KENTUCKY HC MARK POPE Q&A:
* (Dejected, pausing to find words.) It's hard to talk about basketball right now. Congrats to Coach Barnes and Tennessee, who played really well.
* On what's next after this kind of season... These guys set an incredible foundation for us and set a high standard for representing UK and BBN. We'll be talking about these guys 10 years from now about the guys who set the standard for how you carry yourself as a Kentucky basketball player and connect with your teammates. Incredibly proud of these guys.
* We didn't finish the job, which is a real thing, but I couldn't ask any more of these guys and what they gave to this jersey and this community.
******
KENTUCKY PLAYERS Q&A:
* Lamont Butler... It was incredible the way these guys came in, nobody knowing each other, not having players or coaches at first, and building something. A dream to be able to play here. Really grateful.
* Koby Brea... UK is in great hands with Coach Pope. This has been a life-changer.
* Andrew Carr... I think a lot of us feel that way (that Butler and Brea commented). To be able to play at the Mecca of College Basketball has been nothing short of amazing. I'm super-excited to see what he does for the next 10-15 years.
* Carr... It hurts right now, but I think as we look back on it, we'll be really proud.
* Brea... I don't know who handles the jerseys, but it's going to be tough for them to get mine from me.
* Butler... This place was special. I've been greeted with love from the first time I got here. It was a little surreal the way the fans loved us. You don't get many chances to bond with a team like this and the fans so quickly. Usually, it's a 2-3 year deal.
* Butler on UT's Zeigler... He's a really good player, one of the best PGs in the country. Congrats to him and his team. It was a great matchup, and I felt like I held my own and competed.
* Butler says he's really looking forward to seeing where Pope's program goes from here. Thinks they did a nice job of setting the culture.
*****
TENNESSEE HC RICK BARNES Q&A:
* Utmost respect for UK and Mark Pope, all around, that university and him as a person. Just extremely proud of our guys. Glad I get to spend another game with them.
* Our No. 1 objective was guarding the 3-point line after they hit 12 in each of the other two games. Guys did a great job of that and limiting the back-door cuts.
* I don't ever want to take anything away from a team that beat us. They beat us twice.
* On what he's thinking right now... Just giving the glory to God for being able to do this.
* On Jordan Gainey... Not enough people talk about him. Our motto is "It's not about me," and he's a guy who carries himself that way. Could be a starter. We consider him a starter. He's done his role as good as anyone could do it.
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TENNESSEE PLAYERS Q&A:
* Zakai Zeigler said they wanted to set the tone early and show that the first two games weren't "Tennessee basketball."
* Everyone stayed laser-focused, Zeigler added, for 40 minutes.
* Jordan Gainey - We came out with a chip on our shoulder but also had fun.
* Zeigler - Everyone that came into the game tonight did their job and gave us something good.
* Felix Okpara on his rebounding, 11 overall and 7 on the offensive glass... Just came in with that as my focus, tried to get them all.
* Gainey on this game vs. the other two UK games... Connected on the defensive end, dominated the glass, everyone played their role and had fun. The game plan wasn't too much different.
* Zeigler - Kentucky is a great team, a well-coached team. We just executed the gameplan.
