Final Four Notebook

A lot of Kentucky fans are arriving here in Houston. Attended the open practice Friday and did some interviews with several players on their thoughts of being in the Final Four. The following is a sampling of what they had to say about the Final Four experience thus far:

Terrence Jones “is enjoying all the appreciation” the team is getting from the fans. “Recognizing the history of the players that have been to the Final Four and how much it means. It has been great.”
Jones said the team’s top priority is tonight’s game against Connecticut in the second of two national semifinal games.
“We are enjoying it (the Final Four experience), but we are all ready for the game.”

Brandon Knight has made two game-winning shots in the Big Dance, including the one that knocked Ohio State out of the tournament a week ago at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Knight doesn’t mind being the go-to player at crunch time, but doesn’t “make a whole lot of it.”
“If (coach Calipari) chose someone else, I would be fine with it and I’m pretty sure the whole team would be fine with it, My teammates decided it was cool for me to do it, but if anybody else would do it, I’m sure they would have an opportunity to do it.”

Kentucky senior Josh Harrellson offered his observations from his freshman year in high school. “I was the worst player in America. I probably shouldn’t have been playing basketball. They kept me because I was probably 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, so I had size to me my freshman year. I couldn’t make a layup. I remember working so hard on my left-hand layup. I couldn’t make a right-hand layup. It was rough.”

The Final Four will be played on an elevated floor in Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Texas Texans, but Kentucky freshman Doron Lamb doesn’t mind the set-up. “I don’t really mind as long as it’s got a basketball court.”

Had a debate with freelance photographer Bill Thiry on whether or not the Astrodome was located next to Reliant Stadium. Bill thought the dome had been imploded, but Larry Vaught asked an officer and I won the bet. The prize: A two-litter of Diet Mountain Dew! Of course, I shared. The Final Four experience hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s a dream come true to cover the Cats in the Final Four. The routine is the same for me as always. Covering the game and getting information behind the scenes. It’s only almost nine hours before tip-off.