BJ Boston is 11-for-44 from the field in the last four games, including 1-for-9 in Tuesday's loss at Ole Miss. (SEC Photo)
It was easy to tell after Kentucky won at Tennessee for its third straight win that coach John Calipari was feeling a lot better about the Wildcats. Never mind that the Cats were still only 8-13. Calipari had the belief his team was finally listening and understanding and doing what he said. He felt especially proud that the team won at Tennessee despite a not-so-good offensive performance in the second half.
That good feeling went away when the Cats lost at home Saturday to Florida. It was obvious Calipari was obviously disappointed with his team’s overall play and how some players didn’t show up the way he wanted.
Calipari was even more disappointed Tuesday when the Cats lost 70-62 at Ole Miss in a game where they got outrebounded by 14 and again struggled to make game-winning plays in the final four minutes.
Asked what has been the most disappointing part of this season, Calipari didn’t hesitate with his answer.
“That we were right on the edge of pushing over the edge and being right there to do crazy stuff and then we revert back to what is easier and what they would rather do,” Calipari said.
Calipari said normally by now his teams “learn to fight and how to make it personal with another player” on the court.
“They learn that winning matters. They learn dagger plays and know what they are,” Calipari said.
Calipari said he thought his team was getting what he meant. He thought his team could work some late-season magic like some of his other teams had.
“Then we reverted back for two games. Totally reverted back,” Calipari said.
One player who has totally reverted back offensively is freshman BJ Boston. After going 9-for-13 from 3-point range against Arkansas and Auburn, he’s 4-for-21 from long range the last four games and missed five of six 3-pointers against Ole Miss. He’s 11 of 44 overall from the field the last four games and 4-for-19 overall and 2-for-10 from 3-point range the last two games. He did not shoot a free throw against Ole Miss or even draw a foul while playing 32 minutes.
Boston has also had just five total rebounds in 99 minutes the last three games, including only one against Ole Miss.
Point guard Devin Askew is 0-for-6 from the field the last two games after going 7-for-18 during UK’s three-game win streak. He did not have an assist in 18 minutes against Ole Miss and also had just one rebound. Calipari turned to Davion Mintz to run the point most of the game after Askew had played at least 30 minutes in six of the last seven games.
“Again, you’re looking at guys and you’re saying, what they don’t understand when they do this, each individual player, you just don’t look like a good player. But when you’re fighting and you’re doing it together and you’re creating shots for each other, shots that we can make and the game is easier, all of the sudden, everyone on the team looks like, ‘Wow, guy’s really good. He’s this guy,'” Calipari said.
“But we’re just not cracking it yet. And, let’s hope. Look, it’s not over. It ain’t over ’til it’s over. We’ve got one Saturday and we’ve got a league tournament and, you know, like I said, everybody, we play, we can beat or they can beat us. That’s where we are with this.”
“I am looking at guys and saying they don’t understand when you do this you don’t look like good players but when you are fighting and making shots and doing things together everyone on the team looks good,” Calipari said. “
