March 27, 2014

An interview with: has really made great strides along with our system. So this dates back to, this goes back to the last question we previously answered, just offensively and defensively both teams have gotten better. As far as quickness goes, I think we've also been doing a great job of our bigs hitting the glass as well. And as far as Kentucky goes, I think they've been doing a better job handling pressure. THE MODERATOR: We have the So it's all a matter of who is going to be the University of Louisville student-athletes Luke better team tomorrow. Hancock and . : I think everybody wants to say experience is going to be on our side, Q. For both Russ and Luke, how much but they're not young guys anymore. They've been different is this team that we're watching right through an entire year of battles. now compared to the one that lost to Kentucky Like Russ said, it's about who is going to back in late December? make adjustments in the game, us rebounding RUSS SMITH: I think the team now is a them, handling the pressure, and so on and so on. little bit more smarter. We get some more ball movement, guys know the sets and the new guys Q. For both guys, how is the matchup know what to do and where to be defensively. hybrid zone that you guys are playing, how has I think overall both teams are just better, that changed this team defensively over the and this time of year if you're playing in the Sweet last couple of months? 16, you've just made vast improvements in your LUKE HANCOCK: Just being able to offensive abilities and defensive abilities. That pressure teams, trying to force more turnovers and applies to every team in the tournament as well the more we play it the better we're getting at it. with us. So guys are making their rotations when they're LUKE HANCOCK: I think we were supposed to be getting in there, boxing out when struggling to kind of find an identity at that point. they're supposed to be. And a lot of changes to our team since then. And I Early on in the year you just don't make think it's been for the better. I think guys are kind those rotations, especially with new guys coming of filling into their roles and know what they have to into your defense, because it's not the easiest do to make our team better. thing in the world to pick up. So I think just making those small rotations Q. For both players, most of the and making those small extra plays, staying tight pregame analysis has been about their size and when you're supposed to be and really getting out your quickness and ability to force turnovers. on shooters, just a bunch of little things to make What factors are maybe being overlooked as our zone more impressive. we go into this game? RUSS SMITH: I think we were making in RUSS SMITH: I think the factors, the beginning of the year, making the first, second obviously they're bigger. For us we're a little bit rotation. Now that we've had a few more months quicker. But I think how well they've been playing under our belt, the new guys, along with ourselves, as well just as a team, you can tell that this system are making the fourth and fifth rotation and that's

Louisville - ASAP Quotes -03 27 1 14.doc visit our archives at asapsports.com really been helping us a lot. matter what. That's what's so scary. Freshmen, Also hitting the backboard, defensive glass regardless of how prepared they are, regardless of and offensive glass has helped us take strides. So how trained they are, they're going to always be just getting better as a whole unit and improving ready to play and they're always going to come every day in practice has definitely contributed to play hard. our success so far. They may not do the right things, but they're always going to be ready to play. Q. For both guys, the Kentucky players And that's what's so frightening about downplayed the rivalry, said this game is Kentucky, that they have about six or seven bigger than the rivalry. How are you all freshmen that are ready to play. And they have approaching it and what do you remember the will to win. But with us I think our veterans and about the 2012 Final Four game and dealing our senior guys, we've been here before. So with all the hype of Kentucky-Louisville in the there's really no advantage. tournament? If you have both guys on, both guys on RUSS SMITH: It is a rivalry game. both teams that's going to play hard, then I don't There's no way around it. But at the end of the day think there's no advantage, we'll just have to see they're right, it's much bigger than a rivalry. It's a tomorrow. Sweet 16 game. LUKE HANCOCK: I agree. Just keeping They would have to play with the same focused this time of the year and not getting enthusiasm and wake up reading the same caught up might be a little advantage for an older scouting report as if they were playing a UCLA in guy. the Sweet 16 or UConn. It's just the same game But like Russ said, they've got six, seven, face. eight, nine, ten guys that are going to play real You just want to get to the next round. hard. We have the same. It's not going to be too And that's what's most important. I feel the same big of an advantage either way. way. I felt the same way the last two, three years, coming into this program, be prepared for every Q. Russ, from what you've seen, what team the same way. improvement have you seen in Kentucky's So preparing for Kentucky is really no guard play from the time you played them in different. The goal is to get to the Elite Eight. December until now? If you let the university or the other school RUSS SMITH: With the amount of that you're playing against get in the way of that it minutes that they've played at the guard position, could potentially become a problem. and in February they've become sophomores, LUKE HANCOCK: I agree. Our goal is to January they've become sophomores, they're not get to the Elite Eight. This is a Sweet 16 game. freshmen anymore. They've improved on their We're going to treat it like any other game, go decision-making, getting into the lane. They prepare the way we always do for any other team, obviously have a dribble drive offense, and that's whether it's Duke, UNC, whoever we're playing. sometimes hard to emulate. We're going to go in prepare the same way, And they've done a great job getting down Manhattan, St. Louis, whoever it is, we're going to the offense. So their decision-making and their go about our business the same way. intelligence within their system has made strides. And that's pretty impressive. Q. For both players again, what do the seniors understand about college Q. Russ, this is a follow-up to the that a freshman cannot? question about the seniors. You considered RUSS SMITH: I think there's a certain leaving last year. What do you think this year psyche behind the game for seniors. It means a has given you and are you happy with the little bit more. And it could potentially be their last decision that you made? game. So certain rotations or certain plays that RUSS SMITH: First and foremost, this you may put emphasis on that you may not have year has given me the opportunity to enjoy college, put emphasis on at the beginning of the year, the to be a senior, to know what it's like to get that emphasis becomes bigger this time of the year. experience. And freshmen, but the difference between freshmen is freshmen are going to play hard no

Louisville - ASAP Quotes -03 27 2 14.doc visit our archives at asapsports.com Second, I'm going to get my degree. Being eight years in the NBA, I understand That's very important for myself and my family. the union, the Players Association. And until the And third, I get a chance to end my career on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement comes great note. around, it's really only rhetoric right now. I had a chance to have senior night at the Yum! Center and things like that. Means a lot to Q. Rick, there was so much talk at the me. I got a chance to help some freshmen and beginning of the year about this being the year new guys develop and just become a person, of the freshman. So many of those guys who become a changed man, that's really important to got so much of the hype are gone. me. What, if anything, THE MODERATOR: Seeing none, thank does it say about Kentucky's guys or the you, guys. We're joined by University of Louisville Coach . way John Calipari coaches freshmen that they're still here? Q. Rick, obviously no matter who you'll COACH PITINO: Two weeks ago I was be playing it will be a big game in the Sweet 16 asked by the Louisville media what do I think of the realm. How important is it that your guys rumors of John going back to the pros. I said why ignore the noise that goes on in your state would you say something like that? Because they when this happens? lost a game. COACH PITINO: I think they've done that. So I don't -- he's one of the premier We've gotten used to the noise, so we don't -- we coaches in our game. Has always been. The understand what's at stake. thing that I remember most about John, because I've said it many times: I've been in the I've known him since he was 15, is he always didn't state 20 years, and the game to me has really only have one-and-dones. He had a team at had difficult consequences for the loser twice. Massachusetts, and I knew where he took them Once was two years ago when they from to today. stopped our run in the Final Four, and the next And he had the least amount of talent on game we play. the court when he went out there. And he didn't play an easy schedule. He had to take a lot of Q. Coach, could you talk about just the people on to get Massachusetts in the limelight. matchup zone, how that's changed your I've seen all stages of John's career. defense these last couple of months? And so it doesn't surprise me that they're COACH PITINO: We haven't really played playing well at this time. It was a great game the as much matchup zone as we did two years ago. I other night by both teams. I know how good think we've run from 80/20 to 50/50 to 80/20 man. Wichita is. Now they're a much better offensive So we haven't played a whole lot of it this year. time this year than last year, much better defensive team. Wichita is a great basketball team. Q. Rick, quick two-parter. One, do you Kentucky beat a great basketball team. think college athletes are employees; and, two, is there a right or wrong way to run an athletic Q. Can you talk about your own Sweet program, like especially when you're looking at 16 success, and does that just speak for how the kind of one-and-done thing over at well your teams are playing at this time of the Kentucky and other schools who bring players year? and keep them for a while? COACH PITINO: I think so. I think more COACH PITINO: First question, to answer than anything else you have a lot of preparation it honestly, I haven't really thought about it. It's the time this week and you try your best to figure out a first time with Northwestern that I even thought team. This is probably one of the more difficult about it. ones that I have faced as a coach, because they Second question is I think everybody plays have so many weapons that are playing well right under the same set of rules. So if they're players now. for one year and that's the rules, you live with it. If And we understand what we're up against. not, you go to two or whatever number it may be. But I can tell you very honestly, with all humility, Everybody has a magic number. that I know Kentucky in that locker room are not

Louisville - ASAP Quotes -03 27 3 14.doc visit our archives at asapsports.com worried about my resumé, they're worried about the D-League would not pay attention to their Russ Smith, Luke Hancock, . academic work. Because every game is different that you play. So there's an argument for and against I know we have a very good basketball every situation. But I think right now there's so team. They have a very good basketball team. It many people that think the one-and-done is not the should be a heck of a game. correct way. So it's not for me to argue, it's for the NBA and the NCAA to bring about the arguments, Q. Going back to that first game, is what's best for the student-athlete. there anything you can take away from that that you apply to tomorrow? Q. You mentioned knowing John since COACH PITINO: We had he was 15. How would you characterize your back then. He didn't play real well, but we had him relationship, and what do you think drives the in that game. perception that it could be cold sometimes? And I think they're a much better COACH PITINO: I don't care about basketball team today and I think we're a much perception because perception is not reality. better basketball team today. And you would We're friends. We respect each other's programs expect that, because those games are always very much and we're friends in this business. played so early. And I certainly have great respect for what they're accomplishing right now. But it really Q. Rick, as a follow-up to the question doesn't matter what perception is because about players ages, knowing what you know perception is not reality in this world. from the pros in college, what would you like to see? Q. Coach, I know you're concentrating COACH PITINO: The players agents? on your team, but knowing the whole history of the triangle between Louisville, Kentucky and Q. No, ages. Indiana, how surprised were you that there's no COACH PITINO: Ages. You know, team from the state of Indiana in the original there's so many arguments. I heard John make 68-team field? the argument that he's not for the kids going out of COACH PITINO: You're right; I'm not high school because -- and he's right on this. The thinking about that at all. greatest thing about the one year not going out of high school is I see the academic progress of high Q. Different sort of question, your son school, eighth graders, freshmen, sophomores, is advancing in the NIT tournament and going juniors paying so much more attention to their to New York. What have you seen from him academic part of their life. this year, just the job he's done, and what was This is going to sound strange but I could it like going up there with your other son probably name in their minds 50 ninth and tenth dressed as a chicken? graders right now if there was no one-and-done COACH PITINO: It's been an absolutely rule, that would think they're capable of going out wonderful year watching him develop as a coach. I of high school and they would not pay attention to really thought he even did a better job at Florida their academic standards because, without International. He was two points away. question, they're going pro, as well as some of the That program was decimated academically families. and athletically. He was starting walk-ons that So there is some good about the were in top five categories in steals. one-and-done in terms of the academic standards He's made it a lot of fun for the guys on the getting better. team. And I love seeing that. And I love seeing I think in the best of all worlds, me the way he's handled himself, his competitive personally I would like to see exactly what football nature. has. And I'm not against, with the exception of And now he's going to the Finals at what I just said, I'm not against kids going out of Madison Square Garden where he grew up as a high school into the D-League if they want to young boy being a ball boy with the New York choose that. Knicks. It's a great treat for me. It's exciting for me But I know their academic standards would suffer because so many guys that couldn't play in

Louisville - ASAP Quotes -03 27 4 14.doc visit our archives at asapsports.com to see. Q. Could you briefly discuss when you first met Cal and also when you -- Q. Any chance you'll take a trip in a COACH PITINO: I'm sorry? chicken suit? COACH PITINO: Not in a chicken suit, but Q. When you first met Cal. I'll take many trips to Minnesota. COACH PITINO: First met Coach Calipari.

Q. There's been a lot of talk in this Q. Second part. When you two are tournament about the extension of video coaching together in a state like Kentucky in replay, the way it's changed the ends of games, basketball, does it hurt, help or have no effect a lot of start and stops as officials try to check on your relationship with him? the monitors. What are your thoughts on how COACH PITINO: You know, I think it hurts it has changed, how do you handle the last two a little bit because you all bait and try to get certain minutes when there's more checking the answers out of us. And if John says: I like a monitor, how do you as a coach use those certain thing, some people think he's taking a shot breaks to your advantage while maybe making at me, vice versa, it's not that we've talked about it sure that guys don't lose focus or don't lose together about that. He's the total opposite with sort of the edge they have? me with social media. COACH PITINO: Sometimes it's an extra And I know he believes in it and he knows timeout, certainly, you get ahold of your team. I I don't believe in it. So we're not taking sides on would think that one of the things I would do, I that. Tom Izzo doesn't believe in it, maybe think if I -- while they're checking it, they do take a somebody else does. long time because they want to get it right, I would We understand what takes place between make the team stay away from the bench and not the lines. We understand the fans' intensity, but huddle with the coach because it's an extra we don't personalize our battles. We understand timeout. I would have them not go in with the what it's all about. The best team's going to win. coach. They would have to go to the other side of Q. When did you first meet? the floor, let them check the monitor. It's not an COACH PITINO: I first met him when he advantage in terms of a timeout. was probably 14, 15 years of age as a camper at That's the only thing. I like it a lot because the Five-Star camp. it gets it right. I lost a game at Pittsburgh where it THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach. was off the wrong person and we lost the game. FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Q. Coach, I asked Pacers head coach and UK grad Frank Vogel who he would be rooting in this matchup he said: Go Cards. Owing that, of course, to you. What's your relationship with like Coach Vogel and how proud are you his success? COACH PITINO: I'm extremely proud of Frank. He's done it the right way, worked his way up the right way. Was one of the best workers I've ever seen in my lifetime. Knew how to do it, is doing a fabulous job there. And he told me last year, at a game, he said: Coach, we're going to get back and we're going to win this darn thing. And although he carries himself very humbly, he has great confidence in the Pacers and what they're going to do. I'm super excited. I'm a big Pacer fan, excited to see what he's going to do.

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