KENTUCKY HC JOHN CALIPARI Q&A:
* On strength of random basketball... when you have five guys who can all dribble, pass, and shoot, you can play random. When you have two or three, you can't. They played random the whole second half. Didn't run many plays. Spaced the court, played off each other.
* Reed, Rob, and DJ all played really good on-ball defense. Really good sign. Reed and Rob were extremely disruptive. Reed played great, did good stuff. Can really turn them loose and pressure the ball, especially when you get the 7-footers back to erase shots if they get beat.
* Dillingham creates space for himself and his teammates as well as anyone I've had.
* Another superlative... Reed may have the best hands of anyone he's had. Gets his hands all over balls. So disruptive.
* Big key to being so good in transition is (A) willingness to run hard; and (B) willingness to get it out quickly. If you don't do the latter, guys won't run as hard. Right now, they're doing both of those things well.
* On the status of the 7-footers. Big Z was sick for four days. Lost 10 pounds. Even if he was eligible to play, not sure if he could play Friday night. Bradshaw may be a week to two weeks away. Ugo is about two weeks behind him.
* I like playing "5 out" ... Why didn't we last year, Cal quizzes us. (Because Oscar would have to play on the perimeter.). Look at the assist leader tonight: Tre Mitchell. Good personnel for 5 out.
* Only 6 turnovers... Why? Because everyone can dribble, pass, and shoot. (Theme of the night.)
* Asked if this team can be one of his best offensive teams, Cal says 2012 was pretty damn good. But, yeah, this could be one of them.
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NEW MEXICO STATE HC JASON HOOTEN:
* Whew. Not a lot of good thoughts, he says in opening statement. Thought they were competitive for the first 20 minutes, where they needed to be to be in the game, but obviously started turning the ball over way too much and giving the Cats too many buckets in transition. Thinks UK could be an amazing transition team. The Aggies' offense was "inept." Only had 8 people practicing. Two managers have been helping them practice. "We're a long way away offensively."
* It was hard to tell what UK was really about from the games in Canada and the two exhibition games. Thought they played much more aggressive defense tonight.
* Team had 0 players in March. Signed 13 new ones prior to the summer. Says he's not making excuses, "but we're way behind."
* On the experience of playing in Rupp Arena... Everyone knows what this place is about. He was with Sam Houston when they made 18 3s and had a player make 11 3s, both were Rupp records. Fun to play here.
* Normally, most teams have a guy, maybe two, who bring the ball up the court, but one thing that makes Kentucky so difficult to defend is there are so many guys who can do it.
* On how good UK can be when the 7-footers get back... Thinks they're a team that will definitely be exciting to watch at the end of the year. So many weapons and guys who fit his system in the dribble-drive. Thinks defense will be the key in the long run.
