KENTUCKY HC MARK POPE Q&A:
* We're clearly excited to be here competing in this incredible venue in a great city. (Second time Pope is playing in a city where he played in the NBA.). Says he was really blessed to play for Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle with the Pacers. Two of the most fun and incredible years of his life, playing with guys like Reggie Miller and all the other great Pacers players they had at the time. Special time for me. This is where I met my wife and started that chapter of my life.
* Says "joy in the gym" is a principle that's really important to his team. The process can be taxing and exhausting, the pressure can be immense, so we have to find joy in it. Goes into his limbic system and frontal cortex talk again. Ha. If you can't enjoy what we're doing with this bunch of guys, you need to find something else to do. Their love for each other is shining through.
* On UK-IU series in the future, could it be permanent? ... Says he has beautiful memories of how it was played in the RCA Dome, where it was split down the middle, all blue and white on one side, all red and white on the other. Incredible history to this rivalry. Great for college basketball. I'm really excited about it.
* On the advatanges/disadvantages to having won both games against Tennessee so far... If you parse details, there's an emotional advantage to winning two, showing that you can. If you're 0-2, it gives you a better idea of how and why you need to make changes. But I think this is a free-standing game. Rick Barnes is one of the best coaches in college basketball right now. I really admire him. From everything I've learned about him, he's an even better man than basketball coach. Sets an incredible example for the rest of us in the game. So not sure there's any advantage. Just two great teams trying to make it to the Elite 8.
* On no mid-majors in this tournament at the Sweet 16 stage... Thinks they'll be back. There were some close calls in first two rounds. This is one of the great events in all of sports because it's a pure meritocracy once you get out there and start playing.
* Asked about the venue, Lucas Oil Stadium... Great place. One of our coaches, Alvin Brooks, loves this place because he hoisted a trophy here. You get concerned about the background in some places like this, but it was not a problem when we got out there and started shooting.
* On Amari Williams getting into a flow when the game gets physical... The Weetabix thing has been really fun. BBN coming thru in major fashion. But, back to the question, thinks Brandon Garrison has been really good for him. Those two get each other hyped. In the game, it's really important for AW to get hit early, on a rebound, on a shot. Gets him going.
* Asked what has happened in the SEC to make this happen, Pope says it's been a magical but brutal season in the SEC. You want to be in the most competitive league. We'll see how it pans out in the long run. But coaches and players want to be in the best league.
* On postgame handshakes... Pope says he advocates shutting it down when he loses, but keeping it when he wins. (Laughs). Says he's not a great loser, but at the end of the day, he hopes that athletics is more than winning/losing. Can we be vicious, competitive, fighting tooth and nail on the floor to find a way to win, then be bigger and more than that when the game is over. That's a tall order, but I like tall orders.
* On overcoming injuries... Every experience we have, good or bad, it's important for it to be a learning experience that helps us grow. The injuries have been problematic and painful, but it's also grown us in a lot of ways -- young guys getting to play, guys being able to play different positions. When we lost Kerr Kriisa, it changed our whole plan for how we were going to move forward. Adversity can help you get better.... Regarding Lamont, it's a beautiful thing as a coach or a parent to see one of your kids doing bigger and better things than you ever could have done. That's how I feel about Lamont and what he's overcome. He's never been distracted from his core, which is doing it for his guys. Unbelievable fortitude and gratitude to go out there and play with his guys. He's been symbolic of our whole team.
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KENTUCKY PLAYERS Q&A:
* Koby Brea is asked about trying to beat Tennessee 3x, do they have to do anything different... Brea says no, just have to be good at what we're doing.
* Lamont Butler asked about how often they think about Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson not being able to play... All the time, he says. It's tough. But they've been great teammates, supporting them and helping them at practice and on the bench.
* Brea asked why they've been able to shoot well against the Vols... Coaches really had them scouted well. They are a great defensive team, but we've had a good plan. I'm sure they'll probably try to change things up since the first two games didn't go well for them.
* Andrew Carr asked about UT's Milicic and how he's made shots against Cats... He's really good. Since the last time we've played them, we've changed our defense a little bit and tried to make it hard for anyone to get open looks.
* Otega Oweh asked about his brother playing in the NFL... Chance to get bragging rights because he hasn't won yet at Lucas Oil. He'll be at the game cheering me on.
* Carr asked about UT having an advantage because they haven't won yet... Thinks they'll be better, shoot the ball better. We just have to make ever shot tough. That's what we did in the first two matchups.
* Butler asked about experience and playing against Zakai Zeigler... Really good player, really good PG. Defensive player of the year in our league. It's a great matchup for me, a great challenge for the team. We have to be connected on defense.
* Butler asked about the shooting backdrops... It's different. We haven't played in a football stadium. But once you get some shots up, it's normal. Brea says it's his first time playing in a football stadium. For me, if the ball is round and the rim is still a circle, it's all the same.
* Carr asked about the team seeming loose... We like to have fun together. It's fun to be around these guys, and we're really close. It puts you at ease.
* Oweh is told he's been a "powerhouse" in this tournament. Is there any way the Vols can stop him? ... (Whew, loaded question.). Oweh just says, "I hope not."
