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00:00 >> Brendan, you were visibly emotional after the game against Arkansas State.
00:05 For you to come out there and have a game like this today,
00:07 I kind of guess what did that mean?
00:09 Whatever these past couple of days have been like.
00:12 >> I think the Arkansas State game, it's like hit home a little bit for me.
00:18 In the rock room, our fans, at the end of the game, it was a bonus.
00:24 And that's something I never experienced and I never wanted to feel that way again.
00:29 And also throughout the week, my teammates and
00:32 our staff just felt like I was getting tired fast.
00:35 So I just wanted, whenever I felt myself hitting that wall,
00:38 I just wanted to focus in a little bit more and keep going.
00:41 And just rest on the bench.
00:42 Not wrecking myself, but I just wanted to keep trusting these guys and
00:46 they trusted me.
00:47 And I wanted to just bag them.
00:50 And I'm never gonna stop loving them.
00:53 I'm never gonna stop fighting for them.
00:55 Like I said, this is a special team and this is a step.
00:58 And we don't feel like we're there.
01:01 So we just wanna keep going and I'm off today.
01:03 >> A question for any of you all.
01:08 Did you all have conversations with that Josh Hurd this week?
01:11 I saw a report that he was talking with players,
01:15 trying to gauge their thoughts on Kenny and just where everything stands this season.
01:20 Did that happen for any of you all?
01:22 And if it did, could you kind of describe the nature of those conversations?
01:26 >> I don't think that's something that we need to share in a press conference.
01:30 And no.
01:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:41 >> Why do you guys feel like the efforts are so disjointed from night to night?
01:46 It seems like one night, the effort will be excellent.
01:52 And then another night, it seems like you come out a little flat or
01:57 with a little bit less intensity.
02:00 Have you guys talked about a formula to possibly put in some runs together,
02:05 more consistency?
02:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:09 >> Yeah, we definitely have.
02:11 We obviously see what's going on.
02:14 We see our struggles and we see at times when we're doing good.
02:19 So we're trying, we're watching the film,
02:25 we're going hard in practice to just do what we did today and
02:29 just try to do it more consistently.
02:31 So yeah, of course, we're trying to fix stuff like that.
02:34 We're not, we wouldn't just say, that's it.
02:37 Just come out.
02:39 >> Curtis, this was your best offensive game without question.
02:44 What was the key for that?
02:46 Coach talked about, I mean, he hit four threes, but
02:49 he really liked the pass to Brandon for the dunk.
02:52 What was the key for you to come out and have a game like that and
02:55 get some more minutes to be able to do it?
02:57 >> I say for me, I feel like I started on defense then for me.
03:01 Coming out with an intensity on defense, I feel like they helped my offense today.
03:04 Just going into the game and practice, we really been practicing on getting in the
03:08 lane, kicking off for threes.
03:10 I feel like today that was a big thing.
03:11 We went nine for 16 from the three-point line.
03:13 Last game I think we went one or two for 10, 11.
03:18 So I feel like that helped a lot to this game.
03:20 >> What does this do for your confidence moving forward?
03:23 Does it give you a boost?
03:24 >> I mean, yeah, of course it gave me a boost, but
03:28 like I said, level-headed and just come back here ready to work.
03:30 >> This is for any of you guys.
03:33 KP was in here and he asked a question.
03:36 He said to you guys, if you guys have quit or not,
03:38 how much of this game is a statement that you guys are still there?
03:42 You haven't given up on the season and
03:44 you still feel you have something to play for?
03:46 >> I feel like it's a big step for us, especially after the game and
03:50 the effort we put in last game.
03:52 We just had to look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves that exact question.
03:55 Did we quit on ourselves?
03:57 Did we quit on our teammates?
03:58 Did we quit on our coaches?
03:59 And we all said no, and we just had to come out there and prove it.
04:03 Now, our next step for us is to come out there and do it consistently.
04:07 Once we do it consistently, we'll be all right.
04:09 But that's our main thing, is just to try to find that consistency of what we did.
04:15 >> How big a lift is this going into the big game Thursday night?
04:19 It seems like you really need something like this.
04:22 >> It's really big for us, because we didn't, obviously,
04:27 like the way we felt last game.
04:29 We don't like the way we felt in the warm-ups.
04:31 The first time out on the court, we knew we had something to change.
04:34 We knew that we needed this W coming in, to the big game coming up.
04:40 But we just wanna, no matter who we play, make sure that we try to be in
04:45 the same intensity every single night and put two halves together.
04:48 And just keep trusting each other.
04:50 >> When you guys talk about bringing that same intensity week in, week out,
04:56 game in, game out, what's the focus been like in practice this last couple of days?
05:00 And what is the practice gonna focus on leading up to that Kentucky game?
05:03 >> I think for us, like as a collective, whoever's out there on the floor,
05:09 making sure that we're going balls to the wall for four minutes.
05:15 However long we're out there, and then the next five come in.
05:19 Making sure that we're not having lackadaisical mistakes,
05:23 making mistakes while we're tired, or making mistakes because we're tired.
05:27 We just wanna stay focused as much as possible.
05:30 And making sure that whenever a team goes on the run,
05:33 making sure that we let each other know that we're okay.
05:36 We can get it back right here, making sure that we're getting it back.
05:39 Making sure that we're focusing more, especially when a team goes on the run, so
05:42 we can go on the run of ourselves and start bringing our energy back.
05:45 >> Brandon, you've strung together a string of really good,
05:51 impressive games in a row.
05:52 Is it just part of the maturation process for you?
05:56 Or has Coach Payton been working with you on certain things?
05:58 Or what has led to your upgraded performance the last few games?
06:03 >> I think honestly, just allowing,
06:08 just obviously leading into my teammates, they're very crucial in my development.
06:12 So I just wanna make sure I'm letting them know that I'm there for them.
06:16 And that I'm willing to fight with whatever,
06:18 I'm willing to do whatever it takes for us to win.
06:20 And they accept that.
06:22 And honestly, I just, honestly, I'm gonna just be honest.
06:26 I've been one since before I even came here.
06:29 And then my freshman year, I just had those up and down stuff.
06:33 And I just wanted to make sure that I'm actually a good basketball player.
06:37 I can be a top big in this country.
06:40 And I'm just tired of the things that they're saying about our team and
06:45 stuff like that.
06:46 And I know if I'm able to be a big piece of that, and we're winning,
06:51 trust them and trust in me, we're all shine.
06:55 It's never about me, it's about us.
06:57 I just want them to know that.
06:59 But it was about time for me to, you know what I'm saying,
07:03 let everyone know that or have everyone remember.
07:06 But I'm really focused on this upcoming game as well.
07:10 >> Mike, you've been through a lot, a lot of ups and downs,
07:15 a lot of stuff off the court.
07:16 I'm sure you've developed some kind of thick skin.
07:18 Was this week even different though, over the last couple days,
07:22 all the stuff that's going on, all the stuff that's sort of you have to deal with
07:25 and to get the team focused to play?
07:27 >> I've been here for three years and you're right, I have been through a lot.
07:33 I've seen a lot, I've seen a whole bunch of situations, ups and downs and stuff.
07:37 So I just kind of know how to deal with stuff like that.
07:42 And I feel like as a leader, it was my job to collect the team and
07:46 just let us get refocused, block out all the outside noise.
07:50 Just play for each other and love each other and come out here and
07:54 try our best to get a win and just play hard.
07:56 So yeah, just being here for three years, being through the situations I've been in
08:00 has developed a lot of thick skin for me and
08:02 it's taught me a lot about how to handle situations and stuff.
08:06 So I see them day in, day out and
08:09 I know how to prepare my team and lead my team.
08:14 >> All right, thank you.
08:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]