Facilities don't seem as important to UK players as they do coach John Calipari. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach John Calipari has said several times this offseason that UK’s facilities need upgrades because they no longer have the “wow” factor with recruits.
Rupp Arena is has undergone major renovations and the Joe Craft Center is a terrific practice facility.
But Calipari has made it clear to UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart and UK fans that Kentucky’s facilities need upgrading to keep UK as the “gold standard” Calipari likes to talk about.
Yet two of his current players last week sure made it sound like they thought the facilities were just fine.
Guard Antonio Reeves transferred from Illinois State to Kentucky. He knew how to appreciate what he found in Lexington.
“My first impression (of the facilities) was, ‘Wow. I can’t believe how (there’s) so many resources,’” he said.
Point guard Sahvir Wheeler played two years at Georgia before transferring to Kentucky last year.
“This is state-of-the-art facilities already, I think, but that is a little out of my department,” Wheeler said.
He was also honest enough to admit he was not worried about facilities when he picked Kentucky. He wanted to play for a Hall of Fame coach, have a chance to compete for a national title and practice against elite competition.
“If you’re coming for facilities, that’s great because we do have some really nice ones. But that’s not why I chose here or Georgia,” he said.
So maybe facilities are not hampering UK the way Calipari believes they are.
6 Responses
Calipari needs to quit making excuses and do his duty to get our basketball program back were it needs to be. If he doesn’t delivered this upcoming season, i really think that will be end of straw for him.
To me that under cuts his coaching abilities and shows little faith in himself and UK and , projects the players as being materialistic and shallow.
Calipari is just laying the groundwork to explain why his team will not win a championship…AGAIN!
Like I said before, wonder what st.peters facilities are like compared to uk’s , must be better..they bested cal and his dormitories in the first round
Just smoke and mirrors from the con man.
I think coach cal is a great coach and knows what he needs to have a championship team. When he first came we had elite players coming to play for the wildcats and we had great teams but now other schools have caught up with us so I’d say it’s time for a upgrade and bring them players back. 💙GO CATS 💙