NOTRE DAME VS. UK PREGAME MEDIA
DEC. 11, 2020
JOE CRAFT CENTER – LEXINGTON, KY.
UK Players
#3 Brandon Boston Jr., G, Fr.
On his preparation for Notre Dame and if he feels responsible to step up …
“Most definitely after those three straight losses. It just kind of brought me back to myself, getting up early at 6 a.m. to go shoot in the mornings on the gun this whole week. It’s just making me lock in even more, changed my mindset on how I approach the game.”
On the advice Coach Calipari has given him for the remainder of the season …
“Continuing the season, it’s a long process. We’ve just got to stay the course, learn how to jell together and just play basketball the right way.”
On if he’s been surprised at the difficulty this has been …
“Definitely a surprise. It’s another level. It’s a different level than high school. But just staying the course, taking it day by day and get better every day.”
On if his confidence has been shaken and how he’s responding to the struggles …
“We’re responding to it well. Like I said, get in the gym, all day every day and just working on our game.”
On if there is a group working out early …
“I send an invite to all of my teammates. I call it the Breakfast Club. I get up like around 5:45, get in the gym by 6. I try to finish by 7:30 and meditate after I eat breakfast. So far it’s only been me and Cam Fletcher getting up that early right now.”
On the importance of reducing turnovers …
“Very important. I feel like that’s part of the reason why we’relosing so many games because we have so many turnovers. Coach has preached to us that you’ve got to make the easy plays and not try to be the guy that makes the neat play. Just slow down when you get the ball.”
On Calipari preaching making the right play from the start and why it hasn’t translated for guys yet …
“Because right now we still have 10 new guys. We’ve never played basketball with each other, so we’re still trying to jell. But I feel like it’s going to come. It’s going to come one day sooner than later.”
On how he would evaluate his game and what it is that he’d like to provide for the team going forward …
“Right now I would say I’m not really playing my best basketball. I’m just taking it day by day, staying in the gym with my confidence high. What I want people to see is that I have a high motor, I’mwilling to play winning basketball, and that I go out there and compete and fight every game.”
On the advantage of other teams having more experience than Kentucky …
“Yeah, experience plays a big role. But I feel like if we just play our game, play the right way, just go out there and fight and compete then we will be good.”
#30 Olivier Sarr, F, Sr.
On the atmosphere in the locker room and the pressure the team feels to bounce back …
“The locker room these last few days at practice, great energy from everybody. We’re ready to learn from our mistakes from the last game, which I think was disappointing for all of us, and we’re ready to bounce back. We’ve got a lot of energy. We’re ready to go. We’re ready for our next game.”
On how he is handling the situation of playing basketball during the pandemic …
“Thank you for asking. I’m doing great. You know, it’s basketball. We’re here to get better each and every day. Sometimes things don’tgo your way, but you still have to fight every time that you play. I think that’s something that we’ve got to take care of. Thanks for asking but we’re doing good. Thank you.”
On the turnovers …
“I think it’s something that we talk about at practice all of the time is making the easy play. Not trying to make the best play or the hero play, just taking care of the ball and making sure that we get through our offense.”
On how the team responds to Calipari saying Kansas “punked”them and Georgia Tech “manhandled them” …
“I mean, it’s something that Coach (Cal) talked about. It’s true. I just got to get better at it, just fighting on the court, you know. Just competing out there. It’s something that you can’t allow it to.”
On how he would assess his performance thus far into the season and what areas does he need to improve upon …
“Everything, you know. I’ve got to get better at everything, obviously. The last game is not representative of who I am as a player. It’s just something that I know that I’m aware of and I’m trying every day at practice to really play on my level, you know, play out the best version of myself. And the coaches are helping me do that and my teammates. And I’m trying to be the best teammate I can be for my team.”
On if he feels pressure to perform in order for this young team to have success …
“Yeah, I mean obviously, you know. I can’t have a game like I had last game. I need to bring a certain level of my game. It is something that I didn’t do last game.”
On his confidence level entering the Notre Dame game and his familiarity with the team …
“It’s another game. It’s a different team since last year, but I know the players and I kind of know their schemes and all that. So, it’sjust being mindful to how we are playing the scouting report. This is going to be a personal game, not knowing your personnel it just gives an advantage (to the other team). I can have some advice for the guys.”
On what the biggest lesson the team has learned after the three losses and if Notre Dame presents a fresh start …
“The biggest lesson is just that we’re in this together and we have to compete and we have to fight each and every game and the rest will take care of itself. Obviously, it’s a new game, new opportunity. So,it’s definitely a good start for us to get started.”
On who the junkyard guys are on the team …
“We have a whole lot. I mean, whether it’s BJ (Boston), Terrence (Clarke), Cam (Fletcher), Lance (Ware), I mean, Isaiah (Jackson).Everybody. All of these guys. Everybody has the potential to do it we’ve just got to show it.”