#2, Aaron Harrison, G
On if it bothered him of how people’s perception of their lifestyles in the classroom and having fun on the court at the same time changed over time ... “It didn’t bother us because we knew it wasn’t the truth. We know a lot of people say things about us and make their own theories about us, but it’s not true. We’re just student athletes like everyone else. We are required to go to class and make the grades. We’re just like every other program in that sense.”
On people seeing their close games this year as them being vulnerable ...
“There’s been great teams, obviously, and I think every great team has been in close games. Nobody has run through a whole tournament, series or anything. You have to prove how to win tough games, to be a great team. The close calls that we’ve had this season helped us win the last game and other close games before that. I think it’s made us a stronger team.”
On his thoughts of motivation from losing last year in the championship game and how he thinks Wisconsin is using their loss to Kentucky last year as motivation ... “When you get this close into the Final Four, everyone is motivated. I think that we have a chip on our shoulder and have a lot to prove. I’m not sure how other teams feel, but I know we’re as motivated as we’ve ever been and even more. We’re just going out and trying to win games, make statements, and play as hard as we can.”
On how this Final Four feels compared to last year’s ...
“I think last year we were just excited to be there. This year we’re not going to be satisfied with just the feeling. We’re just going up there to win.”
On the development of Tyler Ulis this season ...
“It’s tough being here overall and Tyler, being the small guy, is obviously tough. Everybody knows he’s a tough kid. He’s overcome so many people saying he’s too small and things like that. He’s a big reason we’re in the Final Four and a big part of our team. He’s a great player.”
On Willie Cauley-Stein playing in the game vs. Wisconsin this year as opposed to being hurt last year ...
“Having Willie on the floor is obviously a huge help. He’s probably the best defender I’ve ever seen in person. He’s a big help.”
On how it’s tough being here at Kentucky ...
“Just in general. Everything you do is under a microscope. You’re just overly criticized. It’s tough being a young man here, but it’s not a bad place to be obviously. We have a great amount of fun.”
On how late in games you have to shift from unselfish play to a ‘I have to score’ mentality ...
“It’s a role you have to play. Karl (Towns) had it going obviously. Nobody could stop him. We just kept feeding him. For me, I had the feeling that my team needed a momentum change so I wanted to be that. That’s just what you do when you have a lot of great guys that can do that. It’s the benefit of being on a great team with other great players.”
#44, Dakari Johnson, C
On the definition of Kentucky defense ...
“Playing with energy and just helping each other out on defense and just having each other’s back.”
On which game felt the closest to getting away (losing) ...
“Probably just the last game (vs. Notre Dame) and you know it being so close you know guys just stepped up and made plays.”
On if the talk earlier in the year of Kentucky ruining college basketball bothered you and how you feel now its swinging the other way with making grades and playing unselfishly ... “We weren’t bothered by it because we knew what really what the deal was. We did everything everybody else does basically. We just stayed together and didn’t listen to it.”
On the philosophy of the rotations when Coach uses different combinations based on matchups and situations and how you have adjusted ... “That’s what makes him such a good coach. He knows what’s best for us. He’s going to do everything for the team to win. He’s going to put the guys in there that are going to battle and just compete.”
On going into this final four compared to last year ...
“Last year it wasn’t expected. This year it’s expected from us so you know we are going out there to win and last year it kind of just felt like we were happy to be there.”
On playing against this matchup last year without Willie Cauley-Stein and how having him this year will change things or do differently ... “It’s going to be great. He matches up well with the guys they have on the floor. It gives us just another weapon that we didn’t have last year.”
#12, Karl-Anthony Towns, F
On your definition of Kentucky defense ...
"Energy. (Everything) starts with energy and just make sure that we get contested shots at all times, no open shots, and just help each other out as much as possible."
On the problems that Frank Kaminsky creates for opponents ...
"Kaminsky is a great player and it is going to be just one competitive game. I really can't wait to play."
On staying poised and winning close games throughout the year ...
"I think it's implemented in us through our years of playing basketball. It's just always trying to win every game that we possibly play at any given cost. I think it has also been learned this year a little bit in learning to find ways to win by out smarting opponents in clutch time. I think that’s what we've done a great job of this year is when the game gets really tight, we step up as a team and we come together instead of falling apart from each other."
On the journey of where this team was in October to where this team is now ...
"In October it is hard to think of being 38-0 in the Final Four. It's never been done before and obviously coming in I knew my brothers had a great amount of talent but we never knew we were going to gel so well and the season was going to go the way it went. We are blessed for this opportunity and we want to try to end the season with no regrets and that is what we are trying to do."
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