CALIPARI Q&A:
* Ohio is a team that scores 80+ per game, gets on big runs with the 3 ball. They shoot it from just about every position. NCAA Tournament team from last year with most of their guys back. Cats need this kid of game to “continue our path,” Cal says. They’re good. Their big guys are good. Skilled. Ohio gets about 20 assists per game.
* On his conversation with Sahvir Wheeler prior to transferring to UK. Said he needed to be disruptive on defense, first and foremost. “Not sure he even tried (at UGA). Disruption on D without fouling. If he couldn’t do that, he shouldn’t look at UK. Then he told him he has to work on his floater and 3-point shots. Doesn’t want him trying to finish at the rim as much as he has been doing, and can’t shoot 22% from 3. Used his old “don’t have to make them all, just can’t miss them all” line. Lastly, they talked about turnovers. Can’t have 4 TOS a game at UK. He’s really put a lot of focus on that since getting a little careless in the opener and is doing a great job, Cal said.
* On Oscar’s offensive rebounds… Cal noted they have a rule where, if you catch it and your shoulders are facing the basket, you have to go back up with it. Score. If you catch it and you’re facing away from the basket, you kick it back out. They’re keeping it really simple with that.
* Oscar’s jump shot was really surprising to Cal when he got here, and he wants him to shoot it more. He’s really good at it.
* Cats have a couple of guys that Cal says play “Red” defense, a term he used when Derek Willis was here. Can’t stay in front of people. If he’s on the court and his man is trying to take him, the other guys are supposed to say “Red” and be ready to help. But Willis was a guy who was too good to keep off the court, so they had to figure things out. That’s what they’re doing with a couple of guys now.
* Cal said Toppin and Ware should be closer to returning to the court, but they have to practice today if they’re going to play tomorrow.
* Daimion Collins had one rebound and one blocked shot in 15 minutes of play vs. MSM. Based on that, should not have played that much, Cal said. He’s got to be grabbing rebounds and blocking shots to be in there. “Make me play you. Perform. Fight.” Telling kids the truth.
* Team has a lot of good guys, Cal noted. Good kids. Now they have to find out if they have fighters in order to be a real contender.
* Need to be getting to the rim more often and getting to the foul line, Cal says. Some of it has to do with him teaching guys the floater and working on that a lot in practice. You typically won’t get to the line as much on the floater, but it opens up opportunities on the back side for putbacks.
* Grady has to find some other ways to operate when the other team shifts its focus to him. Didn’t get enough shots vs. MSM when they really focused on him. Too good a shooter to only have three or four shots in a game. He’s got to figure out other ways to score and Cal has to figure out some ways to free him up. “He scores baskets.”
* Asked about Shaedon Sharpe, Cal says he doesn’t think he’ll play this season. Doesn’t know if he’ll be in any kind of shape to do it. “But we’ll see.” Hmmm…
* Asked about the noticeable amount of empty seats at Rupp Arena… Cal says he thinks it’s mostly still concerns about Covid and how long it takes to get into the arena now. Still looks at it as a positive with having fans back in big numbers. Thinks UK will be back among the national leaders in attendance again when it’s all said and done. “We’ve got the best fan base.”
* This (Ohio) game, we need our fans at the game, Cal said. It’s going to be a hard game. Their 4s and 5s will shoot 3s, Cal said. Sometimes deep 3s. Cats have to be ready for that. And there will be some long rebounds off those the guys have to be ready for.
* Ohio is a team that scores 80+ per game, gets on big runs with the 3 ball. They shoot it from just about every position. NCAA Tournament team from last year with most of their guys back. Cats need this kid of game to “continue our path,” Cal says. They’re good. Their big guys are good. Skilled. Ohio gets about 20 assists per game.
* On his conversation with Sahvir Wheeler prior to transferring to UK. Said he needed to be disruptive on defense, first and foremost. “Not sure he even tried (at UGA). Disruption on D without fouling. If he couldn’t do that, he shouldn’t look at UK. Then he told him he has to work on his floater and 3-point shots. Doesn’t want him trying to finish at the rim as much as he has been doing, and can’t shoot 22% from 3. Used his old “don’t have to make them all, just can’t miss them all” line. Lastly, they talked about turnovers. Can’t have 4 TOS a game at UK. He’s really put a lot of focus on that since getting a little careless in the opener and is doing a great job, Cal said.
* On Oscar’s offensive rebounds… Cal noted they have a rule where, if you catch it and your shoulders are facing the basket, you have to go back up with it. Score. If you catch it and you’re facing away from the basket, you kick it back out. They’re keeping it really simple with that.
* Oscar’s jump shot was really surprising to Cal when he got here, and he wants him to shoot it more. He’s really good at it.
* Cats have a couple of guys that Cal says play “Red” defense, a term he used when Derek Willis was here. Can’t stay in front of people. If he’s on the court and his man is trying to take him, the other guys are supposed to say “Red” and be ready to help. But Willis was a guy who was too good to keep off the court, so they had to figure things out. That’s what they’re doing with a couple of guys now.
* Cal said Toppin and Ware should be closer to returning to the court, but they have to practice today if they’re going to play tomorrow.
* Daimion Collins had one rebound and one blocked shot in 15 minutes of play vs. MSM. Based on that, should not have played that much, Cal said. He’s got to be grabbing rebounds and blocking shots to be in there. “Make me play you. Perform. Fight.” Telling kids the truth.
* Team has a lot of good guys, Cal noted. Good kids. Now they have to find out if they have fighters in order to be a real contender.
* Need to be getting to the rim more often and getting to the foul line, Cal says. Some of it has to do with him teaching guys the floater and working on that a lot in practice. You typically won’t get to the line as much on the floater, but it opens up opportunities on the back side for putbacks.
* Grady has to find some other ways to operate when the other team shifts its focus to him. Didn’t get enough shots vs. MSM when they really focused on him. Too good a shooter to only have three or four shots in a game. He’s got to figure out other ways to score and Cal has to figure out some ways to free him up. “He scores baskets.”
* Asked about Shaedon Sharpe, Cal says he doesn’t think he’ll play this season. Doesn’t know if he’ll be in any kind of shape to do it. “But we’ll see.” Hmmm…
* Asked about the noticeable amount of empty seats at Rupp Arena… Cal says he thinks it’s mostly still concerns about Covid and how long it takes to get into the arena now. Still looks at it as a positive with having fans back in big numbers. Thinks UK will be back among the national leaders in attendance again when it’s all said and done. “We’ve got the best fan base.”
* This (Ohio) game, we need our fans at the game, Cal said. It’s going to be a hard game. Their 4s and 5s will shoot 3s, Cal said. Sometimes deep 3s. Cats have to be ready for that. And there will be some long rebounds off those the guys have to be ready for.
