Good morning, HOB. We'll be having our first press conference with John Calipari since earlier this summer at approx 10 a.m. ET today. I'll share all the latest news and notes from UK Basketball here in this thread. Stay tuned...
* On building a unique roster this year... Cal says when you think about it, his very best teams have featured a lot of young talent mixed with veteran experience. Really only had one exception to that, among his teams that made a deep run. Should have great competition to bring out the best in guys.
* Asked if he's made any philosophical changes since last year... Says that year was awful for a lot of coaches. He's moving on. Thinks it's just a "blip on the screen." More than ready to move on. "I don't have the rearview mirror... I'm jacked about where we are, where we're going, how the recruiting's going."
* On Davion Mintz making the decision to return... One of the most appreciative young people that I've been around, Cal says. Davion told him that coach saved his life, gave him new life. Cal says he exhausted every avenue trying to find him a pro option that might work, decided it was best to be back at UK for another run. Cal said he never even met Davion's family until two days ago when they visited for practice. "Great people."
* Regarding the PG spot, Cal says they have three guys who can play the position: Wheeler, Washington, Mintz. TyTy is better than he thought, Cal said. Exciting. Decision-making isn't quite there yet but learning. Mintz can play it as more of a lead guard if they need him to. Adds late in the conversation that Grady has played that spot before at Davidson. "We have options."
* Asked about recruiting momentum right now... Cal initially responds sarcastically that they've been ranked 1 or 2 every year since he's been here, but then adds himself that he's "overrated as a recruiter." ... Notes that they're involved with the right guys now. Says information is better. "You gotta walk away from guys at times" and "don't get dragged down rabbit holes at times." Involved with the right guys now and hoping they don't have someone change their mind.
* On Covid-19... Still listening to health officials and University officials for their guidance. Did that last season and didn't have one positive test on the team. Cal admits he had a breakthrough case this summer despite being vaccinated. Said he didn't want to announce that publicly because he was worried it would discourage people from getting the shot. Said it was a very mild case, no bad symptoms. (Later adds this is the reason he missed the NBA Draft.) "It doesn't say you're not going to get it, but the chances of something severe happening is very, very low... You're not going to die." Says he hopes someone listens to his story and gets the shot so we can have a full arena this season and not have to worry about folks dying from this anymore.
* Asked about the frontcourt and looking for more aggression from them... Telling them there will be four spots on the floor that will need some "guard skills." If you don't have those, you might be limited to the big-guy rotation. More opportunities for guys who work on their skills. Likes that they have the physical presence in Oscar and the shot-blocking presence in Damion.
* On Tubby Smith returning to Rupp Arena.... Wants Tubby to feel the same love and appreciation that Joe B. Hall felt when they had him out to do the "Y" for the first time and the ovation lasted forever.
* This may be the best the SEC has ever been, top to bottom, Cal says. "We'll be challenged."
* On his assessment of the Cats' shooting at this point... Should be better, Cal says. The balance on the floor gives them more options. CJ Fredrick still hasn't been part of that mix. Hoping he returns to practice soon. "But everybody has had spells where they've made them... just need to be more consistent."
* Cal says there's a second player who is injured right now, but he doesn't want to put his name out there. Doesn't sound serious. But they're operating a couple of guys down.
* On his NIL approach... Players aren't going to come here because of NIL. They're not. They're going to come here because of what happens between the lines, the culture, the results. But it might be the reason they go somewhere else, he adds, if you're not doing it right. Cal goes on to say the "end of the sport as we know it talk" is overblown. Notes that people said the same thing about stuff like the 3-point line and one-and-done. Just have to find out how to work with it.... Cal tosses out the idea of having the UK business school get involved with players and helping them understand how some of their business/finance stuff will work out, some of the dangers. Cal goes on to stump for a state law that is "nimble and flexible" on NIL issues. Praised the governor for his NIL executive order, but they need a law now to be out in front of it.
* Regarding the schedule moving forward and getting more marquee opponents into Rupp... Cal concedes that they have to do something because the league is growing and getting better. May have to give up some of the neutral court games, demand some opp do home/neutral setup. But he also notes that you don't want young kids running the gauntlet, so some home games against lesser opponents are needed to grow and learn.
* On building a unique roster this year... Cal says when you think about it, his very best teams have featured a lot of young talent mixed with veteran experience. Really only had one exception to that, among his teams that made a deep run. Should have great competition to bring out the best in guys.
* Asked if he's made any philosophical changes since last year... Says that year was awful for a lot of coaches. He's moving on. Thinks it's just a "blip on the screen." More than ready to move on. "I don't have the rearview mirror... I'm jacked about where we are, where we're going, how the recruiting's going."
* On Davion Mintz making the decision to return... One of the most appreciative young people that I've been around, Cal says. Davion told him that coach saved his life, gave him new life. Cal says he exhausted every avenue trying to find him a pro option that might work, decided it was best to be back at UK for another run. Cal said he never even met Davion's family until two days ago when they visited for practice. "Great people."
* Regarding the PG spot, Cal says they have three guys who can play the position: Wheeler, Washington, Mintz. TyTy is better than he thought, Cal said. Exciting. Decision-making isn't quite there yet but learning. Mintz can play it as more of a lead guard if they need him to. Adds late in the conversation that Grady has played that spot before at Davidson. "We have options."
* Asked about recruiting momentum right now... Cal initially responds sarcastically that they've been ranked 1 or 2 every year since he's been here, but then adds himself that he's "overrated as a recruiter." ... Notes that they're involved with the right guys now. Says information is better. "You gotta walk away from guys at times" and "don't get dragged down rabbit holes at times." Involved with the right guys now and hoping they don't have someone change their mind.
* On Covid-19... Still listening to health officials and University officials for their guidance. Did that last season and didn't have one positive test on the team. Cal admits he had a breakthrough case this summer despite being vaccinated. Said he didn't want to announce that publicly because he was worried it would discourage people from getting the shot. Said it was a very mild case, no bad symptoms. (Later adds this is the reason he missed the NBA Draft.) "It doesn't say you're not going to get it, but the chances of something severe happening is very, very low... You're not going to die." Says he hopes someone listens to his story and gets the shot so we can have a full arena this season and not have to worry about folks dying from this anymore.
* Asked about the frontcourt and looking for more aggression from them... Telling them there will be four spots on the floor that will need some "guard skills." If you don't have those, you might be limited to the big-guy rotation. More opportunities for guys who work on their skills. Likes that they have the physical presence in Oscar and the shot-blocking presence in Damion.
* On Tubby Smith returning to Rupp Arena.... Wants Tubby to feel the same love and appreciation that Joe B. Hall felt when they had him out to do the "Y" for the first time and the ovation lasted forever.
* This may be the best the SEC has ever been, top to bottom, Cal says. "We'll be challenged."
* On his assessment of the Cats' shooting at this point... Should be better, Cal says. The balance on the floor gives them more options. CJ Fredrick still hasn't been part of that mix. Hoping he returns to practice soon. "But everybody has had spells where they've made them... just need to be more consistent."
* Cal says there's a second player who is injured right now, but he doesn't want to put his name out there. Doesn't sound serious. But they're operating a couple of guys down.
* On his NIL approach... Players aren't going to come here because of NIL. They're not. They're going to come here because of what happens between the lines, the culture, the results. But it might be the reason they go somewhere else, he adds, if you're not doing it right. Cal goes on to say the "end of the sport as we know it talk" is overblown. Notes that people said the same thing about stuff like the 3-point line and one-and-done. Just have to find out how to work with it.... Cal tosses out the idea of having the UK business school get involved with players and helping them understand how some of their business/finance stuff will work out, some of the dangers. Cal goes on to stump for a state law that is "nimble and flexible" on NIL issues. Praised the governor for his NIL executive order, but they need a law now to be out in front of it.
* Regarding the schedule moving forward and getting more marquee opponents into Rupp... Cal concedes that they have to do something because the league is growing and getting better. May have to give up some of the neutral court games, demand some opp do home/neutral setup. But he also notes that you don't want young kids running the gauntlet, so some home games against lesser opponents are needed to grow and learn.
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