On if success against Kansas was a product of shot selection:
“I think it has a lot to do with it. We talk about game shots and game speed, and that’s what we want to see. The other night, we felt like guys were a little bit calmer with the ball. I liked the fact that Yves Pons and Josiah-Jordan James got the ball down and got themselves in triple-threat position and raised up and shot it. I think that’s a great way to shoot a three, especially because I know how much time those guys have put in to doing just that. We all just want guys to do what they practice, and we want to come within the framework of our offense and feel like our guys know what we’re trying to get done. We did isolate a little bit more the other night, and we had some isolation plays that we went to that we like. It plays into those guys again doing what they practice.”
On the SEC defeating the Big 12 (5-4) and what kind of statement that was for the league:
“I think it’s important because everybody every year has their opinion. The narrative is that the Big 12 and Big 10 have the best leagues right now. I think the fact is that we did have an opportunity to go head-to-head and we came out on top. So yeah, I think it helps our league and the perception of our league. I also think that this time of year, it’s very important for teams that are fighting to get in to post-season play because every game is being closely watched. They always are, but maybe more so this year than ever because of the fact that some teams are not going to play as many games as others. I told someone after the game that all day long, I’d bump into people who were talking about the excitement of watching all these games on T.V. and that it felt like an NCAA Tournament because there are games going on all day long. They are terrific games obviously, so for our league, I think it was great and only the second time that I think we’ve been able to win the challenge.”
NEXT: Rick Barnes media availability continued