Polson: “Exactly. It would be different if I was on a different team, but these guys are the best in the country. You can’t complain much about being behind them.”
Question: Has it been harder a second season to not play after being the star at West Jessamine? Have you had any second thoughts at all about coming to UK?
Polson: “Not really any second thoughts. I am just trying to work hard every day and if I can say that I worked hard every day and still not play, that’s al I can do. That’s my mindset right now.”
Question: Are you a better player now than in high school when you led West Jessamine to two straight 12th Region titles?
Polson: “I think I have definitely improved in almost all aspects of the game. I have gotten a lot bigger and stronger and faster. I am a lot better than high school. I think I have got a lot better on defense. I didn’t really take it serious in high school. I have had to guard Marquis Teague, Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb in practice all the time and that has helped on the defensive end. I am quicker, better with the ball, shooting better. Stuff like that.”
Question: How good are those guys you go against daily in practice?
Polson: “They are the best in the country as people can see in games, they are dominating the other opponents. They are the best players in the country, so it is an honor going against them in practice.”
Question: How do you think this team compares to the one talent-wise from two years ago that had John Wall, Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe?
Polson: “I couldn’t say. I am sure we are better at some things and they are better at some things. All I know is we are a really good team right now.”
Question: Why is this team so close?
Polson: “I think really we just have a bunch of great guys on this team. There are no really big egos on this team. We are all really rooting for each other on the court and not really worried about what we are doing. Just the quality of our guys is what makes us good.”
Question: What role do the assistant coaches play on this team?
Polson: “They play a really big role. When they are not on the court, they are in film room always watching film. They always have different ideas of how we are going to go against the next opponent and they teach us in practice. They help out in any way they can.”
Question: Do they ever disagree with coach John Calipari that you see?
Polson: “I don’t know. They all have the same mindset. I guess they have disagreed a few times because it always happens, but I’ve not seen it.”
Question: Does anybody disagree with Calipari?
Polson: “Probably not the players. We are more listening. If the coaches have something that they might work, they are going to let him know.”
Question: How disappointed will the players be if Kentucky does not win the national title this year?
Polson: “I think we will be really disappointed. Last year we did not have any real expectations as a No. 4 seed and no one even thought we were going to go to the Final Four. This year we have a lot of expectations and I would say the championship is our expectation. Anything less than that and everybody will be disappointed.”
Question: Do you think fans will be bitterly disappointed as well?
Polson: “That’s the what the goal is, a national championship. Obviously we have had a really good season with 33 wins. That’s an achievement in itself, but at the end of the day I don’t think fans want 33 wins. They want a national championship and that’s what we want, too.”
Question: Can you understand that mentality if you are not from Kentucky?
Polson: “Kentucky is different. They want the best, but I think our players understand it. Even though you are not from Kentucky, they still have that drive that they want a national championship no matter where they are from.”
Question: Are you a big Ashley Judd fan since you had your picture made with her after the win over Iowa State in Louisville?
Polson: “I guess so, yeah. I was a little bit star-struck in the picture, but it was fun. I have met her before, but that is always nice to see her and talk to her. Obviously, she is a huge UK fan.”
