John Clay's Sidelines

From the interviews today at Reliant Stadium:

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

Videos of Kentucky players Josh Harrellson, Brandon Knight, Darius Miller, DeAndre Liggins and Terrence Jones talking to media today in Houston.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

Continue reading ‘Videos: Kentucky players talk to media in Houston’

John Calipari talked to the media today at Reliant Stadium.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

At the press conferences today, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun was asked about the first Kentucky-Connecticut game, won by the Huskies in Maui.

Kept saying I was going to update and re-publish this list. Finally.

Random UConn notes from the interview day sessions at Final Four today:

- Spent most of my time in the Kemba Walker room, since I’m working on a column for him for Friday’s paper.

- Walker came into the interview room with his jersey wrapped around his neck and hanging down his back, like a superhero. Thought it was a good metaphor.

- Lot of questions to Walker about being guarded by DeAndre Liggins. Walker got 29 points on Walker in the first meeting in Maui. Walker praised Liggins as a great defender. “I’ve gone against a lot of great defenders, and he’s one of the best. . . . But it’s not about me and DeAndre.”

- UConn is 12-0 in tournament play this year – 3-0 at Maui, 5-0 in Big East Tournament and 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament.

Continue reading ‘Kemba Walker says it’s not about “me and DeAndre”’

Some random notes from VCU’s interviews here today in Houston:

- The Ram players told the story of how during Shaka Smart’s halftime speech against Kansas, when VCU had a 14-point lead, a ball rolled loose and the coach dove on the ball.

“I was like, ‘What are you doing?’” said Joey Rodriguez. “We knew Kansas was going to make a run, and he just wanted to show us what it would take.”

- Brandon Burgess on  his first impression of Shaka Smart: “I was thinking who is this little guy walking in here. I thought it was a joke.”

And now? “He’s just so smart. Coach Smart.”

- Jamie Skeen said the atmosphere back at VCU is incredible these days. “Even the teachers are excited,” he said. “There’s nothing but love for us right now.”

Continue reading ‘Shaka Smart dives for loose balls at halftime’

Former Bryan Station High School standout and current Butler star guard Shelvin Mack talked to the media today at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Random notes from the first day and first interview session at the Final Four:

- Each team participates in player and coach interviews. Butler was up first, to be followed by VCU, Connecticut and Kentucky.

- Lot of attention paid to Lexington’s Shelvin Mack, the former Bryan Station star who is Butler’s leading scorer.

- Mack on Kentucky, “I’m really glad UK’s here. They deserve it.”

- Mack said he picked Butler because it gave him the best opportunity to play early.

- Head coach Brad Stevens was asked if he worried that Mack would remain committed to Butler after other schools came after the Defenders’ star. “I know when a kid looks me in the eye and says they’re coming to Butler, they’re coming to Butler.”

Continue reading ‘Shelvin Mack: “I’m glad UK’s here. They deserve it.”’

We are here at the Final Four. Check the blog throughout the day for video, notes, etc.

(Photo by John Clay)

(Photo by John Clay)