Video courtesy of kywildcatstv
DEREK WILLIS
On compensating for his defensive with offense …
Yeah, I was just trying to do something because there was times out there that I was killing the team. I was miscommunicating, I went one way and left that Trousa kid get under and get a dunk. There’s a lot of things I’m really upset with myself about. But I’m happy for the team, happy for the coaches. All the effort they put into it, they don’t get a lot of credit either I don’t think, and that’s with Coach Cal and all the assistants. Kenny Payne, (Tony) Barbee, Robes (John Robic), Joel Justus and all those guys. They worked hard and it paid off.”
On how redemption is there with him when he hit the crucial 3-pointer …“I have confidence in myself offensively right now. It’s a thing of getting back to the defensive mindset. There was earlier in the season, I think we played Vandy — there was teams where I was really getting after it. I was playing intense, and I just have to get back to it again.”
On if the 3-pointer salvaged the day for him …
“Oh yeah. I’m happy for everyone in the room right now. I’m just looking at personally what I need to do because I’m trying not to be complacent with how I played today and just go from there and always learn.”
On how much momentum the team takes into the Ncaa Tournament …
On what he saw from Tyler Ulis today …
“Like I said earlier in the year, without Tyler, I think our team is barely a .500 team, if that. That’s just what I think personally, but he doesn’t get enough credit still. I mean, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year. A lot of the intangibles he brings to the team just doesn’t even really get recognized. Just a great kid all around.”
MARCUS LEE
On if a game like this and Danuel House’ performance gives a sense of what to expect for the NCAA Tournament …
“I mean, I think all of our games gives us that feel. We’ve been battle-tested so much this year and this was another game where we were tested to our best of ability. Especially for our bigs, because he was a really great player, kept battling. And he was big and huge, so it was definitely something we had to figure out and adjust.”
On if the game and Danuel House was unusually physical today …
“I wouldn’t say unusually physical. We’ve seen a lot of players bigger than – he was just tremendous today.”
On what the outlook is on the tournament compared to the last two years …
“I mean, it always looks bright. I’ve been here for three years and we’ve always done great. We’re Kentucky, we have huge expectations and we’ll never let up for anything less.”
On any comparisons to winning the SEC Tournament last year to this year …
“Different people, different team. That’s something you have to get used to at Kentucky. You have a totally different team each year. But it’s still the same goals and the same aspirations.”
On if it’s as sweet as ever …
“Oh, amazing.”
On how much attention he’s payed to bracket projections …
“I mean, when we get bored, we try to look stuff up and try to figure it out, but they’re complicated. We don’t really try to deal with them. But we’re just excited to see what happens next and go on to the next level.”
On how high of a seed can they be …
“I honestly have no idea. I think we were told maybe a four or five, but not really sure yet. We’ll know in a couple hours.”
On if they’re playing like a one-seed …
“Oh, of course. We’re playing amazing right now. We’re gelling perfectly right now, we’re getting things done. Now we’re going to go back and make some tweaks and make sure we’re perfect for the tournament.”
On getting games like this as a test for the NCAA Tournament …
“Yeah, it’s great having tests. I mean, it’s fun blowing people out, but you never really understand what’s coming up next, you’re never really ready. Being battle-tested makes you always ready all at one time.”
ISAIAH BRISCOE
On going into overtime with Texas A&M …
“That shot Tyler took, I thought it was going in. We went to overtime and I’m just like, ‘OK, we’ve been through this before.’ I think we were more experienced than we were last time, and we came out with the win.”
On having close losses before but not letting this one get away …
“I mean, I’m glad it didn’t get away from us. Texas A&M is a great team, they played great. They always play us tough, but we fought down at the end, got stops, made key baskets and came out with the win.”
On Ulis …
“He’s big time. He’s a big-time point guard. Everybody always talks about, ‘He’s not big enough, he’s not tall enough.’ But he has the heart of a lion and he showed it today.”
On the momentum going into the NCAA Tournament …
“We’re just going to keep this momentum going. Everybody’s clicking. Everybody knows their role. We’re at our best right now.”
On how much he’s looking forward to the NCAA Tournament …
“I’m excited. I was excited to be playing in the conference tournament, and now that this is over, I’m glad we won and now it’s time for the NCAA Tournament.”
On the keys to defeating Texas A&M …
“Getting stops at the end and rebounding was key. Texas A&M’s big guys rebound the ball well, but toward the end of the game we had to come down with key stops and key rebounds. Derek came up with a big shot, Jamal (Murray) and Tyler. The rest is written.”
On having success driving and finishing at the rim …
“Yeah, and Coach kept telling me they can’t stop me going to the basket so just keep on doing what you’re doing, and I did just that.”
On always having close games with Texas A&M …
“They’re a good team. You gotta give credit when it’s due. (Danuel) House is a great player. I was guarding him the whole game. He’s a great player. They got a good coach. But toward the end of the game we had to buckle down and get stops and that’s what we did.”
On entering the NCAA Tournament coming off back-to-back hard-fought, close games …
“This is just getting us ready for the tournament. Everybody is more confident now, and we’re just going to take this momentum and keep on rolling with it.”
DEREK WILLIS
On compensating for his defensive with offense …
Yeah, I was just trying to do something because there was times out there that I was killing the team. I was miscommunicating, I went one way and left that Trousa kid get under and get a dunk. There’s a lot of things I’m really upset with myself about. But I’m happy for the team, happy for the coaches. All the effort they put into it, they don’t get a lot of credit either I don’t think, and that’s with Coach Cal and all the assistants. Kenny Payne, (Tony) Barbee, Robes (John Robic), Joel Justus and all those guys. They worked hard and it paid off.”
On how redemption is there with him when he hit the crucial 3-pointer …“I have confidence in myself offensively right now. It’s a thing of getting back to the defensive mindset. There was earlier in the season, I think we played Vandy — there was teams where I was really getting after it. I was playing intense, and I just have to get back to it again.”
On if the 3-pointer salvaged the day for him …
“Oh yeah. I’m happy for everyone in the room right now. I’m just looking at personally what I need to do because I’m trying not to be complacent with how I played today and just go from there and always learn.”
On how much momentum the team takes into the Ncaa Tournament …
On what he saw from Tyler Ulis today …
“Like I said earlier in the year, without Tyler, I think our team is barely a .500 team, if that. That’s just what I think personally, but he doesn’t get enough credit still. I mean, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year. A lot of the intangibles he brings to the team just doesn’t even really get recognized. Just a great kid all around.”
MARCUS LEE
On if a game like this and Danuel House’ performance gives a sense of what to expect for the NCAA Tournament …
“I mean, I think all of our games gives us that feel. We’ve been battle-tested so much this year and this was another game where we were tested to our best of ability. Especially for our bigs, because he was a really great player, kept battling. And he was big and huge, so it was definitely something we had to figure out and adjust.”
On if the game and Danuel House was unusually physical today …
“I wouldn’t say unusually physical. We’ve seen a lot of players bigger than – he was just tremendous today.”
On what the outlook is on the tournament compared to the last two years …
“I mean, it always looks bright. I’ve been here for three years and we’ve always done great. We’re Kentucky, we have huge expectations and we’ll never let up for anything less.”
On any comparisons to winning the SEC Tournament last year to this year …
“Different people, different team. That’s something you have to get used to at Kentucky. You have a totally different team each year. But it’s still the same goals and the same aspirations.”
On if it’s as sweet as ever …
“Oh, amazing.”
On how much attention he’s payed to bracket projections …
“I mean, when we get bored, we try to look stuff up and try to figure it out, but they’re complicated. We don’t really try to deal with them. But we’re just excited to see what happens next and go on to the next level.”
On how high of a seed can they be …
“I honestly have no idea. I think we were told maybe a four or five, but not really sure yet. We’ll know in a couple hours.”
On if they’re playing like a one-seed …
“Oh, of course. We’re playing amazing right now. We’re gelling perfectly right now, we’re getting things done. Now we’re going to go back and make some tweaks and make sure we’re perfect for the tournament.”
On getting games like this as a test for the NCAA Tournament …
“Yeah, it’s great having tests. I mean, it’s fun blowing people out, but you never really understand what’s coming up next, you’re never really ready. Being battle-tested makes you always ready all at one time.”
ISAIAH BRISCOE
On going into overtime with Texas A&M …
“That shot Tyler took, I thought it was going in. We went to overtime and I’m just like, ‘OK, we’ve been through this before.’ I think we were more experienced than we were last time, and we came out with the win.”
On having close losses before but not letting this one get away …
“I mean, I’m glad it didn’t get away from us. Texas A&M is a great team, they played great. They always play us tough, but we fought down at the end, got stops, made key baskets and came out with the win.”
On Ulis …
“He’s big time. He’s a big-time point guard. Everybody always talks about, ‘He’s not big enough, he’s not tall enough.’ But he has the heart of a lion and he showed it today.”
On the momentum going into the NCAA Tournament …
“We’re just going to keep this momentum going. Everybody’s clicking. Everybody knows their role. We’re at our best right now.”
On how much he’s looking forward to the NCAA Tournament …
“I’m excited. I was excited to be playing in the conference tournament, and now that this is over, I’m glad we won and now it’s time for the NCAA Tournament.”
On the keys to defeating Texas A&M …
“Getting stops at the end and rebounding was key. Texas A&M’s big guys rebound the ball well, but toward the end of the game we had to come down with key stops and key rebounds. Derek came up with a big shot, Jamal (Murray) and Tyler. The rest is written.”
On having success driving and finishing at the rim …
“Yeah, and Coach kept telling me they can’t stop me going to the basket so just keep on doing what you’re doing, and I did just that.”
On always having close games with Texas A&M …
“They’re a good team. You gotta give credit when it’s due. (Danuel) House is a great player. I was guarding him the whole game. He’s a great player. They got a good coach. But toward the end of the game we had to buckle down and get stops and that’s what we did.”
On entering the NCAA Tournament coming off back-to-back hard-fought, close games …
“This is just getting us ready for the tournament. Everybody is more confident now, and we’re just going to take this momentum and keep on rolling with it.”
