Jacob Toppin puts up a shot against Missouri Western, a Division II team. In the future, UK might opt to play a closed scrimmage against a high level opponent rather than an exhibition game like this or the one tonight against Kentucky State. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Some major college basketball programs are using a “secret” preseason scrimmage with no fans and media in attendance to prepare for the season.
Those scrimmages are against much higher level competition than what Kentucky will face in exhibition games against Missouri Western and Kentucky State.
“We’re all reading, and we had talked about it more, and again, administrative decision because obviously a closed scrimmage where you can get work against another high-level Division I program helps you, but I understand it here because financially it’s a big deal to play two games. It just is,” Calipari said.
While exhibition games do not draw capacity crowds in Rupp Arena, the games still generate substantial interview for the UK athletics
“That money goes to other sports, so now you start taking that money away that will go to other sports,” Calipari said.
“We played the Blue-White in Pikeville. That was a big deal because we need this program — it’s for all the other programs. I get it. But I think we’re going to have to address it now because it’s become so prevalent.”
Calipari said after the Missouri Western win Monday it probably is getting to the point where UK will need the “secret” closed scrimmage from a competitive standpoint because so many other schools are doing it. He said defending national champion Kansas just played Illinois.
“I will say, this game (against Missouri Western) was good for us. It was,” Calipari said after the game. “Now, the one thing I like about playing these games is taking care of some Division II people. Like playing Kentucky State (on Thursday). That’s a big deal for them. So I like doing those things.”
“But I also like this program probably more than doing that, so that needs to be addressed. We will.”
