March 9, 2012

Kentucky – 60 : Yeah, we LSU – 51 just wanted to go to the post and get

An interview with: buckets inside, and we were just running the play that had an option to go for me or Kentucky Mike. And they just started playing Mike because he was getting it going earlier in the first half out of the play. So it just Coach made me more open in the second half. Terrence Jones Q. It's been said that really no matter what happens in this tournament, you guys are secured as a number one seed in the NCAA. CLAUDE FELTON: We're joined Can you just talk about y'all's mindset coming by head John Calipari and into this game and do you feel like everybody student-athletes Terrence Jones and is on the same page in trying to win this Anthony Davis. We'll start with an tournament? opening statement from coach and then ANTHONY DAVIS: I think so. take questions for the student-athletes. Most definitely. Everybody mindset who COACH CALIPARI: Hats off to come to the game looked like we had to Trent and LSU. I thought they played -- win this game. We love to win and that's had a great game plan, played physical, what we tried to do. Unfortunately, we did what they had to to give them a came out lackadaisical, wasn't playing any chance to win. It was a two-bucket game defense, let them do whatever they with probably five minutes to go, and they wanted. had a chance and that's all you're asking And they got into an early lead for as a coach. making open threes, finishing around the And I thought his kids played rim. Offensive rebounding too. And so in extremely hard for having played the second half, we went in and said, We yesterday and never really stopped need to take over and start getting the ball playing. So they were pretty good. in the post, making open shots, and CLAUDE FELTON: Take your always be ready to shoot. And that's what questions for either of the we did in the second half.

student-athletes. Q. In the play where they were going to Kidd-Gilschrist, and then they adjusted and Q. You guys were in the tight game and started going to you, what was the adjustment, they started going to you repeatedly coming what were they doing that made you guys out of a timeout. What happened there? Was it adjust to start going to you? discussed during the timeout, that you seemed to kind of take over for a few minutes? TERRENCE JONES: It's two

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visit our archives at asapsports.com options, and so it was just if he's not open, not good ball-handling on your guys part or a then come back for me. We just tried to combination of the two? be more aggressive on every drive and COACH CALIPARI: I think it was just play through bumps. And our coach that press, that relentless press -- oh, they challenged us to be more aggressive, said didn't press, I'm sorry. They were physical that they were being more physical than and we were getting bumped and we us in the first half, and we just tried to step couldn't hold on to balls. It just got too that up in the second half by getting to the physical for guys. I had a couple guys I foul line, by just going through bumps. couldn't leave in the game. I made two bad calls down the stretch that got them Q. Do you feel like this was a good back to two baskets and I don't know what game to have, though, especially your first I was thinking until Anthony Davis said, game in the post season, a team that tried to Coach, go to me. And then I went to him play you as physical as LSU did, and you guys were able to pull out the win? and it was basket, basket, basket. I think I ANTHONY DAVIS: I think so, most lost my mind. definitely. For our first game, we knew But this is a good game for us. And they were going to come out like a they also jammed it in a little bit. They left desperation game for them. And for the , they went under our pick first game to have, it really -- you really and rolls, they did some good stuff. They have to have us thinking now, Okay, the were ready to do some things. And I'll go team's going to come out and play us like back and watch the tape and see what their life is on the line. And if we don't adjustments, because people will be come out and play, then we can lose. So I watching the tape saying this is how you think it was a great game for us to play to need to play them and we have been get our mindset right going into our next played every way possible. game. I was surprised they didn't go any zone. They didn't play one down of zone, Q. They were pretty relentless in and the reason was they didn't have to. attacking the rim, even their little guys kept They just got really physical and made it going inside. Were you surprised that they tough. It wasn't what we did defensively. kept coming at you? And just comment on how physical they were in the low . We were good defensively. ANTHONY DAVIS: No, I wasn't Now when you think about it, we surprised at all. Especially when we get in gave them eight points in the first half on foul trouble early, I'll keep attacking as offensive rebounds, and I'm guessing they well to try to get them to keep fouling. And had four breakaway lay-ups on lazy I played with my hands up, they way they passes. And when you think of taking released the ball, and then go block it at those away, the rest of it was really hard the rim. It made it a lot easier for me and for them. It was what we did offensively. harder for them to pick up fouls on me. And again, our spacing wasn't real CLAUDE FELTON: We'll excuse good, our decision-making on drives, the student-athletes and take questions come on, get it to the rim. Why aren't you for coach. playing through the bumps? We did a lot of that. Q. Johnny turned you over 18 times. But again, 18 turnovers, we have Were they doing anything specifically or just

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visit our archives at asapsports.com been averaging seven a game. We just over until they adjusted. What were you had 18. And they caused them. It wasn't thinking there? us, they just got up in us and made it COACH CALIPARI: That not any tough. of these other guys are ready for this, let's go at Michael. I looked and said, He's the Q. That stretch there where they go up only one competing, so throw it to him. five and then it seemed like Terrance just And then we did it later with decided it was going to be his game from then Terrance. Now he's going to just keep on. He goes on a one-man 9-0 run. How big was that? You said before, maybe we don't giving him the ball, make them make lose if he plays that way. plays. The only thing that I've got to do a COACH CALIPARI: I didn't say better job of with this team is we got to get 'maybe,' I said 'we don't.' But it's hard. better spacing. We're a good 3-point The kids aren't machines. Today Darius shooting team. just didn't play well. Well, we'll count on Again it's hard when Darius isn't in him next game. I told Marquis Teague that zone, so to speak, because it puts after the game, I said, It wasn't one of your pressure on the rest of us to make shots. better efforts, but we're fine. We just got But it was a physical, tough, hard game. to figure out how you'll play and we'll make And I was just doing whatever I could to it clear. keep us in the game. In most cases with these young When they went up five, the same kids, if they're not playing well, it will come thing. They got balls from us, they made back to me. There's something that we baskets, we missed lay-ups, we turned have to do to help them because they're lazy passes over. They're shooting confused. I grabbed Marquis Teague right breakout lay-ups. But it was -- I'm happy after the game, he and I by ourselves, and we won, now we got to go on and figure I said, Look, I got all the faith in you in the some of this stuff out. And again, I'll world. You keep them honest, shooting watch the tape when I get back to the jumpers. So if they're not playing you and room and have a better idea of what you want to let it go, go, you let it go. And happened. then if you don't want to play that way, Q. What's it say for the U.K. fan base, then you cut to the rim. that you guys really took over the arena today, But again, I think Terrance and playing in Louisiana against LSU and did it feel Anthony really played -- in the first half, it like a home game? was Michael by himself. It was Michael COACH CALIPARI: These fans, Gilchrist, or we would have been down 10 they saved money to come to this event, at half. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist kept us in and I'm going to guess 95 percent of the the game. And we don't say anything people in this arena cannot get in Rupp about him. He goes 5 for 8, he hits 19 Arena for a game. Can't get a ticket. So points, nine rebounds, and that's Michael. this is their event. You have Rupp, we What? Game is a war. It was a physical have the tournament. And they save their war. And he did his thing, too. money. Do whatever they can to scrape it together and let's go. Q. Talk more about Kidd-Gilchrist, he I'm not a big fan of tournaments at went right to him on the block I think it was also out of a timeout and repeatedly over and the end of the season because I think you

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visit our archives at asapsports.com played a whole season, and it should be And these guys, they sometimes right there. But you almost say, You got to think, well, eight months ago, I was compete for these fans. These fans are playing in Vegas, and if we lost, we had sacrificing to get here, they probably most another game at 6:00. Well, this isn't the of them have driven down here to be here, AAU, this is real. And so teaching these and now you want to win enough to say, guys that was a great lesson and that's hey -- and they're everywhere. They're in what I talked about after the game. the hotel, they're in the street, outside the And then the other thing is, bus. But we pulled up, there were, I don't everybody's going to come in and play know what was going on, but they were physical, you got to hold your ground, you everywhere. But it's neat to see. got to make them pay, you got to negate the physical play, so they can't play you Q. Do you think LSU should be in the that way. NIT? COACH CALIPARI: Yes. And you Q. You mentioned about spacing. Had know what is crazy is they were right on that been a problem lately or did that just jump the edge of a NCAA bid. They hit that skid up out of nowhere? of games that hurt them. But, yes, I do. I COACH CALIPARI: It just kind of do. Johnny O'Bryant yesterday, I watched jumped up because of how they played. that game tape of him yesterday, he was And one of the things that we really do a just an absolute beast. And again, what good job of is normally spacing. But we we do, because we're so long, most teams ran some different stuff and we did not get will not do to LSU. We're just long, and it to the spots on the floor that we needed to makes it hard for them. But Trent's done be on. I can't blame those kids for that. a nice job and, yes, I think they deserve They're looking like, What are you talking that. about? And they have a reason to understand -- I got aggressive with these Q. You said earlier that this was a good guys today and I got really aggressive with game for you guys from the standpoint of the a couple of these guys. To just let them way they played you. Can you just expound on that a little bit? know like, Hey, I said at halftime, Guys, COACH CALIPARI: Let me give just play. Just ball. Get out there and do you a couple things that happened. One, your thing. they were playing out of desperation, and And the aggressive play, a guy our players are so young, they didn't beating us to the ball, they out hustle us to understand. That's what's going to the 50/50 balls. That's the stuff that I can't happen from here on out. Every game we take. And even this late in the season, I play, someone's in desperation. can't take it. But again, good win. Now The second thing is as the game we'll figure out who we're playing, get a wound down, we got lackadaisical. We good night's rest and get up at 7 o'clock in had three turnovers that were just even the morning and start all over. unforced. And you can't make those in CLAUDE FELTON: Thank you this -- what if it was a two-bucket game, all very much. of a sudden, bang, they hit a three, you go FastScripts by ASAP Sports... home. Your season is over. It's done.

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