Notes from Kentucky assistant Jai Lucas and freshman forward Daimion Collins, who had his best game of the year against Alabama on Saturday...
Coach Jai Lucas...
** Asked about expectations for Daimion Collins before the season Lucas said Calipari does not promise anything. Guys were in a similar position across that frontcourt before the season in terms of opportunity and competing for time. The thought process was he would fill a void as an elite shot blocker, a lob threat, a rim runner, and one of the reasons he picked UK was the development piece. Other guys in the frontcourt have played good and Kentucky is winning so you have to wait your turn. He's done a good job of handling that situation.
** It's hard for 18-19 year old high school All-Americans to go from where they were to a new reality in college. But it will benefit him as a basketball player for the rest of his career. This is something he needed to go through. He's shown he has the mental toughness not to play in a few games and then to come in like that. The biggest thing he did was go 6/6 on the road from the FT line. The lob is just the God-given talent.
** When you don't play for a little while a big thing now is the instant gratification. Probably bombarded with people from the outside trying to blame the coaches or being distractions. He was able to block that out.
** Bulking up has been a big focus. Asked how that is supervised Lucas said it's a team effort. Strength, sports nutrition, etc. It's his body and "it's his gift and his curse." One thing that has helped Collins is his awareness "of who he is and where he is." He's done a good job with that self-understanding. When you're small you just have to fight. Sometimes you can tell he gets it and falls down. That's part of the development.
** With all the hype around this UK team and social media Calipari does a good job of telling the truth. They also have 24-year old Grady, older other players. Guys have been through situations that helped them. Maybe they haven't been on a top-5 team but they've picked things up. They haven't talked about winning a national championship but Cal preaches they're playing for March and always does that. He addresses things right away when he feels like he needs to.
** Davion threw Collins a lob. TyTy threw a bad one and it shouldn't have been thrown because Collins was tired. They've worked on the lob since June or July. Collins said the good thing about UK is they can do a lot of things. At the shootaround he said he would play Collins because of the lob potential "and it happened to work out that way."
** On Shaedon Sharpe he said this was kind of always the plan. Use this year to develop his body to get ready for next year. When you get around the team you get excited, you see the fans, you want to play, so a little hype was natural. With the noise picking up Sharpe and family decided to focus on moving forward and making that clear for this year. He's growing his game and body for the following year.
** Tipton mentioned the ACC Network is doing a 10-part documentary on the ACC Tournament and Lucas' dad is in it. Lucas said he knew how good he was. The one game that's always been on was the game against NC State. One of the best games ever played. He always used to be hard on Jai about using his left hand, etc., and watching his dad play back in the day he can see those bad habits and had fun with that. Said his dad has never watched the replay of the NC State game. Back then you had to win the conference to go to the tournament so that NC State game was it. Season was over.
** Calipari tells guards they have the best lob threat in the country with Collins. Hard to throw it too high to him. Like having Chase from the Bengals. Throw it up, good chance he'll finish.
** UK's guards really complement each other. The teams that have won big in recent years often play multiple point guard type players. They all give something different. That gives UK different packages they can run depending on who is at PG.
** Sharpe is a high level practice guy. You're not going to run into too many practice guys like that. He has that ability. You have to guard him. He's coming at you aggressively and getting more comfortable in practice. He's adjusting to the speed, pace, strength. He's a different athlete and shot maker, someone you don't see every day.
F Daimion Collins ...
** Mindset was stay ready, keep working and grinding so when the chance comes you're prepared. That's tough for any basketball player because everybody wants to play. They have a lot of good players and everybody has their night. Have to stay within yourself and think of the positives.
** People around Collins have emphasized staying in the gym, working, and keeping a good state of mind. So there have been positive influences along the way. First time in his life he's never played much.
** Asked about his own expectations before the year the main thing was knowing development was necessary. He was looking forward to being with his teammates and the coaches.
** Cited Calipari in saying one person might not be playing well so he could be called upon at any time.
** Having the ability to jump and catch lobs like that, having two unselfish point guards who are always looking, it's a nice pairing.
** Asked why he's got such a thin frame Collins said he doesn't know. He lifts 3-4x a week. He's been on a meal plan upping the calories. Asked about his diet Collins said he eats pretty regular food, it's just eating more and more often than he usually does. Monica Fowler (sports nutritionist) said he needs to eat at least 5,000 calories a day.
** In preparing for the game this week Calipari told Collins it might be his opportunity because going through the game plan he noticed the lob was open.
Coach Jai Lucas...
** Asked about expectations for Daimion Collins before the season Lucas said Calipari does not promise anything. Guys were in a similar position across that frontcourt before the season in terms of opportunity and competing for time. The thought process was he would fill a void as an elite shot blocker, a lob threat, a rim runner, and one of the reasons he picked UK was the development piece. Other guys in the frontcourt have played good and Kentucky is winning so you have to wait your turn. He's done a good job of handling that situation.
** It's hard for 18-19 year old high school All-Americans to go from where they were to a new reality in college. But it will benefit him as a basketball player for the rest of his career. This is something he needed to go through. He's shown he has the mental toughness not to play in a few games and then to come in like that. The biggest thing he did was go 6/6 on the road from the FT line. The lob is just the God-given talent.
** When you don't play for a little while a big thing now is the instant gratification. Probably bombarded with people from the outside trying to blame the coaches or being distractions. He was able to block that out.
** Bulking up has been a big focus. Asked how that is supervised Lucas said it's a team effort. Strength, sports nutrition, etc. It's his body and "it's his gift and his curse." One thing that has helped Collins is his awareness "of who he is and where he is." He's done a good job with that self-understanding. When you're small you just have to fight. Sometimes you can tell he gets it and falls down. That's part of the development.
** With all the hype around this UK team and social media Calipari does a good job of telling the truth. They also have 24-year old Grady, older other players. Guys have been through situations that helped them. Maybe they haven't been on a top-5 team but they've picked things up. They haven't talked about winning a national championship but Cal preaches they're playing for March and always does that. He addresses things right away when he feels like he needs to.
** Davion threw Collins a lob. TyTy threw a bad one and it shouldn't have been thrown because Collins was tired. They've worked on the lob since June or July. Collins said the good thing about UK is they can do a lot of things. At the shootaround he said he would play Collins because of the lob potential "and it happened to work out that way."
** On Shaedon Sharpe he said this was kind of always the plan. Use this year to develop his body to get ready for next year. When you get around the team you get excited, you see the fans, you want to play, so a little hype was natural. With the noise picking up Sharpe and family decided to focus on moving forward and making that clear for this year. He's growing his game and body for the following year.
** Tipton mentioned the ACC Network is doing a 10-part documentary on the ACC Tournament and Lucas' dad is in it. Lucas said he knew how good he was. The one game that's always been on was the game against NC State. One of the best games ever played. He always used to be hard on Jai about using his left hand, etc., and watching his dad play back in the day he can see those bad habits and had fun with that. Said his dad has never watched the replay of the NC State game. Back then you had to win the conference to go to the tournament so that NC State game was it. Season was over.
** Calipari tells guards they have the best lob threat in the country with Collins. Hard to throw it too high to him. Like having Chase from the Bengals. Throw it up, good chance he'll finish.
** UK's guards really complement each other. The teams that have won big in recent years often play multiple point guard type players. They all give something different. That gives UK different packages they can run depending on who is at PG.
** Sharpe is a high level practice guy. You're not going to run into too many practice guys like that. He has that ability. You have to guard him. He's coming at you aggressively and getting more comfortable in practice. He's adjusting to the speed, pace, strength. He's a different athlete and shot maker, someone you don't see every day.
F Daimion Collins ...
** Mindset was stay ready, keep working and grinding so when the chance comes you're prepared. That's tough for any basketball player because everybody wants to play. They have a lot of good players and everybody has their night. Have to stay within yourself and think of the positives.
** People around Collins have emphasized staying in the gym, working, and keeping a good state of mind. So there have been positive influences along the way. First time in his life he's never played much.
** Asked about his own expectations before the year the main thing was knowing development was necessary. He was looking forward to being with his teammates and the coaches.
** Cited Calipari in saying one person might not be playing well so he could be called upon at any time.
** Having the ability to jump and catch lobs like that, having two unselfish point guards who are always looking, it's a nice pairing.
** Asked why he's got such a thin frame Collins said he doesn't know. He lifts 3-4x a week. He's been on a meal plan upping the calories. Asked about his diet Collins said he eats pretty regular food, it's just eating more and more often than he usually does. Monica Fowler (sports nutritionist) said he needs to eat at least 5,000 calories a day.
** In preparing for the game this week Calipari told Collins it might be his opportunity because going through the game plan he noticed the lob was open.
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