Craig Skinner Wants Cats to Enjoy Final Four Experience

Asia Thigpen says UK players want to "soak in the moment" and enjoy the Final Four. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Craig Skinner has been to the Final Four once with Kentucky and won the national title with that team led by national player of the year Madison Lilley.

He knows what to expect this week in Kansas City when Kentucky (29-2) plays in the Final Four for the second time. Kentucky is the top rated team remaining in the field after Texas A&M eliminated No. 1 Nebraska, which had not lost this season, in five sets Sunday.

“We know there is going to be pressure but we have to enjoy this,” Skinner said after his team swept Creighton in the Elite Eight. “You don’t get this chance very often in life. We are going to enjoy this experience and time we have together.

“It’s very rare to get to experience a group of people who have bought into each other and the program.”

Skinner understands how difficult it is for any team to reach the Final Four.

“It’s magical stuff. It is hard to do. It takes a collective effort,” the Kentucky coach said. “I have been there before. I can’t wait to do it again but I just want the players to feel what it is like to be at that level. It’s really cool. I don’t worry about the effort they will give on Thursday (in the national semifinals).”

Lizzie Carr, a Purdue transfer, has enjoyed the attention the volleyball team has already received, including a sellout crowd for the Elite Eight matchup.

“I keep seeing T-shirts and signs and everything that says we’re a volleyball school and so I think that that’s pretty fitting for this time of year,” Carr said.

Would Carr be disappointed with this season if Kentucky doesn’t win the national title?

“I mean, obviously that’s what our goal is, and that’s what we’re striving for. We’re going to do every single thing we can, every step of the way to get there,” Carr said. “We’re just going to make sure that we’re focusing on what’s important now.

“I don’t want to say that we would be disappointed … I don’t know how to really answer that question, because that’s not what we’re focused on right now. We’re focused on winning our next match and preparing for that.”

Sophomore hitter Asia Thigpen feels the same way.

“I think we’re just really going to try and soak in the moment and just play with joy,” Thigpen said on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk.

She said the players had a smiley face on their hands in the match against Creighton to remind them to play with joy at all times.

“Joy from the fact that we get to play with each other in another match. It doesn’t matter who we play (in the Final Four). We just want to play so we can just continue our season,” Thigpen said.