by LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky reached the national title game for a second time this season before losing to Texas A&M in the title game. It was UK’s 11th Sweet Sixteen trip or better since 2009.
“I’m someone that probably operates a little bit more on feel than others. When I got here, Mr. (Mitch) Barnhart picked me up at the airport, I had a two-hour conversation with him, felt like this is where I belonged,” Skinner said about why he took the UK job. “It was the people of Kentucky, who I am as a person, I thought that was pretty easy to sell. Material things don’t motivate me, but people and feelings do. Kentucky was all about that.
“I can buy into hard work and effort and earning things. But on the other side of that, Kentucky is a flagship institution of the state. There’s no pro sports. When you do something special, they will get all in all the time.”
The great thing about Skinner is that he’s always open to new ideas and is all about giving his players credit for UK’s success. This year’s team almost seems like it has rejuvenated Skinner even more.
“They play with such joy, I want to coach more players like that. I want players that you don’t really have to coach body language and enthusiasm,” the Kentucky coach said. “If you do, you’re spending all your effort on the wrong things. We can spend our energy on how we put the pieces together and form a system to go around that.
“In the recruiting world, just trying to find those people that are driven internally, and have an enthusiasm, infectious enthusiasm, for life. Those guys, being around them every day, I look forward to that, our staff looks forward to it. Let’s get more of those players.”
