LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Joker Phillips regrets he won't see firsthand what his young Kentucky squad will look like next season.

The outgoing Wildcats coach spoke Tuesday for the first time since Kentucky fired him. He said he had stressed to his staff the need for the team to show improvement and get to '13, ``because I thought '13 would be the year we have an opportunity to make a huge move.''

It didn't happen. He was fired Sunday effective at the end of season.

But after Phillips initially resisted the option to coach the last two games after this week's bye, players urged him to finish out the season and get a glimpse of what might have been in 2013.

Kentucky (1-9, 0-8 Southeastern Conference) hosts Samford next and then plays at Tennessee.