Hello HOB. Today is UK Basketball Media Day. We'll have John Calipari joining us at approx 1:05 ET. I'll share all the major talking points here in this thread. Stay tuned...
JOHN CALIPARI Q&A:
* Cal opens by talking about the McGuire family from Pikeville who attended the Blue-White Game with the dad hustling over from his job in the coal mine without having time to shower or change his work clothes. Said it took him back to his upbringing thinking about his grandfather working in the mines of WVa. Just a real moving image, Cal said, and he wanted to make sure he could do something to make the family appreciated for what they stand for. His American dream started from those humble roots.
* Second question comes from John Huang, who was a dentist prior to being a writer. He says he hates to ask, but asks how you learn from losing to St. Peters and how can you guarantee it won't happen again... Cal: "Only a dentist would ask that. He probably wants to take out my molars." Kids were crushed from that game, Cal added. He was really concerned about how they were going to deal with it because he knew they were going to get hit hard. Sent them home to be with their families. He says there's no guarantees for protecting yourself against another loss like that, but it helps when you have great teammates like they have right now. You get back to work, Cal says. Every team in the country has experienced one of those... and St. Peters sneaky good, like Cal's early UMass teams. Almost made it to the Final Four.
* Cal says he knows it's important to get back on top. "It matters. We know it matters."
* Told some guys after the scrimmage that they have to get better defensively or they're not going to play. Told them he's only required to play five guys. Pick-and-roll defense was so bad, it was like they had never been taught it before.
* On the veteran aspect of the team... They're a little ahead offensively right now from where you usually are. They're behind defensively. Really bad on that end right now, he said. "It was awful (in the BWG)." But, having veterans, it's cool that they know that. Had some guys relay it to the young players.
* Jacob Toppin has been the "gym rat," Calipari says. Notes that every time he's had a guy like that, he's been the breakout player. But still needs to be more physical to get the most out of his ability. Gotta play through bumps. Jokes that Toppin is maturing. "He's gone from like 13 to 16." lol
* On Adou Thiero... Came in advanced offensively. Able to knock down jumpers, go at guys. But behind in some other areas. That's OK, though, Cal said. Other guys came in that way, too. Now, the big key for him is can he keep doing it, keep grinding like the SGAs and Immanuel Quickleys did?
* Ugonna is a 7-footer who can really run and has some skills. Sounds almost surprised about the late-addition big man.
* Pleased with Daimion Collins' progress, but blocking shots has to be a huge part of his game, not just shooting the ball and dunking. Same for Toppin. Both of those guys have to block shots for this team. Too tall and too athletic not to.
* On CJ Fredrick... Thinks he had been pressing early in practice and may have shied away from shooting. Stopped a practice and asked the team how many guys think it's going in when CJ shoots. They all raised their hands. Cal wants him shooting. It's gonna drop. He hasn't played in a year and a half. Just has to let it come to him.
* Calipari on Antonio Reeves... "We brought him in to make baskets, kinda like Kellen Grady, and he makes baskets." Used to try and do too much with the dribble, mess around, but he's getting that out of his system. A quiet kid. Doesn't say a whole lot. "Doesn't get my jokes yet."
* Wallace and Livingston may be young, but they are really physically advanced.
* Tyler Ulis is rehabbing at UK and taking some courses, Cal says. He's in the gym a lot with them. Helpful for a guy like Wheeler to learn from a guy who did it as such a high level. Cal told him he has to be a guy who forces the defense to guard him, and he knows that. Spending a lot of time in the gym working on the J.
* Cal gets a question basically asking how he deals with being told he sucks and can't coach. LOL. Says he doesn't listen to any of it. "At the end of the day, people can look back 50 years from now and reflect."
* Cal says "I want another tough question." Reporter responds with, "Do you miss Jerry Tipton?" LOL
* Cal says all of his best teams have had a really good blend of veterans and great freshman talent like this one does.
* Oscar Tshiebwe is trying to stay off his feet as much as possible. He'll stop doing what he's doing when it swells up. Being careful. Says he's fine. No real timetable on a return.
* Cal: I like the group. We got the guard play, the wing play, the big guys. Doing it without Oscar right now, so it's a little different when he's not in there, but it gets a lot better when he's back.
OSCAR TSHIEBWE Q&A:
JACOB TOPPIN Q&A:
SAHVIR WHEELER Q&A:
DAIMION COLLINS Q&A:
JOHN CALIPARI Q&A:
* Cal opens by talking about the McGuire family from Pikeville who attended the Blue-White Game with the dad hustling over from his job in the coal mine without having time to shower or change his work clothes. Said it took him back to his upbringing thinking about his grandfather working in the mines of WVa. Just a real moving image, Cal said, and he wanted to make sure he could do something to make the family appreciated for what they stand for. His American dream started from those humble roots.
* Second question comes from John Huang, who was a dentist prior to being a writer. He says he hates to ask, but asks how you learn from losing to St. Peters and how can you guarantee it won't happen again... Cal: "Only a dentist would ask that. He probably wants to take out my molars." Kids were crushed from that game, Cal added. He was really concerned about how they were going to deal with it because he knew they were going to get hit hard. Sent them home to be with their families. He says there's no guarantees for protecting yourself against another loss like that, but it helps when you have great teammates like they have right now. You get back to work, Cal says. Every team in the country has experienced one of those... and St. Peters sneaky good, like Cal's early UMass teams. Almost made it to the Final Four.
* Cal says he knows it's important to get back on top. "It matters. We know it matters."
* Told some guys after the scrimmage that they have to get better defensively or they're not going to play. Told them he's only required to play five guys. Pick-and-roll defense was so bad, it was like they had never been taught it before.
* On the veteran aspect of the team... They're a little ahead offensively right now from where you usually are. They're behind defensively. Really bad on that end right now, he said. "It was awful (in the BWG)." But, having veterans, it's cool that they know that. Had some guys relay it to the young players.
* Jacob Toppin has been the "gym rat," Calipari says. Notes that every time he's had a guy like that, he's been the breakout player. But still needs to be more physical to get the most out of his ability. Gotta play through bumps. Jokes that Toppin is maturing. "He's gone from like 13 to 16." lol
* On Adou Thiero... Came in advanced offensively. Able to knock down jumpers, go at guys. But behind in some other areas. That's OK, though, Cal said. Other guys came in that way, too. Now, the big key for him is can he keep doing it, keep grinding like the SGAs and Immanuel Quickleys did?
* Ugonna is a 7-footer who can really run and has some skills. Sounds almost surprised about the late-addition big man.
* Pleased with Daimion Collins' progress, but blocking shots has to be a huge part of his game, not just shooting the ball and dunking. Same for Toppin. Both of those guys have to block shots for this team. Too tall and too athletic not to.
* On CJ Fredrick... Thinks he had been pressing early in practice and may have shied away from shooting. Stopped a practice and asked the team how many guys think it's going in when CJ shoots. They all raised their hands. Cal wants him shooting. It's gonna drop. He hasn't played in a year and a half. Just has to let it come to him.
* Calipari on Antonio Reeves... "We brought him in to make baskets, kinda like Kellen Grady, and he makes baskets." Used to try and do too much with the dribble, mess around, but he's getting that out of his system. A quiet kid. Doesn't say a whole lot. "Doesn't get my jokes yet."
* Wallace and Livingston may be young, but they are really physically advanced.
* Tyler Ulis is rehabbing at UK and taking some courses, Cal says. He's in the gym a lot with them. Helpful for a guy like Wheeler to learn from a guy who did it as such a high level. Cal told him he has to be a guy who forces the defense to guard him, and he knows that. Spending a lot of time in the gym working on the J.
* Cal gets a question basically asking how he deals with being told he sucks and can't coach. LOL. Says he doesn't listen to any of it. "At the end of the day, people can look back 50 years from now and reflect."
* Cal says "I want another tough question." Reporter responds with, "Do you miss Jerry Tipton?" LOL
* Cal says all of his best teams have had a really good blend of veterans and great freshman talent like this one does.
* Oscar Tshiebwe is trying to stay off his feet as much as possible. He'll stop doing what he's doing when it swells up. Being careful. Says he's fine. No real timetable on a return.
* Cal: I like the group. We got the guard play, the wing play, the big guys. Doing it without Oscar right now, so it's a little different when he's not in there, but it gets a lot better when he's back.
OSCAR TSHIEBWE Q&A:
JACOB TOPPIN Q&A:
SAHVIR WHEELER Q&A:
DAIMION COLLINS Q&A:
