#24, Eric Bledsoe, G

On the expectations of the season …
“There’s a lot of hype, but we feel good about it. We are coming together as a team and starting to get our team chemistry down.”

On his excitement for Big Blue Madness …
“Yeah, I’m very excited.”

On the dribble-drive offense …
“We’re picking it up well, but we still have things to learn about it. I think it is coming along well.”

On the team’s chemistry …
“It’s coming along well. Everybody has been a team outside of basketball. We’ve been going places together, going out and having fun. I think that definitely helps our chemistry on the court.”

On the media and fans expectations …
“We’re not worried about it. We’re just coming to practice to try to get better, that’s all we’re worried about. ”

On the competitive practices …
“It’s been real tough. I’ve been going up against John (Wall). He’s been really tough. I’ve learned stuff from him and he’s learned stuff from me. ”

On the combination of the two point guards on the floor together …
“We’re both fast. We like to run up and down the court.”

#15, DeMarcus Cousins, F

On playing against Patrick Patterson …
“Pat is tough and big. Everything you hear about him is true. The guy can play ball, bottom line he can play ball. Pat’s work ethic is unbelievable. It’s like he never gets tired. Everybody on the team will be worn out and can barely walk and then you’ll see Pat come in and get on the treadmill and start walking. Pat never stops working. I’ll ask him ‘Aren’t you tired?’ and he’ll say ‘No. I’m cool.’ He goes all day, he is amazing.”

On the work ethic of Patrick Patterson …
“There’s a lot to it. He sets the tone and everybody follows. He’s just showing his leadership.”

On his personality …
“I’m just me. I like to have fun. I’m a person just like everybody else. I’m not a superstar or something. I’m just a person like everybody else that likes to have fun. Having fun takes the pressure off of you a little. If you go out there and have fun, it gets you off of the negative and just helps a lot. I’m pretty mean on the court. I don’t smile much on the court. I guess it’s just another side of me. That’s the “Big Cuz” side of me on the court. I can be mean. DeMarcus is what you see now; “Big Cuz” is the ball player. When the lights go on, you get “Big Cuz,” when it is time to chill and relax you get DeMarcus.”

On the fan attention …
“That’s crazy. I’ve never been a part of anything like this before. It’s fun though. Everywhere you go people know who you are. They show you love, so it’s fine.”

#3, Darnell Dodson, G

On the team’s chemistry …
“It’s good because everybody has the same common goal. It’s not like anyone sets themselves apart or thinks they are better than another player on the team. We’re all just together right now, so I think that helps out a lot.”

On his style of play …
“I think the best aspect of my game is my shooting. I can do a lot of things on the court like rebounding, and I can bring size to the team at my position.”

On the dribble-drive offense …
“It just basically gives you the freedom to do what you can do best. It opens up a lot of opportunities for everybody else too.”

On the fan attention …
“Wow! I’ve never been a part of something like this. It just makes you want to work harder and play at the highest level for the fans.”

#55, Josh Harrellson, F
On his role this season and practice sessions with Coach Calipari …
“I think my role on the team is whatever Coach Cal (Calipari) needs. I think I’m just going to be a big body and a banger, a rebounder and defensive player. Hopefully I can come off the bench and be a big shooter when we need shots. Working with Coach Cal over the spring really improved my game a lot. I’m a little quicker. I’m better with the ball. I’m a better shooter, and I have more confidence.”

On his expectations …
“My expectations are to play a lot and be a key player. I need to come in and hit big shots when we need them. I need to be a good defender and be a good rebounder. I’m going to be a presence in the lane.”

On what he has improved on …
“I’m quicker. I can jump a little better. I’m smarter, and I can shoot a lot better.”

On who is the best shooter among post-players …
“I’d say we are all pretty close. Everyone can shoot really well because we all work on it. We are all pretty close.”

On the attitude of the team going into this season …
“Everybody’s attitude last year was positive. Everyone this year is so pumped and the fans all around us are so excited about this year. Everyone can’t wait to get to tip-off.”

#5, Ramon Harris, G/F

On how playing time will be divided up …
“It’s going to be fine because the way that we play, Coach Cal (Calipari) says that one guy can’t play the whole game. The way that our team is built, everyone is going to be able to play.”

On the advice he has given to the newcomers regarding Big Blue Madness …
“I haven’t told the younger guys that much about Big Blue Madness because I feel like it’s an experience they have to get for themselves. I don’t want to ruin it for them because it’s something they’ve been waiting for. It’s something you always hear about when you come to college and us having one of the best fan traditions ever that is just going to make it better, and I don’t want to spoil it for them.”

On playing at Rupp Arena …
“It’s definitely a blessing, figuring out where you came from to where you are now. Just looking at the steps and what you have been through, it is definitely a blessing.”

On the expectations of the fans and media …
“No, I don’t really like to listen to the message boards and stuff like that. I really try to keep away from it. Everyone has their opinion and I’m not saying it’s wrong, but I just like to let people have their opinions about the team and coach. I just try to work and do what Coach asks.”

#4, Jon Hood, G

On the dribble-drive offense …
We’ve only had a few practices with it, but I do believe that it suits me well - open floor, open shot. I like that. I don’t like having to create (my shot) with three, four guys draped all over me, it’s not as much fun as getting a wide open shot and sticking it. It’s a ton of fun with these guys, the system, the coaching staff, everybody. It has been so much more than I ever imagined.”

On the speed of the frontcourt …
“We are coming as fast as we can because we have two point guards that don’t slow down. John [Wall] and Eric [Bledsoe]’s speed, it’s just crazy. I’m still adjusting to the speed. Those first couple weeks I thought I had adjusted to their speed, and then we went in the weight room and took a weekend off and went home. When we came back it was nuts. It was like they had a seventh gear.”

On the speed and play of the point guards …
“They run by everybody. They get the rebound and just dribble past everyone. They are so good at doing that. They can go coast to coast and pull up and shoot it. Those two are really good and complement each other really well.”

On Patrick Patterson …
“He’s powerful. He gets in the lane. He grabs rebounds, tips stuff back in, tip dunks, and runs the floor so well. He and Daniel [Orton] run the floor so well. He’s an animal on the boards, down low he’s just too powerful for anyone to move. He’s just big and so much stronger too.”

#12 Mark Krebs, G

On earning a scholarship…
“I haven’t changed much in the way I look at myself or anything like that. I just gave it the best effort I had, played well and did the best I could and left it up to them (the coaches). I wanted to be a good teammate. I didn’t understand his philosophy on walk-ons at the time, but I just went with it. When he told me I got the scholarship I was amazed. I was in awe. I was just happy. He (Coach Calipari) made me feel like a part of the team the whole summer and going into the fall so being on scholarship is an amazing thing.”

On his plans after graduation …
“I just want to live in the moment right now. I want to enjoy this year. It’s going to be a great year. I’ve met a lot of new people. I have a lot of new teammates. I haven’t even thought about it. I’m a business major so something in business.”

On the newcomers…
“As soon as the fall hit and we got to school we became best friends. You can talk to them about anything. We go to dinner all the time. We go eat lunch all the time. It hasn’t been hard at all. Practices have gone really well. They are all really good. They are very athletic and they incorporate the team a lot. They pass really well and try to get the whole team involved.”

On fighting for playing time…
“It is coach’s decision who plays and right now we don’t know who is going to be playing a lot. Everyone has been really looking good in practices. Everyone’s time is going to be different with a new coaching staff. We just want to see each other get better. If I see Perry (Stevenson) do well it’s just like I do well. That’s what is so cool about this year.”

# 34, DeAndre Liggins, G

On his role in this season’s offense …
“I see myself playing multiple positions, a slasher-type player. I look to score more and redefine my game.”

On Coach Calipari’s coaching style during the season …
“Things are going to heat up. We know what he’s trying to do. “we just need to do what he says.”

On the fans’ excitement …
“There was excitement last year. But, Coach Calipari’s background brings much more excitement.”

On what he has learned from his freshman to sophomore seasons …
“I learned to stay humble and take one day at a time and try to get better. The things I didn’t do last year I need to this year. I also need to stay positive.”

#1, Darius Miller, G

On if he is ready for the season to begin …
“I really can’t wait to get going. It’s been a long preseason, We’re just ready to play.”

On the team’s dynamic …
“We’re playing really well together. A lot of people had questions on how we would blend but it has been great. We’re having a lot of fun and blending as a family.”

On the leader of this team …
“Pat (Patterson) is definitely the leader. He leads in every way, vocally and by example. He does a great job. Most of us are young. He does a great job getting everybody focused.”

On the fan excitement …
“It is a lot different this year. It was crazy when the fans were camping out. Everybody was having fun, it’s just a lot different this year.”

On the expectations of going to the Final Four this year…
“I would like to think that’s every team’s goal (Final Four). It’s definitely our goal. We need to work better and get better every day.”

On Coach Calipari’s expectations of him being a breakout player …
“I hope he’s right. I’m trying to get better and learn the offense. We have just done bits and pieces. I still have a lot to learn.”

#33, Daniel Orton, F

On how practice is going so far …
“Practice is going really well. I really like practicing with Coach Cal (Calipari) because it is so fun, and we all have a lot of excitement during practice. So far, everything has been going really well.”

On the play of DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson …
“You have seen them play many times before; I am sure so there really isn’t anything that I can say that will give you new information on him. But recently, Patrick has been lights out in pickup games. He can’t miss a shot. They both have been playing really well. They are both really strong and get getting stronger by the day, so it is a battle every day.”

On the improvement he has made …
“My overall game is okay, but I really have to work on my shot more. I have been working on my shot a lot here lately, but I have a long way to go. I did a good job of keeping my strength up from the summer and have actually gained about five more pounds.”

On the talent of the team this season …
“We have a lot of talent. Everyone knows that, but coming together has been really well. We hang out a lot and have a lot of fun together. Everyone gets along really well, and that is something that is special about this team.”

#54, Patrick Patterson, F

On the fans’ excitement for this team …
“Yeah, I can see it. I can see it in their eyes when they look at John Wall or me or anybody else on the team, especially Coach Calipari. We see in their eyes that they think this can be a special team. We have heard a lot of anticipation from them and the success they want us to have. Whether it is winning by this amount or having this record, we hear it. We know that they expect a lot out of us, and we just want to get to work and hopefully win a national championship.”

On what he likes about Coach Calipari …
“I just love his demeanor and the way that he handles himself around the team and his family. He says that he loves us like he loves his family. He is always talking about his wife and his children, and I know he is always talking about us.”

On his decision to return to Kentucky …
“It makes it that much sweeter. To see everything that we have in front of us this year, with all the players, great fans, great coaching staff and a chance for me to get a degree. It just makes everything that much sweeter.”
On his role this season …
“It will still basically be the same, but maybe a little different. I know I am going to have to be a leader like I did last year, but now I am going to have to step up even more and be that leader to the newcomers. I have to do whatever I can to help them anyway possible, whether it is with plays or the coaching staff, or on and off campus. I know that I will have to do my part and be the leader that I can be and push my teammates on and off the court.”

#21, Perry Stevenson, F

On playing for three coaches during his time at Kentucky …
“No, I mean, I signed with Coach (Tubby) Smith and that was the guy that I expected to play all four years for, but sometimes things happen. You have to learn how to adapt. In a way, it has been a good thing for me because I have learned three different styles of how to play basketball. So it has been kind of neat. All three are really good people, on and off of the court. They are all good coaches.”

On his relationship with his roommate Ramon Harris …
“We have been close. Also, we are roommates so that makes us closer. Closer than I want to be I guess. I have to hear him snore, and I am sure that he says the same thing about me if I fall asleep first.”

On who will impress the fans the most at Big Blue Madness …
“Mark Krebs. He hasn’t been playing much the past three years, but he has gotten a whole lot better. He came in as a walk-on, but has a scholarship now and is probably the most deserving person (for a scholarship). Not only is he a good shooter, but his ball handling has gotten a lot better. I have seen him going around people more making layups. He can be lethal because you can’t play off of him because he is such a good shooter.”

On the close relationship of the team …
“Living in the Wildcat Lodge helps. We are always around each other, playing video games, eating together or just watching TV. We also walk around campus together and just try to be together and get to know one another.”

#11, John Wall, G

On his excitement to begin the season …
“I cannot wait. That is how I was in high school. I am glad that football season is going and I really hope our football team does well, but I cannot wait for basketball season.”

On the excitement surrounding the team …
“Every school in the country wants to go undefeated and win the National Championship. We try not to focus on that too much. We just want to come in this gym everyday and get better anyway we can. I am doing well handling the expectations that are on me and the team. All the coaches here and our staff are doing a good job of not letting us focus on that. We are focused on getting better in the gym and being a good student-athlete.”

On playing for Coach Calipari …
“I love him. He is like a father-figure to me. He knows what he is doing with this offense and what he can do to get players better. If you just listen to him he can get you where you want to go.”

On the fan attention …
“It was kind of surprising. I knew that Kentucky fans were crazy about basketball because there is no NBA team around here or anything like that and with the good tradition that we have here. But I didn’t know they were that crazy. People were sitting outside in the freezing cold and rain in tents just to get tickets is crazy. That just shows how great it is that we have good fan support here. It makes you feel like you are a part of another family. We have family back home, but you come up here and Kentucky is all about family. The fans show you support and love like you are their own kids. It is great.”