not really what the score. Obviously, you want the result to be in your favor, but we’re not playing the score. We’re not We try not to let up in certain situations. And games like this are good to help us develop as we continue on and we’re going to play stiffer competition, but this was a good opportunity for us tonight.”
#13, Clara Strack
On the meaning of the Salute to Service game and how Clara’s family serving affects the way she plays..
“I wasn’t born when they were still in service, but I think like from their experiences there, that kind of like made them teach me hard work, and just like working for the things that you get. They had to go through that. Obviously things aren’t handed to you. So, I think they made us kind of realize that like growing up too. My sister just swore into the Air Force a few days ago, like a week ago, I think.”
#5, Tonie Morgan
On seeing the floor better tonight…
“I feel like I’m starting to get more comfortable with my teammates and trusting the process. Coach Brooks said this team has some amazing shot makers, so it was a great night.”
On adjusting to Coach Brooks system…
“He is a point gaurds coach, I came here because I wanted to be a great point gaurd. I think that is starting to come true, so developing and trusting what he is telling me and trusting what he has done before us.”
