The biggest job we’ve got on our hands right now is to deal with this loss in the minds of our players. Physically, they’ll be fined, but mentally ‘¦ we’ve got a lot of work...

They took them on with their bodies and didn’t let them get to the rim. That’s an area that we’ve done really well with.

That confirmed what I thought might happen. They were much more physical. Somewhere along the way we were going to be exposed. I was hoping it would be a little bit later (in the season).

It was locked up. Nobody had a key to it, so I had to get a locksmith to come in and unlock it.

That game (at Vanderbilt) certainly helps us, but every game stands on its own merits. Kentucky is a much different team than Vanderbilt. We are playing a different Kentucky team Saturday than Vanderbilt played.

We are delighted to be playing in the finals for the second consecutive year. That is a big thing for our team, school and our state. Madison Square Garden is a great place to be...

It doesn’t wear on you in that first game. It might not wear on you in that second one. But about halftime of the third one, it begins to get to you.

We don’t have that person who is strong enough to get us to the foul line or get a basket when we need it most.

Discouraged is not a good word. Disappointed is probably not strong enough. I really thought we’d play well today. Discouraged? No. Disappointed? Extremely.

He’s got all the ingredients. In a very good way, he’s nasty. Unlike most players, he’s not worried about style points. He’s more into substance.

Three games going now we’ve turned it over a total of 22 times. As much as anything other than the wins themselves I’m very proud of that.

Randolph Morris has to be more and more comfortable every time he plays. The further into the season he gets, I think he’ll be better and better. The other thing is that I think a...

The biggest job I have as a coach is keeping our players’ feet grounded and their minds clear and on Kentucky, because there is a lot going on.

I don’t know quite as much about Cincinnati as I’d like. I think we know enough to know that defensively, we’ve got to stop them in transition.

The best part of their season lies ahead. There may be a more talented team in this league, but I’m not sure.

I’m terribly disappointed right now. Our team is not playing as well as it needs to play. Our team is not playing winning basketball right now.

You play it out and give your team a chance to win it and we did. All you want is a chance. We had that chance. I have no regrets.

Obviously we have today to get ready but Georgia does too. We have to get our minds on Georgia quickly.

I certainly envisioned at the beginning of the year we’d be able to beat anybody in the league and that would include all of the good teams.

He’s got a personality that, sometimes, he speaks his mind. And, sometimes, it doesn’t come out right.

I can’t imagine a team having a more rigorous non-conference schedule than S.C. State. Having not played a home game yet … I’m just blown away by that.

Our team came back and stayed together and that game helped us get better. They really played well against us with a small lineup in the Rupp affair.

What I have tried to impress on the team is that if they buy into the premise that the hard part of the schedule is over … and that’s going to make everything OK, they’re...

I’m tremendously proud of the way we played tonight and the performance we gave. Now I’m trying to get them focused on the next game.

I have a lot of faith in them. I have a lot of confidence in them. They have done what we asked them to do in the summer. They have done it willingly.

First thing, we need some rest. I’ve always felt like you’re not in a tournament until you win your first game. We’re in. Now there’s something to talk about.

The plan from the beginning was to try and make it as much a 94-foot game as we possibly could. I think we did a really good job of that, particularly in the first 10...

I think the bigger cause for them is their coach at this point. They’re trying to give him that job permanently.

It was a much-needed win for us. What this win does for us, only time will tell. It couldn’t come at a better time for us and it couldn’t come at a better place.