Junior Keion Brooks and other UK players better produce on defense or John Calipari says they may not start. (UK Athletics Photo)
It’s rare for John Calipari to do a September press conference to update local media members on his team. Obviously, he shared news Tuesday that he had tested positive for COVID during the summer despite being vaccinated and also stressed the importance of having the state legislature pass name, image and likeness regulations soon before the current emergency order allowing that in Kentucky expires.
However, he also talked a lot about his team but did dodge a question about which player has surprised/impressed him the most in preseason workouts.
“I’ll be honest with you, they’ve all … I could go right down the line and name, other than the two that haven’t been practicing, you could name 10 guys that have had good days,” Calipari said.
“That’s why I keep coming back to it: We may play the best five defenders. You’d better get in the best shape of your life. Your body fat better drop. You’d better fight like heck. And if you think you’re going to exchange baskets, you’re not playing.”
Would he do that? I doubt it especially with the offense placed on adding players with ball skills and 3-point shooting range after last year’s 9-16 season. But his point was to emphasize that he had the depth to do that if he wanted and maybe send a message to his players.
“Now that’s the challenge to everybody on there, that I’m going to have to defend and rebound and do all these other things because he and I are pretty equal everywhere else, but he does that, which means he’s playing before me,” Calipari said.
“I don’t want to pull out one guy (as the best) because, I’ll be honest with you, I’ve been pleased with all of them.”
2 Responses
Why is Calipari not playing his best 5 players opening a game. It is as if promises were made to certain players about starting.
If you watch no player passes to Shepard when he is wide open. It is not too often but it is readily apparent. Shepard needs to be more aggressive with the ball. The wrong players are drifting out shooting 3’s when they should be on the blocks.
In every game that is extremely close at the end Kentucky players become like statues watching the ball handler and never blocks out. Against LSU after the block not one Kentucky player blocked out or went for the ball. All the had to do after the block was swat the ball toward half court.
Caliparri is a great recruiter but lacks in couching. # or 4 games in a row the opposing team got layups right under the basket. What are the assistant coaches doing. Sure not teaching defense or working with Big "Z" it seems.
They have the talent. now if we could get some coaching. Put some fire under their behinds and get them to play with all they got.
I have been one who thought it was not a huge deal to have Reed and Rob come off the bench to give a spark but changing my mind. Those two need to be on the court from the start
Comments are closed.