Video courtesy of kywildcatstvTAI WYNYARD
On what it’s like to be in Lexington …
“It’s been pretty good. When I got here, it was really good weather but then it turned around really quickly. It’s gotten a little bit colder, but it’s all good.”
On the whirlwind of his arrival …
“As soon as I got here, we got straight into Coach Cal. So that was real good for me trying to get into shape and into the mix of things and just learning a lot about everyone and stuff. So it was good not having to go to classes or anything because I just got the chance to just work out and stuff. It’s been a lot of fun.”
On the level of competition …
“Oh, it’s really high. Even being back home, I played a lot with men and stuff being in that competition back home. So that prepared me a lot, but this is another step up. Everyone’s a lot more athletics and a lot (more) physical. Yeah, it’s real good.”
On the challenge of getting in shape …
“Yeah, I guess I was (more out of shape that I thought). Not expecting all this. It’s a lot more running and stuff than back home. So yeah, I was a little bit out of shape, but I’m getting back in shape now. Coach Payne is working with me a lot and he’s got me in shape now so I’m feeling really good.”
On what he needs to do to help the team …
“I guess I just have to keep seeing where I am. Just keep working out, doing the best I can to help the team get better, get stronger, pushing everyone around and trying to assert my dominance, my physicality and stuff. I guess I’ll be ready whenever he calls upon me.”
On whether he’s been better than he expected at anything …
“Probably just my physicality, bringing that in. I guess that’s what everyone knows me by. So I guess probably that is what I was coming in being good at.”
On how he developed his physicality …
“I don’t know. I guess I’ve been really strong my whole life growing up around a strong family, genes. My dad was big sports person, being the lumberjack he is. I probably got a lot of that from him. Probably playing with a lot of men back home, because there’s not really many younger good players around. Probably that, yeah.”
On how much wood he has chopped …
“Oh, a lot. Dad’s probably cut down somewhat 1,000 trees or so. So it’s a lot.”
On if wood chopping has built up strength over the years outside of his weight training …
“Yeah, I guess it’s all in the mind, you know? That’s what my dad has taught me my whole life. It’s not really how you look. Someone can have all the muscles and everything, but if they’re not strong in the mind they’re not going to be really strong. You can be physically strong in the weight room and stuff, but you won’t always be strong on the court.”
On where he is in learning the offense sets …
“I guess I’m still kind of getting into it. It’s a lot of plays to learn really quickly so it’s been tough for me because it’s changing every time they play a different team. Not being here at the start has really left me kind of behind. I’m trying to catch up all the time. I’m kind of getting there still, I’m still learning and stuff. It’s really good.”
On if any of his teammates have been surprised by his strength …
“I don’t know, you’d have to ask them.”
On people saying Kentucky needs more of a physical presence and they’re saying he can provide it despite him never having played a game at UK yet …
“I guess I’m still just trying to develop my game. Still trying to get into the mix of things and learn as I go. I’m just trying to keep developing my skills with the coaches and stuff, so I’m still learning a lot every day.”
On how many trees he’s chopped down, personally …
“I’ve chopped down a lot, but I don’t know how many. It’s mostly my dad who chops a lot of wood, but I used to chop a little bit when I was back home. Not really that much, but I did a little bit.”
On what he expects the feeling will be like when he does get into his first game …
“I guess it’s going to be – it depends on where it is. If it’s at Rupp it’s going to be crazy because there’s what, 25,000 or something crazy fans? Back home I’m used to what, 4,000 at most? It’ll be a hope.”
On if the Nike Hoop Summit game was his first taste of American basketball …
“I guess my first one was the Jordan Brand Classic when I came over for the international game and we played against USA there. That was probably my first. The Nike Hoop Summit was a crazy good experience. Being able to play against and train against all that amazing talent. Being able to meet some of the players who are here now, like Skal (Labissiere), Isaiah (Briscoe) and Jamal (Murray) and all them. Yeah, it was really cool.”
On if the transition has been better with some of the international players on this team …
“Well there’s a lot of international players, like Canadian over here (as Mychal Mulder walks by). But there’s a lot of international players so it’s cool because you can relate with them, especially Isaac (Humphries), he’s from Australia, so we’re kind of neighbors, we’re not from the same country just so you all know. Australia is not New Zealand. But yeah, it’s really cool.”
On how him and Isaac have been able to bury the hatchet with conflicts between athletes for the two countries …
“Yeah, we’re always having little digs at each other. Kiwi, Aussie, but we’re just playing around with each other. It’s been good. It’s a lot of fun being able to relate with someone.”
On if he has adjusted his diet since he came to Kentucky …
“Well, since I’ve been here, I haven’t been eating very well overall, I’m going to be honest with you. (laughter) I let that American food kind of get to me. When I was home, I was eating well. But as soon as I get over here, I’m just eating fried chicken.”
On what he doesn’t like about it or if it’s just bad for him …
“Yeah I like it, but it’s bad for me. That’s why I’m in the gym working out so I can eat that stuff I guess.”
On what his favorite restaurant is …
“I don’t really have any favorites. Probably Buffalo Wild Wings. I’ve been there a lot.”
On why he chose Kentucky …
“I guess it’s just the best. I know just Coach Cal and all these crazy talented, crazy athletes. They’re just trying to get you the best opportunity to win a national championship and all. Develop your game. Being able to play against the best is what you need.”
On if he feels any pressure being here …
“Not really. I kind of feel like a guy that doesn’t really have much pressure on him. The roof is just up there, you can keep pushing yourself. I don’t know, I don’t feel pressured. I don’t know if that’s because I’m a New Zealander and we don’t feel pressure. But yeah, I’m not really feeling anything.”
On if there was anything he learned that made his head spin …
“I don’t know, not really. It’s all kind of the same kind of stuff, but it’s just a lot different. Kind of going through different stuff with different teams, it’s really mucking me up a little bit. But I’m sure I’ll get there real soon. I’m doing a lot better now, kind of getting in the mix of it.”
On if he has noticed if the water rotates the opposite way in the northern hemisphere as it’s going down the drain …
“I didn’t notice, but thanks for telling me. (laughter)”
On what it’s like to be in Lexington …
“It’s been pretty good. When I got here, it was really good weather but then it turned around really quickly. It’s gotten a little bit colder, but it’s all good.”
On the whirlwind of his arrival …
“As soon as I got here, we got straight into Coach Cal. So that was real good for me trying to get into shape and into the mix of things and just learning a lot about everyone and stuff. So it was good not having to go to classes or anything because I just got the chance to just work out and stuff. It’s been a lot of fun.”
On the level of competition …
“Oh, it’s really high. Even being back home, I played a lot with men and stuff being in that competition back home. So that prepared me a lot, but this is another step up. Everyone’s a lot more athletics and a lot (more) physical. Yeah, it’s real good.”
On the challenge of getting in shape …
“Yeah, I guess I was (more out of shape that I thought). Not expecting all this. It’s a lot more running and stuff than back home. So yeah, I was a little bit out of shape, but I’m getting back in shape now. Coach Payne is working with me a lot and he’s got me in shape now so I’m feeling really good.”
On what he needs to do to help the team …
“I guess I just have to keep seeing where I am. Just keep working out, doing the best I can to help the team get better, get stronger, pushing everyone around and trying to assert my dominance, my physicality and stuff. I guess I’ll be ready whenever he calls upon me.”
On whether he’s been better than he expected at anything …
“Probably just my physicality, bringing that in. I guess that’s what everyone knows me by. So I guess probably that is what I was coming in being good at.”
On how he developed his physicality …
“I don’t know. I guess I’ve been really strong my whole life growing up around a strong family, genes. My dad was big sports person, being the lumberjack he is. I probably got a lot of that from him. Probably playing with a lot of men back home, because there’s not really many younger good players around. Probably that, yeah.”
On how much wood he has chopped …
“Oh, a lot. Dad’s probably cut down somewhat 1,000 trees or so. So it’s a lot.”
On if wood chopping has built up strength over the years outside of his weight training …
“Yeah, I guess it’s all in the mind, you know? That’s what my dad has taught me my whole life. It’s not really how you look. Someone can have all the muscles and everything, but if they’re not strong in the mind they’re not going to be really strong. You can be physically strong in the weight room and stuff, but you won’t always be strong on the court.”
On where he is in learning the offense sets …
“I guess I’m still kind of getting into it. It’s a lot of plays to learn really quickly so it’s been tough for me because it’s changing every time they play a different team. Not being here at the start has really left me kind of behind. I’m trying to catch up all the time. I’m kind of getting there still, I’m still learning and stuff. It’s really good.”
On if any of his teammates have been surprised by his strength …
“I don’t know, you’d have to ask them.”
On people saying Kentucky needs more of a physical presence and they’re saying he can provide it despite him never having played a game at UK yet …
“I guess I’m still just trying to develop my game. Still trying to get into the mix of things and learn as I go. I’m just trying to keep developing my skills with the coaches and stuff, so I’m still learning a lot every day.”
On how many trees he’s chopped down, personally …
“I’ve chopped down a lot, but I don’t know how many. It’s mostly my dad who chops a lot of wood, but I used to chop a little bit when I was back home. Not really that much, but I did a little bit.”
On what he expects the feeling will be like when he does get into his first game …
“I guess it’s going to be – it depends on where it is. If it’s at Rupp it’s going to be crazy because there’s what, 25,000 or something crazy fans? Back home I’m used to what, 4,000 at most? It’ll be a hope.”
On if the Nike Hoop Summit game was his first taste of American basketball …
“I guess my first one was the Jordan Brand Classic when I came over for the international game and we played against USA there. That was probably my first. The Nike Hoop Summit was a crazy good experience. Being able to play against and train against all that amazing talent. Being able to meet some of the players who are here now, like Skal (Labissiere), Isaiah (Briscoe) and Jamal (Murray) and all them. Yeah, it was really cool.”
On if the transition has been better with some of the international players on this team …
“Well there’s a lot of international players, like Canadian over here (as Mychal Mulder walks by). But there’s a lot of international players so it’s cool because you can relate with them, especially Isaac (Humphries), he’s from Australia, so we’re kind of neighbors, we’re not from the same country just so you all know. Australia is not New Zealand. But yeah, it’s really cool.”
On how him and Isaac have been able to bury the hatchet with conflicts between athletes for the two countries …
“Yeah, we’re always having little digs at each other. Kiwi, Aussie, but we’re just playing around with each other. It’s been good. It’s a lot of fun being able to relate with someone.”
On if he has adjusted his diet since he came to Kentucky …
“Well, since I’ve been here, I haven’t been eating very well overall, I’m going to be honest with you. (laughter) I let that American food kind of get to me. When I was home, I was eating well. But as soon as I get over here, I’m just eating fried chicken.”
On what he doesn’t like about it or if it’s just bad for him …
“Yeah I like it, but it’s bad for me. That’s why I’m in the gym working out so I can eat that stuff I guess.”
On what his favorite restaurant is …
“I don’t really have any favorites. Probably Buffalo Wild Wings. I’ve been there a lot.”
On why he chose Kentucky …
“I guess it’s just the best. I know just Coach Cal and all these crazy talented, crazy athletes. They’re just trying to get you the best opportunity to win a national championship and all. Develop your game. Being able to play against the best is what you need.”
On if he feels any pressure being here …
“Not really. I kind of feel like a guy that doesn’t really have much pressure on him. The roof is just up there, you can keep pushing yourself. I don’t know, I don’t feel pressured. I don’t know if that’s because I’m a New Zealander and we don’t feel pressure. But yeah, I’m not really feeling anything.”
On if there was anything he learned that made his head spin …
“I don’t know, not really. It’s all kind of the same kind of stuff, but it’s just a lot different. Kind of going through different stuff with different teams, it’s really mucking me up a little bit. But I’m sure I’ll get there real soon. I’m doing a lot better now, kind of getting in the mix of it.”
On if he has noticed if the water rotates the opposite way in the northern hemisphere as it’s going down the drain …
“I didn’t notice, but thanks for telling me. (laughter)”
