Getting out of the country, something I haven’t really done in my life. Have you ever been to Hawai’i before?ĮL ELLIS: No, I’ve never been to Hawai’i.ĮL ELLIS: Man, going out there and looking forward to compete. El, you got a chance to go to Hawai’i to play a little basketball. So he pushes us every day, so just coming in, working hard every day, and just trying to get better for the team. SYDNEY CURRY: Just coming in every day, working hard for Coach. What are you doing to dedicate yourself back to him? Sydney, if coach speaks to the idea of trying to bring together community, to try to get things in a different place, he’s obviously dedicated himself to the community.

If I can help in that, in any shape, form or fashion, and be a vessel to connect these people and really to make them all proud - it’s not about me, it’s about them. I took the job because there was a disconnect, a disconnect between the community, a disconnect between former players, a disconnect between these kids.

How do I please all this whole community, this whole city, the whole state of Kentucky, and also please these kids and their parents. Before I go to sleep at night, I’m thinking about it. The obligation that I feel for my school and the pressure to make everybody happy, it never goes away. What’s it like to accept this job at your alma mater? That must be an enormous accomplishment for you and must come with a lot of pressure, as well. If I establish that, in my mind, I’ve succeeded, without ever talking about a win or a loss. I need a culture that’s built on work ethic, that’s built on character, that’s built on guys that are overcoming barriers, development within themselves, both on the court and off the court. That’s not the real issue that these young people need to be hearing.

You know, it’s easy to talk about wins and losses. KENNY PAYNE: I think one of the things that is vital for me to establish right away is my own personal culture, a culture that’s built on success for young people. Coach, thoughts about how it is that you are setting the culture for your program moving forward. Here’s the transcript from Kenny Payne and his two player representatives time at the podium during Wednesday’s ACC Media Day festivities:

Make a rope bat