Coach Davis Teleconference

Dec. 19, 2002

Opening Statement
"I'm really excited about the game Saturday. It's a really big game for us, as well as Kentucky. I think it's an opportunity to play a really good basketball team and we look forward to it."

What makes Bracey so special?
"It's hard to find a kid who can shoot the basketball as well as get to the basket. He's not your normal, All-American player because he never complains about it if he hasn't gotten the ball four or five times, he just plays the game. If his teammates screw up or don't get him the ball, he doesn't say much. He is the ultimate team player."

Impression of Kentucky and what standouts about their team?
"I think Kentucky can be a Final Four team, they have all the pieces. Now (Cliff) Hawkins is back and once Antwain Barbour is back, they will be a very difficult team to beat. Coach Treloar has prepared us very well defensively. When you have two shot blockers like (George) Leach and (Jeff) Newton it makes it tough inside."

How much is your team dependent on three point shooting and are you vulnerable without it?
"I wouldn't say we're vulnerable because of our tough defense and we have guys who can make plays around the basket and from 15 feet out. Trust me, it's not like we've been shooting the three-point great in any game this year, to be honest. The guys we have on the floor, I'm thinking there could be an 18 or 19 three-point game. I think if we're open, we'll shoot the three but it's not like we're really depending on it. We have guys who are really good at it and haven't hit it a lot yet."

Defensively why do you think you are so tough?
"What has happened to us, by working in practice every day we really defend ourselves out on the court in ways most teams won't ever guard you and that has helped us to have a great defense."

You have said you still don't feel that the team has played a great game, what's still missing?
"I'm looking for a game where we can shoot 50 percent from the field and defensively not to give up any second or third shots the way we've given them up this year. We play well in transition on defense but the problem I have is in giving up offensive rebounds."

Guarding Hawkins on the perimeter in last year's Kentucky game?
"I think last year was lack of effort. I watched the tape last night. I took a lot of blame for the game last year offensively. After watching the game closely, we didn't have guys out there fighting. It's always the game before Christmas and after finals and it's hard to get the guys to concentrate for 40 minutes. They kind of had their way with our guys last year. I was disappointed last year they let (Kentucky) penetrate and the desire to play hard wasn't there - it's got to be there every single game."

Have you taken a different approach in practice this week?
"I've tried to really focus on execution and effort and make sure the guys focus and concentrate. The toughest thing for us is that we have four or five players that have finals Friday night at 7 that'll put us in Louisville at 10:30 or later on Friday night. That's something as a coach I have to continue to talk about and harp on. This is our first time going into this game undefeated and our first time being ranked as high, so hopefully that plays a part. They're young kids and sometimes their minds wander from the basketball game, so that's my job as a basketball coach. Our concentration against Purdue wasn't good, guys weren't fighting until the second half."

How is the team different from how they played in Hawaii?
"I think we, defensively, are playing tougher than we did in Hawaii. Our big guys fouled a lot over there, but we're fouling less now. We're a totally different team from the defensive point. I think we've had some slippage offensively. I think Bracey has come into his own, he was really nervous especially that first game in Hawaii. Marshall Strickland has grown a lot as a player. We've got our rotation down now and over there I was getting guys in a lot trying to find the rotation."

Regarding Tom Coverdale's improvement and his toughness?
"He's got to get tougher. He hasn't really played well, played hard the last two games. Last year he was one of the main guys who didn't come out fighting (against Kentucky). I was really disappointed the way he played against Purdue, he didn't play with a lot of toughness. Tom gets the attitude sometime that he can just coast.
When he's playing at his best, there's no one better than him. He didn't take a lot of shots against Purdue or Vanderbilt. And I don't know what his deal is. Hopefully Saturday he can come out with a little fire."

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