Head Coach Dan Engelstad
Opening statement …
“We knew when we scheduled this game this had the opportunity to be a real special experience for our program to get a chance to play on this stage and to play in front of that many fans in a place of the history of Rupp Arena and what Kentucky’s done over the years. I’m really proud (I told the guys in the locker room) of our fight and our resilience. One of the things that we’ve really done early on with our schedule is challenge ourselves and we’ve played some of the nation’s elite. For a good period of that first half tonight I thought we were there toe for toe and there were some things we need to clean up and we knew their size and athleticism could present some big problems for us. I thought they came out the game and got a couple early dunks and a couple of lobs that’s something they do especially when they get into the paint which set a tone. For them they’re so good at transition and they’re so good in the paint I thought that was the story of the game as the game woredown, they hurt us inside. You know I told Coach Cal afterwards I have great respect for what they do and how they play, and I know that his team is only going to get better as the year goes on. I’m proud of our group and we had multiple efforts down the line. Brandon Leftwich who is a senior for us I thought he came off the bench and had some pretty significant minutes and I thought he was a great contributor for us and I thought that kind of the bodies on the team is guys that can step up on any night.”
On how UK’s three point shooting affected the second half …
“Yeah that hurt us because that was our plan. Our plan was to limit transition limit in the paint make them jump shooters, but we knew they were capable shooters. They’re very good basketball players obviously so I wasn’t really happy with our contest. We wanted to play to those drivers, but we wanted to make sure everything was contested, and I thought in the first half our contests were much better than they were in the second. But they made some big shots and I know that for them that thatwas an area of weakness and when that becomes a strength,they’re hard to guard.”
On how Kentucky looked in person compared to on film …
“I thought tonight they were able establish their transition quicker than they had in the previous games. I think that led to some early confidence for them. We knew that they were fast. You can’t really simulate that speed, and when they go on their runs, you know they had a couple of big runs, that hurt us tonight, but it kind of was as predicted. As I said, they opened up the second half and made the threes which kind of made us have to guard them closer on the perimeter which opened everything up. That was big for their unit tonight.”
#23 Brandon Leftwich, Guard
On making a big play at Rupp Arena …
“When I was on the bench coach Matt, one of our assistants, told me that I’m in there for spurts so to give it my all, go as fast as I can, push the ball- that’s what I do, I get to the rim. So, what I just saw was me and Tyrese (Maxey) going neck-for-neck, I knew I just had to get to the rim before he could. He’s more athletic than I am, so once I saw that there was an open lane I just went and jumped as high as I could, and I knew I had to go up strong, so I just threw it down in there. Being at Rupp is a great expeeri4encde for our team, for me, and I just started screaming because I was so happy. I knew I was bringing energy, I knew we were going to go on a run after that so that’s basically what I did.”