UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS & PR MEN’S BASKETBALL UK AT AUBURN PREGAME MEDIA JAN. 31, 2020 JOE CRAFT CENTER – LEXINGTON, KY. Kentucky Players

Kentucky Players

#23, EJ Montgomery, So., F

On if there is any thought of payback after Auburn knocked UK out of the NCAA Tournament last season …
“I don’t think it’s payback. I think it’s just another game. We’re just trying to go out there, compete and win.”

On if he looks forward to playing in front of an excited crowd on Saturday …
“Yes, definitely. It’s a great atmosphere there at Auburn. It’s just going to be a very fun game.”

On if opposing crowds pick on a particular Wildcat this season …
“It’s everybody, everybody this year. Great fans and great competition.”

On how he feels about his game at this point in the season …
“I’m just trying to get better every day, trying to get in better condition and just trying to go out there, have fun and help my team win.”

On how much of an impact conditioning is at this point …
“It’s a big impact. Just trying to go out there and play my hardest every time I step on the floor. When you’re not in very much condition, you can’t do that.”

On UK facing a third straight big game on the road for the opposition …
“No, I just think it’s fun being in that environment. Just great atmosphere and just great competition. Just trying to go out there and just compete.”

On if his experience can help him handle road crowds more effectively …
“Last year, I didn’t really know what I was getting into. Just going out there, just shocked that all of the fans were like that. But this year, I’m going out there and knowing what I’m getting into, just going out there and trying to have fun.”

On if practices have changed since Kahlil Whitney left …
“Not really changed, just still everybody trying to compete. Trying to get after each other and make each other better.”

#5, Immanuel Quickley, So., G

On whether there is a sense of payback entering this game …

“I wouldn’t say payback. Just more looking forward to a really good game. Auburn’s a really good team. I think they’re like 18-2 or something like that, so they’ve won a lot of games this year so far. So, we’re just going to have to be really locked in and hopefully get a win.”

On how the returners have improved since the game vs. Auburn in the Elite Eight …

“I think you can see it, honestly. Ashton’s (Hagans) gotten a lot better. He’s improved his offense. Everybody knows about his defense. Individually for myself, I feel like I’ve grown in a lot of areas: as a leader, helping this team trying to get wins. EJ’s (Montgomery) gotten better. Nick’s (Richards) gotten better. He’s blocking shots. EJ’s playing with a lot of confidence now. So individually I think we’ve gotten a lot better.”

On looking forward to playing at Auburn …

“I think all our away games have been really good this year. Coach Cal’s always taking to us before the game to go see the tents and stuff, people camping outside trying to see us play and things like that. Every environment so far has been really good and I don’t think Auburn will disappoint either.”

On what he thinks when he sees opposing fans eager to host UK …

“It really just shows how prestigious this program is. Everybody wants to beat Kentucky. It shows how dedicated their fans are. It’s really cold outside and they’re out there waiting for a game six, seven hours before a game. It really just shows their dedication.”

On whether past road games will help them Saturday …

“Arkansas was really good. The floor was actually shaking in warmups when the music was playing. When Coach Cal got tossed, I had to put hands in my ears because it was so loud. I think it’s really prepared us for Auburn. Auburn will be another great environment to play in. The student section is right behind the court, so it’ll be really good to play in that type of environment.”

On getting motivated to play a game like this …

“I think it’s easier to get pepped up for that type of game. I think that’s the next step for our team, is after playing a really big game, we gotta come back and have the same type energy vs. a team like Vandy or something like that, which is really capable of beating you. Coming back from games like that, we gotta be really locked in.”

On some of the things opposing fans have said to him …

“Nobody’s said anything too crazy, at least individually to myself. And I really don’t hear a lot of the stuff the fans say anyway. If they did say anything, God’s with me. So, I would hope I would just try to handle myself in a way that I’m supposed to handle myself.”

On Auburn’s team this year …

“They really play tough. They play physical. They play fast, as usual. Shoot a lot of 3s, as usual. And like you guys said, it’s a really tough place to play. Everybody’s better at home, so they’ll be really fired up to play.”