» Audio: Trivia | 1-on-1

Number: 55

Class: Junior

Height: 6-10

Weight: 265

Hometown: St. Charles, Mo.

High school: St. Charles

Why are you still here? I'm a little surprised. But I think the fans are more surprised than I am. I was kind of confident the whole time. I just figured I'd be here.

Do you sense the perception that your game does not fit the dribble-drive offense? I used as motivation that everybody was saying I wouldn't be here. Just to play harder and better. A lot of people didn't get to see my game (last season) because I was kind of under restraints the whole year.

Restraints? The game plan in every game was just get Pat (Patterson) and Jodie (Meeks) the ball. ... I was kind of —playing within a shell because I wanted to play.

What would we have seen if you played with no restraints? I think you'd have seen a lot more, maybe, putting the ball on the floor and beating people off the dribble.

How do you think Coach Calipari wants you to contribute? Coach Cal says I'm a diamond in the rough. I'm just hoping this year it'll finally come out. Hopefully, I'll just play. I'm a little rusty. He sees something in me he's going to bring out. He knows I'm a good player. He kept me around. Hopefully, he can bring it out this year.

How did you learn that you would stay at Kentucky? In early June or late May, I heard (Calipari) was calling people that day. I was just waiting for my phone call. I got a call from Coach O (assistant Orlando Antigua) and he was, like, "Coach Cal really likes the way you play. He wants to keep you around."

With so many big guys in the mix, how do you earn playing time? Coach Cal plays nine or 10 players in a game. He says do something no one else can do. Work on something no one else can do. You'll get playing time.

What's your niche? Hopefully, I can get bigger and stronger, plus knock down the shot when it has to be shot.

CAREER HIGHS

Points: 15 (Indiana, Dec. 13, 2008)

Rebounds: 10 (West Virginia, Nov. 29, 2008)

Assists: 1 (eight times)

Field goals: 6 (Indiana, Dec. 13, 2008)

Field-goal attempts: 12 (Indiana, Dec. 13, 2008)

Free throws: 5 (South Carolina, Jan. 31, 2009)

Free-throw attempts: 6 (South Carolina, Jan. 31, 2009)

Three-point field goals: 2 (Lamar, Dec. 3, 2008)

Three-point field-goal attempts: 3 (twice)

Steals: 1 (eight times)

Blocked shots: 3 (Longwood, Nov. 24, 2008)

Minutes: 25 (West Virginia, Nov. 29, 2008)