KENTUCKY BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES

KENTUCKY VS. MISSOURI

MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.

January 29, 2023

On defensive changes for this sport …
“I simply need to say so happy with this group. I assumed they set the tone defensively early. Robyn (Benton) getting the steal out of the gates, and we switched up our protection serval instances. However this group protection, being aggressive positioning serving to each other. I’m simply so happy with the tone. That’s the power that we’d like defensively flying round producing scoring alternatives.”

On how encouraging it’s to beat Missouri by 23 factors after dropping to them only a few weeks in the past  …
“It’s a very comfortable day. However, you understand, I used to be speaking within the locker room – we’re a greater group immediately then the primary time we performed them. We’re enjoying for a lot extra confidence offensively have extra of an identification however what we talked about was we refused to lose. That was the message the previous two days, refuse to lose. What are you keen to do outdoors of your consolation zone to assist us recover from the hump. Now we have been shut, however we haven’t gotten over the hump. And I assumed they have been keen to promote out immediately to recover from that hump.”

On group responding to being unsettled …
“That’s massive, we referred to as a timeout, we talked about it within the huddle. Settle in right here lock again in defensively don’t play so quick. However Missouri is a superb group. They’re properly coached they will rating, so they’re at all times within the sport, they’re extremity robust. They’re going to make a run, however we should reply the run and it begins on the defensive finish and play from there. They reset their mindset for the protection finish after which we scored on the opposite finish.”

On the mentality earlier than the sport immediately after the final two losses…
“The message has been the identical the previous two days. Successful mentality. Everybody desires to win, however are you keen to do the issues above and past to win? Everybody within the SEC desires to win. However what are we going to do otherwise to really get the win? We stood in entrance of one another and mentioned these are the issues we’re holding ourselves accountable for and that is what we’re going to carry to the desk individually for us to collectively have group success. I felt that everybody stood true to what they mentioned they have been going to carry immediately.”

On the bigs appearing collectively as a unit…
“I’m so happy with my bigs. We talked as a unit and simply needed to provide them some issues that will problem them. They work extraordinarily arduous, they need to assist this group win. They play with lots of confidence. I stood in entrance of the group and mentioned ‘that is the group you want. They do the soiled work.’ I’m so happy with them.”

On how she inspired Blair Inexperienced…
“Keep within the circulation of the offense. We are able to get you a shot. That is the place you’ve bought to remain mentally robust. I assumed she had some nice pictures. I need to say welcome again to Blair Inexperienced. It was so good to see the ball go within the basket. She has been working so arduous, so it was good to see the ball go in. However Jada Walker, let’s discuss her. The defensive tone that she set, all fuel, no breaks. I really like that mentality about her. Similar with Maddie Scherr. Pure toughness. Our guards are robust, they will rating in a wide range of methods and are extraordinarily versatile.”

On the takeaway from this victory…
“Now we have it in us. Our motor must be extraordinarily excessive, I inform them now we have to play with excessive octane, though they don’t know what octane means, nevertheless it’s OK. I inform them to play with massive power. We simply must be robust, relentless defensively, and play to our power, which is transitioning to offense.”

#5, Blair Inexperienced, G

On the angle shift throughout immediately’s sport…
“I believe our greatest factor is simply power. I believe we sort of preached in that timeout – identical to bringing that power, having the primary punch once we return out of that timeout. I believe we actually did that and we did what coach requested. When our group performs with power and fights and we’re cheering on one another and simply having enjoyable with it that’s once we play our greatest basketball, and I believe that’s what we did.

On the largest distinction of their second outing versus Mizzou…
“I believe the final couple weeks actually simply haven’t gone as performed and main as much as this sport we actually simply needed to look ourselves within the mirror and identical to, have some robust talks – have some heart-to-hearts and work out who we’re, and who we’re individually and what we are able to carry to this group. That loss at Mizzou that actually harm us as a result of we knew we may very well be that group. We have been up on them within the first half and we sort of let it go so our greatest factor is not any let-ups. No let-ups in any respect. I assumed we actually did that and actually confirmed that we weren’t backing down so we actually needed to get them again.

On what they’re taking from this sport as they transfer onto South Carolina…
“Yeah, simply bringing that aggressive power and simply maintaining one another up. I believe our greatest factor proper now’s we are able to’t re-write the previous – like we are able to’t rewrite these final video games. How are we going to be remembered for these final, like, we solely get 9 extra video games. That’s all we get assured till then, we begin match play. And it’s simply the way you play from there, however how are we going to rewrite our story – how are we going to be remembered, not everybody remembers the start of the season, however how are they going to recollect us in the long run, in order that’s sort of our greatest factor proper now.”

#21 Nyah Leveretter, F

On focus of publish gamers lately with elevated productiveness …
“The main focus for us has simply been to be energetic on the boards. She tells us 12 factors after which 15 rebounds as a gaggle. Our guards get lots of the eye, lots of the factors, however we’ve bought to know that now we have to contribute too and that can assist the group purpose of profitable for the group once we actually put our heads down and give attention to that.”

On what has modified to spice up the play …
“I believe it’s simply the mentality. We didn’t perceive earlier than how a lot we impact the sport too. Truly assembly with the group, coaches, place teams, we perceive like we’re beneficial, we’re right here what we have to do and produce to ensure that this group to vary their route and win video games. That’s what we did and targeted on.”