UK Player Quotes
#22, Reid Travis, Graduate Student, F
On competition level at Kentucky compared to Stanford …
“It’s been good. At Stanford obviously we have a lot of young guys, a lot of injuries last year so it was a little up and down with the competition. Here, we have a full team, full force. It’s been great for me just going against other guys, high caliber everyday. I feel like I’ve gotten better in just the weeks we’ve been practicing.”
On how he thinks he has improved since getting to Kentucky …
“Gotten better at just finishing against length. There’s certain things you can’t replicate until you play some of those better teams like I did the last couple years at Stanford. When you don’t play a top-10, top-five team. I’m getting to see that every day in practice. For me, just going against bigs that are athletic, can move, can jump and just reading the game. Its really helping me just work on my finishing and work on my touch.”
On how he takes a leadership role on this team …
“(I) think it’s just being humble in the fact that I’m not going to walk in the door and gain everybody’s trust the first day. That’s something you have to work on day in and day out. Show my work ethic, show that I can be that leader and hopefully when we get into the season they can look at me and kind of lean on me for certain things that I’ve gone through. Reality is that I kind of feel like a freshman all over again in my own right as far as being here and being fresh, still going through the system. Any little tidbits I can give them here and there I’m definitely going to do that. Try and mold myself into that role.”
#3, Keldon Johnson, Fr., G
On if he’s ever been out of the country before …
“No, sir I’ve never been outside of the United States.”
On taking a trip abroad …
“I think it’s definitely a blessing. I just want to thank Kentucky for that, Kentucky basketball, (University of) Kentucky for doing that for us. I think it’s going to be an amazing time.”
On if the media has been overwhelming at all …
“No, sir. I definitely think I expected it. It pretty much comes with Kentucky basketball. I think that I am prepared to handle it well. Knowing that I have people behind me that are supporting me, I mean its not really hard coming up here and speaking my mind because I know I have people supporting me from the back.”
#25, PJ Washington, So., F
On the competition in summer practices …
“Everyone is trying to get better every day. Just being aggressive and going after each other is just great for us right now. I feel like we have a lot of guys that are very competitive, which is good obviously and getting that in every day has been great.”
On his status recovering from last year’s injury …
“I am able to do a lot. I’m just focusing on rehabbing that up until I get it back to 100 percent. Pretty much just going out there and just trying my hardest without getting injured.”
On how the trip to The Bahamas will help prepare for the season …
“It will help us a lot because right now we haven’t really played anybody else but us, so going out there and seeing how we compare to other teams is going to be great at this point in the stage before the season especially in August. I feel like we’re going to be really good some way into the season, and I just can’t wait to get out there and play somebody else.”
On Coach Cal saying the team will go 1-3 in the Bahamas …
“I don’t believe that, but if he believes that, that’s him. I feel like we have a chance to win every game out there and that’s what we’re definitely looking forward to. Our goal is to definitely win every game. We’re not going to go out there and try to lose.”
On how practice compares to last year …
“Last year, we didn’t really focus too much on the defense and pick-and-roll. This year we’re focusing a lot more on that. Different ways to guard and different ways to come off it on the offensive end as well. We just really been focusing on the defensive end right now.”
On being the veteran now …
“It’s a lot different. Last year, I just didn’t really know too much, and I just came in here and tried to listen to coaches. Now, I know what Coach wants from me, I know what the team needs from me, so I try and do that every day in practice and just be the best I can for my guys. We usually every year have a lot of new faces. I mean we obviously did this year, so I feel like I know the ropes a lot more than they do, and I just got to go out there and basically be a leader and show them what Cal needs them to do and try and go out and have fun I guess.”
On what stands out about this year’s team …
“We shoot the ball a lot better than we did last year. We have a lot more shooters this year and lot of guys are getting in the gym and focusing on their games a lot more than last year. I’m really excited about what we have this year, and I just can’t wait to get out there and compete against other people.”
