KENTUCKY HC MARK POPE Q&A:
* Unbelievable effort by Bucknell. Played really hard, played with a ton of guts, really helped us to get challenged and get better.
* Gratifying as a coach to stress all week to your players that we need to get better on the glass and to see them come out and really focus on that. Jokes that maybe he's setting the bar too low, needs to push them even harder, maybe a 100-rebound game. Asks media if that's ever happened and is told yes, UK actually holds that record. Pope jokes that he's usually really good at hyperbole, but may have to up his game.
* Loves what Kerr Kriisa brings to this team. A lot of panache. Teammates love him. Set a goal this summer of being the best pace guy in the country.
* Says you never know who can be the spark on this team.
* Koby Brea was ridiculous again today. Told you guys all summer he's incredible. He's a maestro.
* On controlling emotions Tuesday night... Have to be in the same space every single game. Would love for it to be more scientific, but we have to pay attention to that, how to manage that energy. Had a little onslaught of frustration tonight, and that was good for us to deal with. Really helpful.
* Wanted to attack their center early and try to get him in foul trouble. He's a terrific player. We may not face another guy like him this year. Not too many centers out there these days capable of getting 32 points.
* On the freshmen dealing with not playing a whole lot... It's hard for a player. One of the biggest challenges you deal with as an athlete. We try to remind them that the last 4 minutes are just as important as the first 4 minutes in terms of analytics. Those numbers matter when it comes to you efficiency numbers and seeding at the end of the year. ... These kids are built for it.
* On what he's most pleased about after 2 exhibition games and 2 regular season games... The response to the rebounding. They made a commitment as a group to go fix it. It bodes well for us moving through the season. We have a chance to grow into a great team.
******
BUCKNELL HC JOHN GRIFFIN Q&A:
* Mark Pope has done a really nice job of assembling a roster of very good basketball players and getting them to play very unselfish.
* They do a nice job of pushing the ball up the floor, and when they get the advantage, it's a big advantage.
* Great experience for our program. We're one of only eight programs from mid-majors who haven't had another enter the portal, and playing games like this is a big reason why. An opportunity to go play the blue-bloods and compete with the best.
* Griffin: I've scouted UK's previous games, and I've yet to see Brea miss two in a row. He's a professional shooter.
* Watching UK, you don't see anyone holding the ball looking to get points per game. The ball keeps moving until someone gets a good look.
* On UK having the ability to bring Brea and Kriisa off the bench... You'd think there would be a bit of a drop-off with so many new player on this team, but they all play with the same unselfishness, and Brea is such an elite shooter. I think a lot of people will try to make him dribble, but it didn't seem to make him uncomfortable at all today.
* You prepare for that barrage of 3s when you play someone like Kentucky, but it's like that old saying about Mike Tyson... everyone's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
******
UK PLAYERS KOBY BREA & KERR KRIISA Q&A:
