Cam'Ron Fletcher (21) could find himself coming out of the "bullpen" for John Calipari in the SEC Tournament. (SEC Photo)
Just as a reminder that today’s game against Mississippi State is no gimme for Kentucky, coach John Calipari stressed Wednesday that it would be a “hard” game with the reminder UK beat the Bulldogs in double overtime earlier only because Dontaie Allen hit seven 3-pointers.
“Their guard play is good. Their big men are good. They’re a better team at this point, but so are we. And we’re different. We’re not playing the same way we did then,” Calipari said.
But Calipari was at his best when asked how he might use his depth knowing that Kentucky will have to win four games in just over 72 hours to claim the SEC Tournament championship.
Instead of basketball terminology, Calipari — an avid baseball fan — pulled out the baseball analogy.
“You’re just trying to win this game and then we’ll worry about the next one later. We’re going into this; if I need to use the entire roster, there will be no pitchers left. I’m using every pitcher I can,” the UK coach said. “The knuckleballer, the curveballer, the fastpitch, the middle reliever, the last-inning (guy). I’m throwing everybody.
“Now, what if the pitcher that we start the game with is really in a groove? Then we won’t go to the bullpen. We won’t. We’ll just go with who we have.”
Calipari said UK is not in a position to have a 10-point lead in the game and think about using reserves. Priority has to be winning, not resting top players.
“Everything you’re doing, your mentality is let’s go, leave nothing on the table, including timeouts. You do whatever you have to (in order) to get through. And it’s going to be a hard game,” he said.
“I told them, ‘Guys, every game we play in this tournament, there’s not going to be any 20-point blowouts. This thing is going to come down to the wire and we’ve got to be tougher and fight and throw daggers more than they do, or your season ends.’ So, that’s what it will be about.'”
