Tre Mitchell (Vicky Graff Photo)
Either Aaron Bradshaw is just saying the right things or Kentucky coach John Calipari has got his message across about the Cats having to toughen up starting with tonight’s game at Arkansas.
Kentucky is coming off a 79-62 loss at South Carolina. It also lost in overtime at Texas A&M earlier this season.
Arkansas is just 1-5 in SEC play but did beat Purdue in an exhibition game and also beat Duke. However, Arkansas lost by 26 points at Ole Miss Wednesday and lost at home earlier to South Carolina by 27 points.
“We got to go in as one, we got to do the little stuff first,” Bradshaw said Friday. “If that means being at certain place on a certain play, we have got to be there.
“We got to start off hot and be the aggressors instead of being the ones getting pushed around. We got to be the ones pushing.”
Kentucky (14-4, 4-2 SEC) should see this as a must-win game if it wants to stay in SEC regular-season championship contention since it still has road games at Tennessee and Auburn left.
“It’s not going to be easy anywhere we go because everybody’s home game against us is the biggest game on the schedule to the fans,” Kentucky grad senior Tre Mitchell said Friday. “It’s newer for us to experience, with the guys we have, but now we’ve kind of got our feet wet with it and we’re getting used to it and we understand more now than ever what’s going to come when we’re on the road.”
Kentucky’s freshman dominated roster was overwhelmed by South Carolina’s defense and physicality.
“You just have to be physical back,” Mitchell said. “You have to set the tone early and you have to keep that tone.
“Right now, it’s just understanding the level of physicality that we need and bringing that fight and that competitive edge in all situations, no matter what the environment is like.”
Kentucky could get a boost if sophomore Adou Thiero is able to make his SEC debut. He’s missed the last seven games with some sort of back ailment. He’s averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and coach John Calipari hopes he will be available to play.
“The energy he brings is second to none,” Mitchell said about Thiero. “Some of the plays he makes are really big plays. On top of that, Adou is one of the strongest people on this team. He’s not afraid to get physical. We’re excited to get him back.”
Kentucky has had to play with various lineups as players out with injuries or eligibility issues have been added to the mix.
“It’s all about how connected we are,” Mitchell said. “There’s times out there when you can’t even hear yourself talk let alone your teammate or your coach calling out what he wants us to do. When someone does pick up on what Coach is saying, we have to relay it to everybody. We have to understand what we need and what we want through the possessions.”
5 Responses
Why does Jordan Burks never get playing time? Honestly he seems better than bradshaw at the 4. Bradshaw is a above average offensive player but a very slow footed defensive player. Burks is another player who provides a spark off the bench. I would play Burks over Edward’s. It seems like Burks is more in tuned to the game than Edward’s is.
I have been wondering the same thing about Burks. His individual offensive efficiency is either the highest or next to highest depending on game to game variation which are small at this time of year. He and Reed are the most efficient.
There is an inverse relationship between individual efficiency and playing time, which is a Calipari trademark
There are 1-2 players every year that get the Burk’s promise of more PT but Cal lies so much he forgets who gets promised what.
Burks will be transferring. Wouldn’t be suprised if Edwards too. Edwards isn’t even g league ready
I remember in late summer when everyone was excited about Joey Hart. Me and another guy on here got roasted for saying he was going to be a bench warmer and practice dummy.
Theiro is a better player than Burks and Edward’s combined. This time of rear playing time gets really tight.