KENTUCKY COACH JOHN CALIPARI Q&A:
* Asked about the tweak, Calipari talks about the injury to the two guards and where they are now, trying to get back to where they were before that. In an effort to do that, they've had two long, hard scrimmages. "We needed to get back to playing free and loose and off of each other... The only way to do that is scrimmage." It was competitive. They went at each other, Cal added.
* On Kenny Payne potentially taking the job with Louisville... Couldn't make a better hire, Cal says. "They'd be getting the best of the best." It could potentially lighten up both sides, he says. "They should have made that choice four years ago."
* I don't know when this will end, Calipari says of this team's run, but whenever it does, it will be sad. No babies. Come to work every day. Great teammates.
* On the job Shaheen Holloway has done with Saint Peter's... Will play for 40 minutes. Will not let go of the rope. And they run really good stuff.
* On the SEC being motivated to show the committee the league deserved more respect... Can't be motivated by anger and revenge and that kind of thing, Cal says. At the end of the day, what happens will speak for itself. Still disappointed for Texas A&M. Really feels like Aggies should have got in.
* When Cal had his individual meeting with Dontaie Allen, Allen told him how much he loved him and appreciated his coaching. Cal said he really hopes there is an opportunity for that kid to do something in this tournament.
* Bryce Hopkins had an unbelievable practice, Cal says. Hoping he's ready to have another big moment.
* Anybody can beat anybody in this tournament, Cal says. We've seen it recently. There should be no more of the 15/16 seed overlook.
* Saint Peter's is physical and long, Cal says. Take pride in their physical play. Cats are prepared for it from playing in the SEC, he adds.
* On his memories of the tournament going into a new one... A lot of different thoughts. The championship, losing the championship a couple of times, "and the shot-clock violation that changed the rules (against Wisconsin)."
* Cal recruited one of Holloway's teammates when he was at UMass. The Big East was huge back then and Cal didn't waste much time trying to recruit against its members. Moved on and looked for someone else.
*****
UK PLAYERS OSCAR THSIEBWE, SAHVIR WHEELER, KELLEN GRADY Q&A:
* On being prepared for the challenge, Oscar says Saint Peter's will come out ready to go, so they have to match that. Knows the Peacocks' defense is pretty good. Sahvir says Cal is always talking about how the first game can always be the most challenging.
* Asked about having played in an NCAA Tournament but it being a long time ago, Kellen says it's a new level of excitement with this particular team. They've overcome a lot of adversity this year and have their full team ready to go and embrace the challenge. Sahvir adds that he's super-grateful for the opportunity to experience this for the first time. This is why he came to UK, he says.
* On Coach Cal having meetings with them before the tourney to define their roles... Kellen says the meetings were very productive. He knows his role is to make shots and be reliable on defense. Sahvir says his is to play with ultimate place, be disruptive on both ends of the floor, distribute the ball to guys where they can score, and play with a big smile on his face. Oscar says his is always the same: play with high energy, grab rebounds, defend AND (something he's worked on) communicate.
* Grady asked what it's like to be on the opposite side as a low seed playing a high seed in this tournament... Said his Davidson team was really confident and thought they would beat Kentucky. But "it's different here." You have to respect everyone, can't take seed numbers for granted.
* I had a legit question to ask about the tweak Calipari brought up, but they let these guys talk a loooooooong time on some other subjects and I got bumped. Oh well...
*****
SAINT PETER'S COACH SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY Q&A:
* Being confident and playing with a chip on their shoulder is how they play, Holloway says. A lot of his guys were never recruited by the likes of Kentucky, but they feel like they should have been in their minds.
* Team came into the season more skilled offensively, and they focused on that initially, but when they got back to being really good defensively, their season took off.
* Holloway asked about being one of the first schools to offer Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee... "You really gonna throw that in my face right now?" he jokes. Thought he had a great shot to land him. Proud of what he's doing with Vols.
* Holloway on UK's Oscar Tshiebwe: "The truth? He's a grown man playing with a bunch of kids." Gets after it on both ends.
*****
SAINT PETER'S PLAYERS Q&A:
* SP players (there are 6 on the podium, so somewhat hard for me to ID them) say their coach, Shaheen Holloway, is all about toughness and passion. He's a winner. That's what he instills in them.
* On what they've seen of Kentucky this season... Just some film since they saw the tournament draw. They're just like SP, trying to compete and win.
* On playing with a chip on their shoulder... A lot of that comes from their coach's lead. They feel like they have something to prove, both individually and as a team.
* Asked about the tweak, Calipari talks about the injury to the two guards and where they are now, trying to get back to where they were before that. In an effort to do that, they've had two long, hard scrimmages. "We needed to get back to playing free and loose and off of each other... The only way to do that is scrimmage." It was competitive. They went at each other, Cal added.
* On Kenny Payne potentially taking the job with Louisville... Couldn't make a better hire, Cal says. "They'd be getting the best of the best." It could potentially lighten up both sides, he says. "They should have made that choice four years ago."
* I don't know when this will end, Calipari says of this team's run, but whenever it does, it will be sad. No babies. Come to work every day. Great teammates.
* On the job Shaheen Holloway has done with Saint Peter's... Will play for 40 minutes. Will not let go of the rope. And they run really good stuff.
* On the SEC being motivated to show the committee the league deserved more respect... Can't be motivated by anger and revenge and that kind of thing, Cal says. At the end of the day, what happens will speak for itself. Still disappointed for Texas A&M. Really feels like Aggies should have got in.
* When Cal had his individual meeting with Dontaie Allen, Allen told him how much he loved him and appreciated his coaching. Cal said he really hopes there is an opportunity for that kid to do something in this tournament.
* Bryce Hopkins had an unbelievable practice, Cal says. Hoping he's ready to have another big moment.
* Anybody can beat anybody in this tournament, Cal says. We've seen it recently. There should be no more of the 15/16 seed overlook.
* Saint Peter's is physical and long, Cal says. Take pride in their physical play. Cats are prepared for it from playing in the SEC, he adds.
* On his memories of the tournament going into a new one... A lot of different thoughts. The championship, losing the championship a couple of times, "and the shot-clock violation that changed the rules (against Wisconsin)."
* Cal recruited one of Holloway's teammates when he was at UMass. The Big East was huge back then and Cal didn't waste much time trying to recruit against its members. Moved on and looked for someone else.
*****
UK PLAYERS OSCAR THSIEBWE, SAHVIR WHEELER, KELLEN GRADY Q&A:
* On being prepared for the challenge, Oscar says Saint Peter's will come out ready to go, so they have to match that. Knows the Peacocks' defense is pretty good. Sahvir says Cal is always talking about how the first game can always be the most challenging.
* Asked about having played in an NCAA Tournament but it being a long time ago, Kellen says it's a new level of excitement with this particular team. They've overcome a lot of adversity this year and have their full team ready to go and embrace the challenge. Sahvir adds that he's super-grateful for the opportunity to experience this for the first time. This is why he came to UK, he says.
* On Coach Cal having meetings with them before the tourney to define their roles... Kellen says the meetings were very productive. He knows his role is to make shots and be reliable on defense. Sahvir says his is to play with ultimate place, be disruptive on both ends of the floor, distribute the ball to guys where they can score, and play with a big smile on his face. Oscar says his is always the same: play with high energy, grab rebounds, defend AND (something he's worked on) communicate.
* Grady asked what it's like to be on the opposite side as a low seed playing a high seed in this tournament... Said his Davidson team was really confident and thought they would beat Kentucky. But "it's different here." You have to respect everyone, can't take seed numbers for granted.
* I had a legit question to ask about the tweak Calipari brought up, but they let these guys talk a loooooooong time on some other subjects and I got bumped. Oh well...
*****
SAINT PETER'S COACH SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY Q&A:
* Being confident and playing with a chip on their shoulder is how they play, Holloway says. A lot of his guys were never recruited by the likes of Kentucky, but they feel like they should have been in their minds.
* Team came into the season more skilled offensively, and they focused on that initially, but when they got back to being really good defensively, their season took off.
* Holloway asked about being one of the first schools to offer Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee... "You really gonna throw that in my face right now?" he jokes. Thought he had a great shot to land him. Proud of what he's doing with Vols.
* Holloway on UK's Oscar Tshiebwe: "The truth? He's a grown man playing with a bunch of kids." Gets after it on both ends.
*****
SAINT PETER'S PLAYERS Q&A:
* SP players (there are 6 on the podium, so somewhat hard for me to ID them) say their coach, Shaheen Holloway, is all about toughness and passion. He's a winner. That's what he instills in them.
* On what they've seen of Kentucky this season... Just some film since they saw the tournament draw. They're just like SP, trying to compete and win.
* On playing with a chip on their shoulder... A lot of that comes from their coach's lead. They feel like they have something to prove, both individually and as a team.
