2005 Kentucky Men's Basketball Quotes

Head Coach Tubby Smith:
 

“We’re excited about this year.  I really think we have the right people on board who are focused and working hard.  One of our strengths this year is that we have good depth and experience.  Each individual player has improved his skill level since last year.  It has really helped guys like Rajon Rondo and Patrick Sparks to have been apart of USA basketball this summer.  I like the attitude of our guys, they have comeback with a hunger and an energy level that is going to be a real positive for us.  We have some weaknesses.  We have to get better at rebounding.  We have a lot of size but we are still worried about our toughness and physicality.  We are really going to miss Chuck Hayes because he gave us a lot of physicality and versatility to our team.  Hayes could cover up a lot mistakes we made defensively, so we are going to have to find that type of player who is going to step up and fill that role.  Practices have gone well with our two a days.  Two a days are always tough and I like the way our guys have come in and accepted the challenge.  The team has come everyday ready to practice and ready to learn. 

On Big Blue Madness:

“Big Blue Madness was really exciting.  It’s something people all over the country are talking about.  Madness was well done.  I‘d like to thank our marketing and media relations people and everyone else that helped put it together.  The best part about Madness was that people who don’t normally get a chance to go to Rupp Arena got those lower level seats and got to get close to the players.  It was a good way to get the season kicked off.”

On the Southeastern Conference:

“We feel like we are a team that can compete for another Southeastern Conference championship.  This conference is always very tough.  Even though the conference lost a lot of quality players it also returns many outstanding players.  I think everybody in the league helped themselves and improved.  Certainly South Carolina, coming off a NIT championship, will be a solid contender, along with Vanderbilt.  Tennessee has a new coach, but a lot of good returning players who can shoot the ball.  Georgia also has a lot guys returning and their coach really got a lot out of them last year.  On the west side, you have to look at a team like Alabama that is really talented.  Arkansas should also be a very improved team with the return of Ronnie Brewer.  Auburn can create a lot of problems with their style of play.  Ole Miss will be very good with the guys they return.  This should be a real battle in our league. 

On UK’s non-conference schedule:

Our non-conference schedule will be really tough beginning with the Guardians Classic where we could face Iowa, West Virginia, or Texas.  We also have teams like North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville and Kansas that will be very tough.  That’s not overlooking the other teams on our schedule that we will have to be ready to play.

On the possibility of being without Randolph Morris:

“We have two or three guys at his center position, so we have great depth.  We aren’t missing him because he out there every day at practice.  He is playing very well.  I like his attitude.  His demeanor has been very positive and that has permeated to the rest of the team.  I think he appreciated that the team readily accepted him back as well as the fans.  The fans gave him a warm welcome on Friday and that was real important to him.   We are prepared at his position with guys like Shagari Alleyne, Lukasz Obrzut and Jared Carter.  Carter has been playing real well and its going to be hard to sit him.  We have a lot of good front court players with the likes of Bobby Perry and Sheray Thomas as well.  We are going to miss his bulk and athleticism.  I don’t know if will ever be out there with two seven footers at the same, but we might and that could be something special.   We never depend on one guy, but Randolph is a very important part of reaching our goals of an SEC championship and a national championship.  We’ve found ways to play without him and we’ll do it again.  It is really a great opportunity for a lot of other guys to flourish and grow.  We fully expect him to be back at some point when the NCAA finishes their job.  Everything has been documented and processed on our side and we’ll wait for the NCAA to finalize their decision.”

On junior transfer Rekalin Sims:

“I’ve really like the way Rekalin has played so far.  He is a very intelligent player.  It usually takes a junior college player a while to adapt to a new system and a new coaching staff.  He’s learning a different role and style of play.  He’s an outstanding rebounder on the junior college level and I think he has the ability to do the same at this level.  He has the combination of perimeter skills and the ability to mix it up inside.  He needs to improve defensively.  He has shown great maturity and the ability to retain what we are teaching him.”

On Bobby Perry:

“Bobby is a very tough player who is becoming more of a wing player.  He is a guy who banged with Chuck Hayes in practice everyday last year and I think he learned a lot from him.” 

On what he sees different in Rondo and Sparks:

“I think the international experience has really helped them to better understand what we are trying to get them to do here.  I think they are becoming better leaders.  With Rajon being a point guard on the USA team, it really gave him opportunity to grow in that leadership role.  He is really showing that in practice this year by being more vocal.  Patrick is starting to understand we need him to play both ends.   At that shooting guard position, at 6’1 he is giving away a lot of size and bulk in our league.   What he lacks in athleticism and size he has to make up in understanding how to play.  He has been doing a good job of that in practice.  He likes his offensive game more than his defense right now, but we are working on getting him more balance.”

On freshman Jared Carter:

“He’s been putting on a lot of weight and strength and it has shown in his aggressiveness.  He has always been an aggressive player in high school and I was always impressed how he never backed down.  He has great hands and touch.  Its one thing to do it in high school and it’s another thing to go up against Division 1-A competition.  He’s been doing a great job of attacking Alleyne and Obrzut in practice.” 

On his summer:

“I did get to go to the British Open with some guys from our foundation and that was a lot of fun.  I got to see Jack Nicklaus as he walked up 18 at St. Andrews for the last time.  It was a great moment in time to be apart of.  It was a real fun experience.”

On senior Ravi Moss:

“I couldn’t be happier for a young man who has made the sacrifice to be a walk-on.  He really understands the privilege it is to be a part of Kentucky basketball.  I think he feels his is living out a dream.  He is one of those guys with the type of leadership and drive that will help him long after he is done playing basketball.  Ravi is one of our captains this year along with Patrick Sparks, Brandon Stockton and Preston LeMaster.  Those guys have all been a big part of the success we have had and I have counted on them everyday the last three years.”

On the ability to play up-tempo basketball:

“We have a more experienced team this year that should allow us to extend our defense more.  We should be able to push the ball more with Rajon Rondo at the point.  With wing players like Bradley and Crawford we feel we can create more turnovers and get more possessions.”

On sophomore Joe Crawford:

“We feel Joe has the potential to be a starter here at Kentucky.  If the season started today I think he would probably be the starter at the small forward spot, but that is subject to change.   He has a great attitude.  He has lost weight and gained more muscle.  He is more comfortable in accepting who he is, what role he plays and how he fits into our style of play.  I’ve been really impressed and pleased with the way he has been playing since we started practicing.”

On sophomore Ramel Bradley:

“He’s is as good an outside shooter as we have on the team.  He can handle the ball really well.  Defensively he is getting better. He is a big point guard at 6’3.  He brings a real good energy level when enters the game.  He has great passion for the game. There is a real battle going on out there for the starting point guard and shooting guard. I don’t think anything is set in stone right now. That’s what I like about this team; we can go with any combination of guys right now.”

On junior Sheray Thomas:

“He has really been playing great. I’ve been very impressed with him. He has gotten a lot better with his conditioning. He has great energy and is starting to gain his weight back after having fixed what was causing his blood pressure problem. He’s one of those guys who can give us that toughness we are looking for because he did that last year. He is picking up were he left off last year except now he is healthy.”

On playing at neutral site arenas:

“Playing games at neutral arenas helps us a lot. Neutral arenas give our guys the experience that we will need come tournament time. It also gives are fans from different areas the ability to see us. I think it really prepares you for the SEC tournament in Nashville and the NCAA tournament.”