Kentucky had trouble winning 50-50 balls again at LSU. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach John Calipari’s first comment to Tom Leach on the UK Radio Network after Wednesday night’s 75-74 loss at LSU was a bit perplexing.
“I was really proud of our guys that they fought to give themselves a chance to win,” said Calipari.
Not exactly what you might have expected after UK blew a 15-point lead with 19 minutes to play. However, Calipari went on to make it clear he was not all that happy with a lot that happened to enable the Tigers to rally to beat UK just like they did at South Carolina last week.
“Here is what cost us again. Fifty-fifty balls,” Calipari said. “We were up 15, get it (the ball) jerked away and they threw it out for a 3. Then hit another one. It’s toughness.
“The last three possessions they had we did not have a guy dive on the floor. If you want to win, you got to finish the game off.”
Calipari then added again he was proud of the “way we fought” in the game.
Of course, Calipari then explained what Kentucky didn’t do. He pointed out game slippage and lack of communication on defense from the “youngest team in the country.”
“We are up 15 and kind of let go of the top and you are breaking down,” Calipari said. “I like that they fought. You screwed around and let them back in.”
He did praise LSU for the way it came back from huge deficits against Tennessee and Florida in losses as well as the win over South Carolina.
“They are better than everyone thinks,” Calipari told Leach.
He signed off his postgame radio show but noting the lack of 50-50 balls UK got and the lack of rebounding from UK guards.
“I got to watch the tape and figure out what happened on the last one (LSU game-winning shot) and why we didn’t get the ball because we did everything we were supposed to,” Calipari said.
Everything except winning the game.
16 Responses
Not 1 point from Wagner.
He blames loses on being young but he knows this when he recruits them???
Calipari is sad and pitiful.
Answers 2 questions after the game then abruptly walks off saying he has an early game Saturday. LOL
Had we won Cal would’ve been talking down to the fans and media.
He needs to learn how to coach instead of running his mouth.
That excuse for an early game against Alabama is hilarious.
We wasn’t complaining about a game against LSU when he was living it up with his NBA ALL STARS over the weekend.
LMAO
We lost this game because our players still do not understand their limitations. We will continue to lose unless we can understand how to play. Mentally a very weak team.
Wagner gobbled up 22 minutes of playing time. If Calipari would give Dillingham that amount of time he would score 30 points!
That’s another reason that we lose.
Dribble dribble. drive into trees lose ball. Edwards not one reebie.Brad 1 reebie. 7 footer not knowing where DUNK SPOT IS .Cal doesn;t eithe4got 3 7 footers n dont know how to use them. only 9 assists, Not one out of bounds play WHY? other teams feast on them against Cats. Cal I have a few if u would like me to send you one. DJ was just lost no points with big minutes Rob finished great but first half he was out of control me me me
Why am I hearing Dandy Don humming about TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
CMON KIDS WATCH THE AUBURN TAPE AGAIN AGAIN.
WE ALL LUVS YA
PREZ
Perfect time for a ankle flair up for Wagner. Reed and Dillingham will get the extra minutes
If Bama thumps us like it looks for now, we had better put Jimmy’s face on a milk carton.
Wagner’s absence cost this team 3 wins!!!!
B.S. from the fraud.
Reed is OK with coming off the bench!!!
B.S. from the fraud AND his minions.
Every player worth his salt wants to start and wants to be on the floor whenever possible. Reed Sheppard is no different.
This fraud picks his PETS and those PETS play, come H E Double Hockey Sticks or HIGH WATER.
That will be Calipari’s legacy…he put his pet’s interest ahead of the team and lost…destroying Kentucky’s program in the process.
It is and what it is, a big L and move on.
To the next Big L Saturday.
But that is exactly what the "big win" over Auburn was too. It was what it was, and time to move on, but after last Saturday, this team was suddenly a final four contender and potential champion … NOT!!!!
At least for a short while we seemed to be the envy of the basketball world when we were able to claim that we had 3 towers on the team and one of them was rated a 5*. A few months later it is looking like we are maybe 1 of 3 at best. Onyenso had a great game recently but really not a factor at all last night. He was sporting concrete shoes at the last shot last night and even had his arms down. Bradshaw and Z are either 2 wasted scholarships or 2 missed coaching opportunities. They seem to be satisfied just cheer leading from the pine. This was about as ugly as an L can get.
Scenario has certainly changed Mike
We could add lebron and giannis to this ssquad and somehow we’d be short handed