Losing stinks and John Calipari knows his team has to be more physical

John Calipari and his staff are not sure what to try next after losing at Missouri. (Vicky Graff Photo)

The more John Calipari tries to explain what is wrong with Kentucky basketball, the more confusing his explanations become.

Kentucky lost 89-75 at Missouri Wednesday night in a game that really was not that close. The Tigers took control early and never gave UK a chance to get back in the game.

Kentucky cannot guard and gets beat one-on-one often. Kentucky cannot shoot and missed open shot after open shot. Kentucky cannot beat defenders off the dribble.

Even worse, it seems that the team chemistry is way off, something reigning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe confirmed after the game.

“I still like the group. I like the locker room,” Calipari said after the loss.

I could be wrong, but I don’t remember him talking about liking the locker room before. Sometimes when a coach mentions something like that it can be because there is a concern.

“We’re a work in progress and there’s things we got to do that we’re not doing. But you know, I grabbed a couple guys after by themselves with me. You know, ‘Are you okay?’ and you know, ‘I love you, you’ve got to play better,’ you know,’” Calipari said.

“But losing stinks, can’t stand it.”

Say amen, UK fans. Kentucky fans are tired of losing big games — Kentucky is just no longer feared by opponents.

“We got to step up to the plate and maybe play less people. Daimion (Collins) is the next guy that gets his opportunity now, let Daimion get in there and play and do his thing and we’ll see,” Calipari said.

Collins played only five minutes against Florida A&M and did not play at Missouri. Now Collins is going to be the team’s savior? If that’s true, why has he not been playing more.

But here’s the huge issue I am not sure can be fixed.

“Well, (Missouri) has played physical most of the year, they’re going to bump and grind, they’re older. We had a couple guys that when the game got physical, they couldn’t be in there,” Calipari said.

“And so that’s what I did was, ‘Okay who will fight, who’s gonna battle,’ and that’s who I put in. Now you’ve given up some offense, you’re given up some stuff.”

Kentucky is softer than Charmin, and that even includes Tshiebwe who had 23 points and 19 rebounds but he got knocked around and lost the ball several times.

“But like I said, we’re a work in progress. I said it a while ago. It’s gonna take some time,” Calipari said.

“I gotta go back and really figure out you know, some of its personnel. I think we got good players, but some guys aren’t playing great.”

Great players?

Kentucky is relying heavily on transfers from Illinois State, Rhode Island, Georgia, Iowa and West Virginia. Tshiebwe has  been great since coming from West Virginia but the others have just not consistently been that good.

Calipari does not have that superstar on the team and has not for several years.

So less talent that does not play physical and cannot make shots leads to results like what Kentucky is getting so far this season.