Indiana head coach Tom Crean met with the media today. Here is the transcript of his comments regarding Kentucky (via Indiana University):
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
[QUOTE][B]On the possible advantage of having a week off to prepare while Kentucky played a game last night against Notre Dame:[/B]
“I don’t know if it’s an advantage or not. They are playing a lot of games. You try to make each situation you are in advantageous to your team. When we are playing several games in a row, we talk about being in a rhythm. In preparing, we are talking about not only getting ready for a game, but about getting better. I am sure John Calipari is doing the same thing. There is a good rhythm to their team right now. They are coming off a tough game against North Carolina and played really well last night. They held Notre Dame to eighteen points in the second half and I would say that is an advantage.
“I am trying to build an advantage just like they are trying to build an advantage. It is all how your players prepare and get ready. None of it really matters once you get into a game. For us, we have to go make shots on the road. There are certain things that have to happen statistically and the mindset must be great, but you can’t win on the road if you can’t make shots. You have to defend at a high level and build confidence on both ends of the court. I am more concerned about that aspect than anything else.”
[B]On the differences and similarities between this year’s Kentucky team versus last year’s Kentucky team:[/B]
“I think they still operate the same system with a few more set plays than what he has run in the past. You can see John (Calipari) is getting closer to the offense he wants. They have high-level players and that is what Kentucky is going to be about with John there. They are going to have great players from year-to-year whether the players are there one, two, three, or four years. It’s the same system and he’s not putting anyone out on the court that cannot play. There is nowhere to cheat off a guy. There is nowhere to hide anyone. They are a high-level team. I think the similarities are they really push the ball extremely well. They also reverse the ball extremely well. They attack you off the dribble maybe even more this year because he has more guys who can really put the ball on the ground. Last year, so much of their game was John Wall and Eric Bledsoe. They had Cousins in the post, but he wasn’t driving the ball like Terrance Jones. So, it’s a different team in the sense of the matchups problems they offer on the perimeter. We have to be smart with that.”
[B]On whether playing a Kentucky team that constantly changes year to year makes preparation more difficult than playing a more consistent Big Ten team:[/B]
“You don’t have that advantage when you are playing in a postseason tournament. It’s is the same thing whether you are playing a Thanksgiving tournament or a Christmas tournament like we are this year. You are not going to be as familiar with those teams. I think that is the beauty of the game and is why those tournaments are good. John’s system hasn’t changed. His players may have changed, but he is the same coach. He is one of the best coaches in the game. There is absolutely no doubt about that and his teams reflect that in the way they guard. He has always been a very underrated defensive coach. John really knows what he is doing with the guys who have such length. They create a lot of havoc. I do not know their deflection numbers, but I know they have to be high.”
[B]On what impresses him about the play of the Kentucky freshman:[/B]
“I think again they are fearless. I would characterize them. The freshmen are a huge part of the team. At Kentucky, the players don’t wait their turn, learn their roles, and worry about it later. They get put to the task right away and they are handling their tasks very well. I thought Terrance Jones was phenomenal last night. There are not very many players in the country, let alone freshman who are averaging a double-double like he is. Certainly Brandon Knight is making plays. Lamb gets talked about, but does not get the recognition of being one of the best shooters in the country. Kentucky is a different team this year. Deandre Liggins is out there this year. We did not face him last year. Darius Miller is that much more experienced. The scariest player is Josh Harrelson, who has thirty offensive rebounds this season. He is not getting a lot of shots, but anytime you have a player who rebounds like that at his size, you create problems for opponents. He is also a very capable shooter. Like I said earlier, they are not putting anybody on the floor that is not a high-level player. You have to match up with those players no matter who you have on the floor.”[/QUOTE]
[URL=”http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120910abb.html”][COLOR=#0d1db8]Complete Transcript of Crean’s Comments [/COLOR][/URL]
