KENTUCKY BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
#22 KENTUCKY VS. NKU
HISTORIC MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.
NOVEMBER 7, 2024

Head Coach Kenny Brooks

Opening statement…

“To be the in-state opponent, it’s big because we understand the magnitude of the game, and we’re going to continue to play games like this. Northern’s going to be a good basketball team, they’re very methodical and patient in their offense to make you work. So, it was a really good test for us. They were undersized, so our post players are going to have to move their feet, we talked about that. Guarding three-point shot was something that we focused on probably a little bit too much, because we were, we were running off the three point line, and sometimes we were getting beat off the line drive. So, we know there’s a lot we have to work on. We know there’s a lot to be had, but you know you still have to celebrate in these situations. Although our defense wasn’t as good, you know, schematically, and the communication, we blocked lot of shots, we used our strength, you know, with our height, and our length. I thought we rebounded the ball, you know, decently, but we just need a little bit more in certain areas. A lot of that is just fundamental, and then just the energy, the effort, and the attitude, so we’ll continue to work. I’m excited. We got loads of potential, but we just have to, it’s a work in progress, and you know, I am guilty as anyone. I wanted to be, you know, full swing right now, but it’s something we need to work on.”

On how important it is to win the rebound battle…

“Yeah, I mean, that’s something that we put on the board before every game. That’s always been a point of emphasis with any team that I’ve ever coached. You have to win the rebound battle and sometimes we even say that whoever’s going to win the rebound battle is going to win the game. So, we put a lot of focus on that. Our defense puts us in position to rebound the basketball extremely well, especially on the defensive end. We need to work on it on the offensive end, especially with the height that we have, but it’s something that we really focus on is the rebounding battle. You know, she’s got a nose for the basketball. She goes after it. She’s as physical as any player that I’ve ever had. She wants to go get the rebounds. And, you know, hopefully that becomes contagious, because we’ve got some other players who have the ability to do that, and they just have to have the mindset like she does.”

On the unselfishness of the team…

“Yeah, that’s what our teams are based on. Our offense is based off of sharing the basketball. If we were giving out little stickers for doing well, I’d give them out for making the extra pass, you know, because we want to make sure we share the basketball. I think we had like 26 assists the other night and those numbers are not uncommon for our teams and the way we play, with our style, our offense, you know. Sometimes I even have to tell them it’s okay to put the ball on the floor and drive, but we’re more about passing. And they really look for each other. You know her, Clara and Silva, they do a really good job with the high low. They look for each other constantly, and I think they feed off each other very well. So I think it’s going to be something, you know, I think we’ll break the 30 mark at some point this year when we start hitting some shots like we are capable of. But that’s where our offense is predicated on sharing the basketball.”

On system running through Clara and Georgia…

“Trust. A lot of trust, and everyone will be able to gain it. I know what they’re going to do with the basketball, you know. And both of them are good at scoring and assisting. You know, she’s probably one of the best, if not the best, the passing post player that I’ve ever had. And so, she can do it like a guard. I mean she had the ball a couple times today. She went full court and got a layup. You know, those are things that we encourage her to do. We’re still evolving, and I’m trying to figure out who’s going to be, who we want. It’s just a matter of just trying to get to know everybody. And right now, as we’re moving along, who do I know the best? These two. And that’s what we run our stuff through.”

Players Quotes

#13, Clara Strack, C, So.

On the adjustments she made after her 3 fouls…

“Yeah, I mean, you have to play smart, obviously, when you have fouls, but you still have to be aggressive, and still like be a presence out there. I think just being smart and not jumping, not doing things like that, or really trying to block shots is what I tried to do.”