Kentucky Men’s Basketball Postgame Quotes Kentucky vs. Louisville Rupp Arena – Lexington, Ky. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 UK Student-Athletes


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3Tyrese Maxey, Fr., G

On this win being considered a Christmas gift”

“Great Christmas gift. Proud of my guys. We came back on Christmas morning. By Christmas night, we were practicing. It was worth it though, we got the W. Everyone played well. Now I’m ready to get in the lab for Mizzou.”

On being hot from the floor after struggling with his shot 

“Last time I talked to the media, I told you I was not going to stop shooting. I believe in myself. I put the work and time in. If I keep doing that, the shot is going to fall. It fell tonight.”

On Nick Richards playing well … 

“He hooped tonight. From blocked shots, made big free throws, big layups, I’m proud of him.”

On winning in front of his family … 

“I am very excited. It was my dad’s first game (this season) and it was an amazing feeling to see them over there (in the stands). My mom, sisters and uncle are here also. It felt amazing, I can’t wait to spend time with them.”

#4, Nick Richards, Jr., F

On what got his emotions fired up during the game 

“It’s a rivalry game. We were emotional from warm-ups and we felt the energy from the crowd. You can just tell we were ready for this game.”

On his recuperation during his break from Las Vegas and how it translated into his performance tonight 

“I really just needed that break Three days break that I just recharged. I was definitely more focused when we got back. I had a lot more attention to detail at practice. Tried to be a good leader to my teammates and to the freshman, just trying to be a better overall player.”

On his performance with four fouls and being in foutrouble 

“We were just playing smarter. I was really just trying my best to just play smarter. I noticed a lot when they were driving they were lowering their shoulders on me, but I just tried to take charges on those and hoped they weren’t called blocks. It was a 50-50 chance. I wouldn’t say I was as aggressive with four fouls, but I was going for as many blocks as possible.It was my fault and I shouldn’t have let that happen but were just happy we got this win and we just want to celebrate.”

On was he nervous when he had four fouls and the whistle was called during the game 

“Oh, I was really nervous. I was hoping it was going to be called a charge but if he called a block, I don’t know what would have happened.”

On does this feel like his best game in a Kentucky uniform…

“I wouldn’t say it was my best game. You know, I would probably say that this is the most we have ever fought as a team. There is a lot more games we are going to play when SEC starts. This Saturday for us, we play a really good team in Mizzou. They have a really good big man and a really good point guard and we are just going to prepare for those guys this week.”

#5Immanuel QuickleySo., G

On how badly the team needed this win 

“I think we really needed it. It feels good to get a good win like this, for sure. Everybody, I think, played their hearts out. Everybody that got on the court played as hard as they could. Coach had a great game plan for us and we just wanted to come out, fight and try to get a win.”

On the game plan 

“Really, the game plan was really just to not let (Jordan) Nwora beat us, try to make everybody else beat us. Really just to fight. You can talk all the Xs and Os you want, but, Kentucky-Louisville, it comes down to who’s going to fight more, who’s going to get those tough rebounds, those tough plays down the stretch.”

On whether he is the “defensive stopper” now

“I mean Ashton (Hagans) is really that guy. But I’ll be more than happy to try to get a Defensive Player of the Year (award) myself. But nah, Ashton’s that guy for us, what he does. And he’s really bleeding into everybody else. When he’s defending, I’m just trying to defend. So you know, he’s really rubbing off on everybody else.”

On his success guarding Jordan Nwora 

“Coach said whoever is guards Nwora the best is playing the whole game. I just wanted to play in the game, so I said, ‘If I get on Nwora, I just want to really make it hard.’ He’s a really good player, but he just had a tough night.”