Here are pregame comments from Kentucky’s Josh Harrellson and Terrence Jones (via UKAthletics.com):
[B]#3, Terrence Jones, F, Fr.[/B]
On what it feels like to be SEC Freshman of the week …
“It was good. We were moving the ball so well. Everything is just coming easier. We are getting open shots. Against LSU, I was just trying to be a post presence and just get fouled.”
On what he learned from the loss at Georgia …
“We just learn from losses like that, and I just feel like we have been playing really well together the last few games. We are having great starts, and we are just moving the ball well.”
On what bothered him most about the loss to Georgia on the road …
“Mainly, the way we started the game. We just let them be the aggressors, and we were trying to play catch-up. We really have been working on that and trying to have better starts to games.”
On being a bench presence …
“Well, I think Doron (Lamb) was doing the same thing. It’s just the way the first five minutes of the game goes. For us, it’s been going well the past two games.”
[B]#55, Josh Harrellson, F, Sr.[/B]
On playing against Alabama’s big men …
“I have played against them the previous three years and I know one of their best players is their four-man, so we have to play well and very physical this game.”
On how he performed in the last game (vs. LSU) …
“I thought that I could have finished a little better under the basket, but I think I went after rebounds with two hands and I just showed coach that I was not reverting, so overall I did alright.”
On what he and the team have learned about playing on the road …
“Just that we have to be prepared from the start of the game. We cannot let them take it to us; we have to initiate everything. We have to be the first ones to score, first ones to – I guess you could say – throw the first punch and from there keep taking it to them and not back off. It is a big step for us as a young team to get ahead of our opponents and not give that up.”
On if he got a chance to see the town hall meeting that Coach Calipari attended …
“I did not, but I heard he did a good job. He is courageous for doing it and I am proud of him as a coach.”
On if road conference games are any different that road non-conference games …
“Maybe a little bit, but not much. Every road game is the same. Alabama is already sold out and we are their biggest game of the season, so it is just like everywhere we go: the game is sold out and we have to come ready to play.”
On if his experience is any different now given his role on this year’s team …
“A little bit, actually I remember my first year here against Alabama, I played over twenty minutes so I have a little bit of experience against Alabama. It is a new year and I am a totally different player than I have ever been so hopefully I will be prepared to play hard.”
