Post Game Quotes Kentucky 84, South Carolina 65 March 3, 2004

Dave Odom, South Carolina: “We never got a handle on the game offensively or defensively. Kentucky pretty much took us apart. I was disappointed to say the least. I thought we would play much better. If you don’t play at a high level in this league, things like this can happen. Cliff Hawkins was in the lane with the ball early and often. We never got him out of the lane. When he takes the ball in the lane like that, he’s as good as anyone in the league. We turned the ball over at inopportune times. I do feel badly for our seniors tonight. I don’t think this changes our NCAA situation. We want to win every game. I thought we would come out in the second half and play better offensively and defensively. We couldn’t keep trading baskets with them like we did. I give credit to their defense. It was definitely Kentucky’s night.”

Tubby Smith, Kentucky: “I am really pleased with how the guys played tonight. We raised the defensive intensity and we shot really well. South Carolina is a great basketball team but they are coming off the lost to Rolando Howell. They got some good looks early on but they didn’t drop. They made great athletic plays that kept us from making some easy shots. That’s why they are one of the top defensive teams in the country. Cliff Hawkins continued playing well for us. We shot better from the three point line than we did overall.”