UK HEAD COACH JOHN CALIPARI Q&A:
* Question about Kellen Grady... Passing was the big key tonight, he said. Really good passing. Getting guys the right looks. Said they only had one guy who wasn't passing well.
* Oscar Tshiebwe probably could have got 30 rebounds tonight, Cal says, but he thought they had pushed it far enough at the end. No sense risking an injury. 28 is great.
* How 'bout Jacob Toppin, Cal says. And it's not really about his skill, but the energy he brings to the table.
* Liked the way his guys flew up and down the court.
* When we pass the ball and play this way, we're a good team, Calipari says. Great way to go into Christmas. Back to back games with unbelievable energy.
* On Kellen no longer struggling with his shot... Cal jokes that it's all him, that he went into the gym to work with Kellen. In all seriousness, they found a way for him to get his shots off quicker. He was catching it and bringing it down like it was just a casual game of HORSE. They have him catching and going right up with it now.
* Cal said they're looking for 18-20 assists a game. 27 tonight on 38 buckets. Impressive.
* Cal says Dontaie Allen hurt himself in practice. Felt shaky before the game. Lance Ware is not feeling right today, either. They went with Daimion Collins instead.
* I've got a very, very smart basketball team and some older guys who know what it's all about, Cal says. Being able to prepare for two replacement opponents (UNC and WKU) on short notice and execute so well says a lot about their smarts.
* Jerry Tipton asks about the Governor getting boo'd rather loudly at halftime talking about tornado relief efforts. Cal fires back that since it's Jerry asking, it was probably only six people. LOL (In Jerry's defense, it was not. Very loud... But a counter cheer was started as well for people who wanted to applaud the Governor's leadership efforts on the storm situation.)
* Cal notes that the Dawson Springs team will be coming up to watch the Cats practice and visit with the team.
* Cal says that's a really good WKU team, one that should make the NCAA Tournament. Notes that they beat Ole Miss and Louisville. Makes him feel even better about the way the Cats played.
* Cal praises the Cats' conditioning efforts. Thinks that has something to do with the way they were able to put the hammer down in the last two games.
KELLEN GRADY Q&A:
* Asked about Oscar's rebounding, Grady says it's hard to put into words. He was sitting on the bench toward the end of the game telling CJ that he's never seen anything like this, a guy outrebounding the other team on his own. Says his heart and his will and his effort are contagious.
* On being told by Cal that it's either shoot the ball or sit down, Grady said it really is that simple. He's got to shoot. "It's great to have a coach who believes in you like that... I've got to stay ready to shoot, ready to be aggressive."
* Grady says the Cats have had an added chip on their shoulder since the Notre Dame game. He thinks they're going to look back on that game at the end of the year as something that really helped them. "I'm proud of how we've responded... The biggest thing is how the ball is flying around the court... It leads to great shots and a lot of fun."
OSCAR TSHIEBWE Q&A:
* UK notes that Oscar Tshiebwe broke Shaquille O'Neal's Rupp Arena record of 21 rebounds today. Shattered it with 28. Oscar has huge smile on his face when they tell him that. "It's amazing... It's blessed. I just give all the glory to God. I can't do it on my own."
* On outrebounding WKU's team 28-27... "That's crazy," Oscar says. He says once again that he doesn't ever care about points. He just wants to get every rebound.
* Asked if people can call him a "machine" for just one night... Oscar says maybe if he ever gets to 30. Right now, people will have to settle for "beast."
* Asked how he does it when he's not the tallest or best leaper on the court... I just fight, Oscar said.
* Asked if he can get to 34 (the UK record set by Bob Burrow in the 50s) Oscar says he's just taking it day by day. He thinks he can do it, though. "That would be good."
* On playing a 7-foot-5 guy in WKU's Sharp... It was a little bit of a nightmare, Oscar said. He was hard to shoot over.
