Feb. 4, 2012

Recap | Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery

South Carolina Head Coach Darrin Horn
Opening Statement…
They played outstanding. They looked like the number one team in the country. We didn’t play well. They started with dribble penetration that we gave up in the first half and it allowed them to get the lead. Offensively we were very stagnant. We didn’t move the basketball, but once they got going big like that, obviously they were a very explosive team. We are not a very explosive team and we dug ourselves a big hole.

On the play inside…
I didn’t think that we guarded the dribble that we needed to. We gave them some easy ones early, and then obviously our offense was very stagnant. Had we been able to get some baskets and have a couple of shots go down, there is no question that it would have changed the flow of things.

On moving forward…
We have to move forward and prepare for two road games this week and stay focused on the things that we have been doing very well and have given us our wins and put us in a position to have an opportunity to do that on the road both games. The challenge of the first eight we have had – it has been well documented – was what our slate has been like. We have to go on the road for two after a game like this. It is going to be a challenge without question, but we have got to keep plugging.

On Damien Leonard’s ability to drive to the basket…
I think the biggest thing is that in the second half we actually did move the ball really well. We got reversals. We played inside out. We were able to play through Damontre (Harris) some and get the ball in the post. They were doubling him and he could get it back out. When you are driving off of that, whether you are Damien or anyone else, it is a lot easier because (Anthony Davis) is not standing there around the basket. When the defenses move, it is easier to do that. I think he did a better job in the second half of driving the ball off of a reversal.

Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari
On tonight’s game…
The people in South Carolina have to understand, what they saw is absolutely (the best we have played). We played well at LSU, but not like this. This was the best we have played. (It is) hard playing, when you are up a bunch in the first half to really come out and compete and I was proud of these guys because they did. From Kyle (Wiltjer) to Eloy (Vargas) to the other six, every guy played, even 20 (Doron Lamb) went in there and played pretty well.

On Kentucky’s growth as a team…
We are getting better. We are starting three freshman folks, two sophomores and a freshman off the bench, so we are young. Everything is new to these guys. I tried to get Michael (Kidd-Gilchrist) to smile more, they are sharing the ball, 17 assists. Terrence Jones had four assists and no turnovers. They are sharing the ball. Now all of the sudden the guy they throw it to can score. Every guy can score a basket and like I said South Carolina hit us on a bad day because this is as good as we get up to this point, and hopefully we will get better.