Here are notes from what UK head coach John Calipari said in advance of this evening's game between Kentucky and Western Kentucky ...
** Calipari says all Kentucky's players have gotten booster shots and "it's about being a great teammate." Says many didn't want to do it but they did it for each other and their families at home. This week and the following week when they are back for Christmas they'll meet with media via Zoom because of the variant spreading so much.
** Calipari says when he wants to score 75-80 points that can be adjusted based on how opponents want to play tempo-wise. It might be 75% of 75 points. But if you're a team scoring in the 60s you're going to face someone who scores in the 70s even when you play great defense. They did have the low scoring game against Notre Dame and that was just bad shooting. They'd like to take 20-22 three-point attempts. Sometimes less if there are more driving opportunities and sometimes more. If you're not making threes you'd better be defending to keep the opponent in the same area you're at.
** On back to back make-up opponents Calipari said he's focused on mitigating the impact. He's got enough friends where they can fill up the schedule if they need to. This was a quick turn. They started calling teams on Saturday night. There wasn't the time to get something together. Many teams want to play Kentucky. They'll say they want to play in Lexington but they want a return trip the next year. Calipari said if you have eight scholarship players and a coach you must play the game. It's not going to be perfect. Calipari says his first concern is taking care of people's children. Last year the concern was mental health.
** On whether UK has a lot to lose and not much to gain, Calipari said two things happened. First of all the building is sold out. They need the best team they can get. When you went through the list other big name opponents were not willing. Then it became "to what level do we do this?" Could they have postponed the game? That went out the window if they could get a good opponent. Now with Western Kentucky and the history of the program in the state, their respect in the state and nationally ... People still remember WKU and Coach Diddle. This team handled Louisville. Rick Stansbury has done a great job. It's a dangerous game, Calipari said. "I don't want to say it's a no win ..." He wants to bring honor to western Kentucky as the country is watching.
** Asked if he hopes the UofL game gets rescheduled Calipari said if there are cancellations and if there's an opportunity "obviously we'd play it ... but we just don't know where this is all going."
** Asked if the game isn't played this year then it should be played in Rupp next year. Calipari points out that's what happened with football.
** On whether this could prompt him to reconsider UK's scheduling philosophy he did have to make the home/home available. He told them they don't take UK on the road just anywhere. The other fly in the ointment was beating North Carolina by 30 points. Teams were more reluctant to play Kentucky after that. Says TV was not that big a part of it.
** Asked if UK needs to shoot more free throws Calipari said they want to make more than the other team shoots but they're shooting a high percentage. They've added the floater and now every player including big guys are shooting it. That leads them to stop short of the body contact so they won't shoot as many free throws. Calipari also said if there aren't a lot of free throws the game doesn't stop. It keeps going and that's not bad.
** Calipari notes WKU has Jamarion Sharp, who is 7'5 and leading the nation in blocked shots.
** Says it's going to be a hard game. They have a 7'5 guys, two guys who can really shoot it, and their leading scorer is an attack dog. He said they run good stuff and the point guard is the guy who stirs the drink. He's the most effective player, maybe, in controlling the game. Calipari said you can't come into this game and not play well or you will lose.
** Calipari said they're working with the guards on not catching the ball, dropping it, and trying to shoot it. Wherever you catch it you shoot it from there. That other stuff is for high school. You shoot from where you catch it. Kellan Grady got his shots off. They're clean shots. You have to practice that way. You had a couple of guys practicing shooting drills like they were playing HORSE. He took Grady out because he passed up two shots at one point. He needs confident shooters or he'll sit them.
** Calipari said he doesn't want to hear anybody saying you get subbed out when you make mistakes. He had a guy sitting next to him in Vegas saying, "Do you know how many times you yelled at guys to shoot the ball? 100 ... " They know if they walk, charge, or step out of bounds in the corner you're coming out. If you're open and you don't shoot you're coming out.
** The biggest thing that happened in the UK-UNC game was they passed the ball, Calipari said. Nobody was catching it and holding it. Because the ball was moving the court was open for Wheeler to do what he does. Against Notre Dame everybody was going to make the play.
** Calipari says all Kentucky's players have gotten booster shots and "it's about being a great teammate." Says many didn't want to do it but they did it for each other and their families at home. This week and the following week when they are back for Christmas they'll meet with media via Zoom because of the variant spreading so much.
** Calipari says when he wants to score 75-80 points that can be adjusted based on how opponents want to play tempo-wise. It might be 75% of 75 points. But if you're a team scoring in the 60s you're going to face someone who scores in the 70s even when you play great defense. They did have the low scoring game against Notre Dame and that was just bad shooting. They'd like to take 20-22 three-point attempts. Sometimes less if there are more driving opportunities and sometimes more. If you're not making threes you'd better be defending to keep the opponent in the same area you're at.
** On back to back make-up opponents Calipari said he's focused on mitigating the impact. He's got enough friends where they can fill up the schedule if they need to. This was a quick turn. They started calling teams on Saturday night. There wasn't the time to get something together. Many teams want to play Kentucky. They'll say they want to play in Lexington but they want a return trip the next year. Calipari said if you have eight scholarship players and a coach you must play the game. It's not going to be perfect. Calipari says his first concern is taking care of people's children. Last year the concern was mental health.
** On whether UK has a lot to lose and not much to gain, Calipari said two things happened. First of all the building is sold out. They need the best team they can get. When you went through the list other big name opponents were not willing. Then it became "to what level do we do this?" Could they have postponed the game? That went out the window if they could get a good opponent. Now with Western Kentucky and the history of the program in the state, their respect in the state and nationally ... People still remember WKU and Coach Diddle. This team handled Louisville. Rick Stansbury has done a great job. It's a dangerous game, Calipari said. "I don't want to say it's a no win ..." He wants to bring honor to western Kentucky as the country is watching.
** Asked if he hopes the UofL game gets rescheduled Calipari said if there are cancellations and if there's an opportunity "obviously we'd play it ... but we just don't know where this is all going."
** Asked if the game isn't played this year then it should be played in Rupp next year. Calipari points out that's what happened with football.
** On whether this could prompt him to reconsider UK's scheduling philosophy he did have to make the home/home available. He told them they don't take UK on the road just anywhere. The other fly in the ointment was beating North Carolina by 30 points. Teams were more reluctant to play Kentucky after that. Says TV was not that big a part of it.
** Asked if UK needs to shoot more free throws Calipari said they want to make more than the other team shoots but they're shooting a high percentage. They've added the floater and now every player including big guys are shooting it. That leads them to stop short of the body contact so they won't shoot as many free throws. Calipari also said if there aren't a lot of free throws the game doesn't stop. It keeps going and that's not bad.
** Calipari notes WKU has Jamarion Sharp, who is 7'5 and leading the nation in blocked shots.
** Says it's going to be a hard game. They have a 7'5 guys, two guys who can really shoot it, and their leading scorer is an attack dog. He said they run good stuff and the point guard is the guy who stirs the drink. He's the most effective player, maybe, in controlling the game. Calipari said you can't come into this game and not play well or you will lose.
** Calipari said they're working with the guards on not catching the ball, dropping it, and trying to shoot it. Wherever you catch it you shoot it from there. That other stuff is for high school. You shoot from where you catch it. Kellan Grady got his shots off. They're clean shots. You have to practice that way. You had a couple of guys practicing shooting drills like they were playing HORSE. He took Grady out because he passed up two shots at one point. He needs confident shooters or he'll sit them.
** Calipari said he doesn't want to hear anybody saying you get subbed out when you make mistakes. He had a guy sitting next to him in Vegas saying, "Do you know how many times you yelled at guys to shoot the ball? 100 ... " They know if they walk, charge, or step out of bounds in the corner you're coming out. If you're open and you don't shoot you're coming out.
** The biggest thing that happened in the UK-UNC game was they passed the ball, Calipari said. Nobody was catching it and holding it. Because the ball was moving the court was open for Wheeler to do what he does. Against Notre Dame everybody was going to make the play.
