Ales Poythress and Dakari Johnson give their thoughts on the upcoming game with Providence:
Kentucky Players
#22, Alex Poythress, F, So.
On what the team did for Thanksgiving …
“We got to go to (Coach) Cal’s (house) and then went to the Salvation Army to help some of the homeless people, so that was a pretty good experience.”
On the reaction they got from the people at the Salvation Army …
“They were just so happy, a bunch of smiles. You’re just so happy to put a smile on their face really.”
On what he knows about Providence …
“I just know that they’re a great team. I think they’ve got a couple good guards, so it should be a good test for us.”
On how he’s playing right now …
“I like what I’m doing. I think I’m playing good defense out there. I think I’m rebounding good. I could probably make some more jumpers, but it just comes with me getting in the gym, just keep on shooting.”
On letting an air ball in a previous game affect the rest of his game …
“I was kind of out of it, but you’ve just got to learn to keep on playing so I’ve just got to put that behind me.”
On the adjustment of coming off the bench …
“I think it’s just something you’ve got to adjust to. It really doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t matter. You still get your minutes. Just coming off the bench you can analyze stuff better. It doesn’t really matter.”
On seeing stuff from the bench …
“You see that. It just gives you a different outlook.”
On going on the road …
“We feel pretty good. Ready to travel. Ready to see some different cities and stuff. We’re happy about that.”
On what he remembers about Brooklyn last year …
“Not much. I remember that it was cold, but other than that I really haven’t been to New York. That was my first time going to New York. It should be a pretty fun experience with going a couple days early this year. We might get to see a few things.”
On what they might see while they’re up there …
“I have no idea. I don’t know the schedule. I just know we’re leaving today after the practice.”
On this game being a test of how much they’ve grown since Michigan State …
“We just want to show how much we’ve gotten better, how we’ve made strides so far. We want to come out and play a great game, have each other start from jump. We’ve got to pick up the energy early and keep on fighting for 40 minutes.”
On how he’s playing this year compared to last year …
“I think I’m playing good. I think my energy is better this year. I think I’m hustling, rebounding and playing better defense this year, so I think I’m playing really good this year.”
On what he attributes the better energy to …
“I’m not sure. I guess just going out there and playing harder.”
On the wall sits Coach Cal has them doing in practice …
“It’s been crazy. The wall sits, the bean bags, all that stuff is crazy. It kind of takes a toll on your legs, but it shows you the importance of getting down, playing defense, moving your feet so it’s teaching us something. It’s teaching us to stay disciplined, so it’s a good thing so far.”
On Cal making them guard with their hands behind their back …
“I think we’re doing that today, so we’ll see once we start doing that.”
On the new rules and how they have affected the game …
“It does seem different because the game can’t be as physical as it has been the past couple of years. I guess they just want you to move your feet more and play better defense and quit hand checking really.”
On driving more so than last year because of the new rules …
“Yeah, because if they’re going to call it, might as well put them in a position to make a call.”
#44, Dakari Johnson, C, Fr.
On whether he had a good Thanksgiving …
“Yeah, I had a real good Thanksgiving.”
On what he ate …
“Mac and cheese, stuffing, cranberry sauce. All the good stuff.”
On going back to New York …
“Yeah, I’m ready for it. My whole family’s up there. They’re real excited to come watch me play because they haven’t really had a chance to see me play, so just happy to get to play in front of them.”
On what he knows about the team they’ll play Sunday …
“Providence? We don’t know much about them. We’re just now watching film on them, but we know they’re a good team. Coach Cal told us they’re going to be one of the better teams we’ve played thus far, so I’m just real excited to go back home and get to play a good team.”
On the way Calipari prepares his teams for opponents …
“You know, I think he prepares us well for the games. We watch a couple clips of their players, we go through walkthroughs pretty often of their plays and stuff, so we’re real well-prepared for the games.”
On Cal’s message after the game on Wednesday …
“We played well. We still stopped on defense a couple times. We’re still learning that aspect of it, but just to keep on playing hard. We’re progressing each and every day.”
On the wall-sit routine before practice …
“Oh, I don’t like it at all, but it helps us stay down and that’s how low we have to stay throughout the whole game.”
On how long it will last …
“Probably forever, actually.”
On what the team will do in New York …
“I’m not sure what we’re allowed to do in New York. I think we’re going to go sight-seeing in the city, so I’ll probably show them around a little bit.”
On how he feels about his game …
“I think it’s progressing each and every day. I think I’m getting at the things Coach Cal wants me to do. That’s the main thing I’m focused on right now.”
On Julius Randle saying the light bulb hasn’t gone on for him yet …
“Yeah, it hasn’t gone on. We still have a long way to go, but it’s a learning process.”
On whether he’s looking forward to going to New York …
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it a lot. My whole family’s coming, so it’s very rare for them to come see me play. They don’t come to see me play a lot, so I’m real excited just to go up there and play in front of them.”
On whether his adrenaline will be pumping …
“Yeah, of course. I just want to play good in front of my family. They’re really excited and I’m excited too. I’m going to be ready.”
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