John Calipari met with the media to discuss Tuesday's matchup with Duke. Here's what he had to say:
JOHN CALIPARI
Part one:
On Duke and Kentucky being guard heavy as opposed to being frontcourt heavy last year:
I wish we were playing a year ago at the end obviously. I tell you what, Mike (Krzyzewski) has done a heck of a job because when you watch their tape they are driving that ball. They’re driving the ball. They’re running good stuff to put them in positions to drive the ball. He is mixing up their defense like I’ve never seen them, which is they’re playing 1-3-1, a 2-3, a 1-2-2, a 1-2-2 press. Sometimes fakes, sometimes they come. They spread out a 1-3-1. He’s trying everything to see if he figures out what he likes for the team. I imagine they’ll do it in the game.
You’re going to have two driving teams. Two teams are going to drive, drive, drive. So, the game will probably take 2.5 hours because there’s going to be fouls. We’re going to foul and they’re going to foul. Both teams are driving the ball. His team’s driving the ball, my team’s driving the ball.
On if he believes he and Coach K are in the same boat:
We’re trying to figure it out. You’re not—just like they can’t be ready for everything because they had one day of preparation, unless they prepared for us before the weekend games, we’re not ready for—they got nine out of bounds plays, they’ve got four different offense they’re running. They do two different things versus the press. They have a nice out of bounds play. They’re going to play 1-3-1, 2-3—we’re not going to be ready for everything. It’s too early.
We have Tyler who never started a game and Marcus Lee who’s only started a few games and the other guys are all freshman. Alex (Poythress) is coming off the bench. This will be a good game. I’m anxious to see Alex. Again, elite athlete. I don’t care about anything else. Just when people watch you they say ‘that is an athlete.’ If not, we’re still not getting through to him.
On how the new block/charge rules will impact tomorrow’s game:
There’s no block/charges, it’s like you can’t touch anybody. You put your hands down there, you put your forearm down there, you hip check, the guy’s driving and there’s body contact, those are all automatic fouls. Maybe I’m wrong, but I just think there’s going to be—if we both play how we’ve been playing, there’s going to be a lot of fouls called.
On how the rules were when the teams played in 2012.
They moved the arc out so it’s different.
On if the new rules are an issue:
I don’t think so.
On the rules changes that has made the biggest impact through the first two games:
We had a 30 second violation which is unusual for us, so maybe the five seconds matter a little bit but I don’t believe so. I just want them to continue whether it’s on my team or the other team or if it’s both teams, both teams—call the fouls. Make us adjust. That may mean we have to play zone. That’s my job. Figure it out.
But I think Mike’s done a fabulous job. He’s trying stuff. He’s not just saying we’re playing like we did the year before. He’s not. They’re doing a couple of the same actions but the idea of what they’re doing is totally different.
On what he thought he had when Alex Poythress played so well against Duke as a freshman:
“Alex played good. I don’t do that. I mean, Alex has had an injury. He’s had a good career. Now it’s time to be great. An injury like that – my son called me, who had the same injury, and said, ‘Dad, he’s just coming back. Like, I know how hard it is.’ So that’s my son getting on me because I want more than maybe he’s ready to give right now.”
On the opportunity this game is for Skal Labissiere with all the attention on the guards:
“Skal will have trouble with Plumlee. Plays very physical. It’s going to be a challenge for him. This is a grit game, a grind-it game. They do a great job of wedging on rebounds. When they shoot the ball, they will wedge you all the way under to the cheerleaders. So, if you’re not ready to fight, they’re going to get offensive rebounds. Like I said, they’ve got good players. They’ve got good shooters. They’ve got size. I mean, they’re going to start 6-9, 6-9, 7-foot, I believe, and two 6-5 guards. That sounds like our team a year ago. They are big and long.”
On if his previous statements about his players never performing well in homecoming games applies to Tyler Ulis making his second trip to Chicago at UK:
“I think Tyler will be fine. Tyler is a different cat. He has a different way of doing things. I’m anxious for him to get home and let him see family. Charles (Matthews), the same thing. It’s neat for those kids to be able to get home and play in this environment.
“But it’s time for us to learn who’s who. I mean, Derek (Willis) has played well. All right, Derek. He’s excited out there. I just looked at him, I just said, ‘You know, I’m happy I’ve got Derek Willis on my team.’ He laughed. But, let’s go do it here now. You know, Jamal (Murray), Isaiah (Briscoe), ‘You foul, you’re coming out. You better play without fouling, because they’re driving.’ So, it will be interesting, the stuff we have to do and how we’re going to try to feel this thing through. Who knows? We’re going to try to do our stuff, they’re going to try to do their stuff. They deny a lot, they spread the court, they make it hard on catches. We’re working hard to get open. We don’t do a great job of it right now. They’ll play gaps, so the dribble-drive is a little harder, which means it forces you into some 3s you maybe don’t want to take. So we’ve got to figure some of that stuff out.”
On how much Duke plays off turnovers:
“They fly. They fly up and down the court.”
On how well his team can defend that:
“It all depends. Our one issue is when our point guard drives, when he’s underneath the basket, to get the two and the three to go back. That’s been an issue for us right now. So, if he drives and misses, good chance they’re throwing it and throwing it ahead for a layup, because that’s something we haven’t – we’ve worked on, talked about, but it’s not hitting home right now.”
On his relationship with Coach K:
I think we have a good relationship. I mean, we're not part of the same, quote, tree. I really respect him as a coach. I respect him as a person. I told him – I did it publicly and I told him personally what he's done through USA basketball for my players – Derek Rose went from being really good to being an MVP. Anthony Davis went from 'Who am I?' to an All-Star. Demarcus Cousins, and I told Jerry Colangelo at the time, 'If you put him on this team he will be an All-Star.' They put him on USA basketball, the kid becomes an All-Star. So I told him – I've done it both privately and publicly – I appreciate what he's done for my guys. Now I want John Wall in there. Let him go. Eric Bledsoe's having an All-Star year right now. Brandon Knight. We got guys – Karl Towns cannot. He's gotta play for the (Dominican Republic). But we've got guys out there. Terrence Jones was so excited to be called out to play in Vegas. First thing he did was call me. 'I just got a call, Coach. I want to tell you I'm here.' We had a bite to eat and the excitement he had that he had a chance to be in that grouping. So.
On how uneasy he is to travel to big cities after the attack on Paris:
I think everybody should step back and let's evaluate security. What are we doing for security? And again, I worry about my players, our fans, my own family, that they're there. And I think it's something that not just in football and pro sports but in college. What's our security? What do we look like? And so I think, as I say that, I don't think I'm the first person to say it, but I think we all gotta really look at that hard and say, 'What's the security?' Sad, though. All this stuff, like I said, just doesn't make sense to me. But it puts us in a different mindset, and having to have to think about stuff like that. Like, you really have to think about that? Yes, you do.
On if he looks at a possible future foreign trip differently than he would have before:
Haven't thought about it. You know me. The foreign trip better not be more than a hour and a half away or I'm not going. So, I doubt that that'll ever come into play play as long as I'm here.
On what Brandon Ingram presents:
Well, obviously I know him pretty well. We recruited him. Terrific player. Long, active, can score the ball. Derek Will will probably be a pretty good matchup for him. Two guys that size and mobile. Both can score, so that could be a matchup that would be a good thing for us. But again, we're gonna do what we do. And the reason is: we're not going to change a whole lot. We need to know if what we're doing will work.
“So let’s do it, and let’s do it for a whole game, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll be able to come back and say, ‘All right, we need to make some adjustments here. This isn’t going to work.’ They’re going to play how they play, then they’re going to find out what works for them. Right now, they play man-to-man defense 75 percent of the time, 80 percent. They’ve played zone, but when you look at the numbers, their field-goal percentage defensively is better when they’re in a zone than it is when they’re man-to-man. Does that mean they’re going to come out against us and say, ‘Let’s just play them zone’? That could happen. Now, will we be prepared for it? We know it could happen, but … We’re as a prepared as we can be: two passes and throw it to somebody to try to get a shot. (Shrugs) You know, we’ll just see.”
JOHN CALIPARI
Part one:
On Duke and Kentucky being guard heavy as opposed to being frontcourt heavy last year:
I wish we were playing a year ago at the end obviously. I tell you what, Mike (Krzyzewski) has done a heck of a job because when you watch their tape they are driving that ball. They’re driving the ball. They’re running good stuff to put them in positions to drive the ball. He is mixing up their defense like I’ve never seen them, which is they’re playing 1-3-1, a 2-3, a 1-2-2, a 1-2-2 press. Sometimes fakes, sometimes they come. They spread out a 1-3-1. He’s trying everything to see if he figures out what he likes for the team. I imagine they’ll do it in the game.
You’re going to have two driving teams. Two teams are going to drive, drive, drive. So, the game will probably take 2.5 hours because there’s going to be fouls. We’re going to foul and they’re going to foul. Both teams are driving the ball. His team’s driving the ball, my team’s driving the ball.
On if he believes he and Coach K are in the same boat:
We’re trying to figure it out. You’re not—just like they can’t be ready for everything because they had one day of preparation, unless they prepared for us before the weekend games, we’re not ready for—they got nine out of bounds plays, they’ve got four different offense they’re running. They do two different things versus the press. They have a nice out of bounds play. They’re going to play 1-3-1, 2-3—we’re not going to be ready for everything. It’s too early.
We have Tyler who never started a game and Marcus Lee who’s only started a few games and the other guys are all freshman. Alex (Poythress) is coming off the bench. This will be a good game. I’m anxious to see Alex. Again, elite athlete. I don’t care about anything else. Just when people watch you they say ‘that is an athlete.’ If not, we’re still not getting through to him.
On how the new block/charge rules will impact tomorrow’s game:
There’s no block/charges, it’s like you can’t touch anybody. You put your hands down there, you put your forearm down there, you hip check, the guy’s driving and there’s body contact, those are all automatic fouls. Maybe I’m wrong, but I just think there’s going to be—if we both play how we’ve been playing, there’s going to be a lot of fouls called.
On how the rules were when the teams played in 2012.
They moved the arc out so it’s different.
On if the new rules are an issue:
I don’t think so.
On the rules changes that has made the biggest impact through the first two games:
We had a 30 second violation which is unusual for us, so maybe the five seconds matter a little bit but I don’t believe so. I just want them to continue whether it’s on my team or the other team or if it’s both teams, both teams—call the fouls. Make us adjust. That may mean we have to play zone. That’s my job. Figure it out.
But I think Mike’s done a fabulous job. He’s trying stuff. He’s not just saying we’re playing like we did the year before. He’s not. They’re doing a couple of the same actions but the idea of what they’re doing is totally different.
On what he thought he had when Alex Poythress played so well against Duke as a freshman:
“Alex played good. I don’t do that. I mean, Alex has had an injury. He’s had a good career. Now it’s time to be great. An injury like that – my son called me, who had the same injury, and said, ‘Dad, he’s just coming back. Like, I know how hard it is.’ So that’s my son getting on me because I want more than maybe he’s ready to give right now.”
On the opportunity this game is for Skal Labissiere with all the attention on the guards:
“Skal will have trouble with Plumlee. Plays very physical. It’s going to be a challenge for him. This is a grit game, a grind-it game. They do a great job of wedging on rebounds. When they shoot the ball, they will wedge you all the way under to the cheerleaders. So, if you’re not ready to fight, they’re going to get offensive rebounds. Like I said, they’ve got good players. They’ve got good shooters. They’ve got size. I mean, they’re going to start 6-9, 6-9, 7-foot, I believe, and two 6-5 guards. That sounds like our team a year ago. They are big and long.”
On if his previous statements about his players never performing well in homecoming games applies to Tyler Ulis making his second trip to Chicago at UK:
“I think Tyler will be fine. Tyler is a different cat. He has a different way of doing things. I’m anxious for him to get home and let him see family. Charles (Matthews), the same thing. It’s neat for those kids to be able to get home and play in this environment.
“But it’s time for us to learn who’s who. I mean, Derek (Willis) has played well. All right, Derek. He’s excited out there. I just looked at him, I just said, ‘You know, I’m happy I’ve got Derek Willis on my team.’ He laughed. But, let’s go do it here now. You know, Jamal (Murray), Isaiah (Briscoe), ‘You foul, you’re coming out. You better play without fouling, because they’re driving.’ So, it will be interesting, the stuff we have to do and how we’re going to try to feel this thing through. Who knows? We’re going to try to do our stuff, they’re going to try to do their stuff. They deny a lot, they spread the court, they make it hard on catches. We’re working hard to get open. We don’t do a great job of it right now. They’ll play gaps, so the dribble-drive is a little harder, which means it forces you into some 3s you maybe don’t want to take. So we’ve got to figure some of that stuff out.”
On how much Duke plays off turnovers:
“They fly. They fly up and down the court.”
On how well his team can defend that:
“It all depends. Our one issue is when our point guard drives, when he’s underneath the basket, to get the two and the three to go back. That’s been an issue for us right now. So, if he drives and misses, good chance they’re throwing it and throwing it ahead for a layup, because that’s something we haven’t – we’ve worked on, talked about, but it’s not hitting home right now.”
On his relationship with Coach K:
I think we have a good relationship. I mean, we're not part of the same, quote, tree. I really respect him as a coach. I respect him as a person. I told him – I did it publicly and I told him personally what he's done through USA basketball for my players – Derek Rose went from being really good to being an MVP. Anthony Davis went from 'Who am I?' to an All-Star. Demarcus Cousins, and I told Jerry Colangelo at the time, 'If you put him on this team he will be an All-Star.' They put him on USA basketball, the kid becomes an All-Star. So I told him – I've done it both privately and publicly – I appreciate what he's done for my guys. Now I want John Wall in there. Let him go. Eric Bledsoe's having an All-Star year right now. Brandon Knight. We got guys – Karl Towns cannot. He's gotta play for the (Dominican Republic). But we've got guys out there. Terrence Jones was so excited to be called out to play in Vegas. First thing he did was call me. 'I just got a call, Coach. I want to tell you I'm here.' We had a bite to eat and the excitement he had that he had a chance to be in that grouping. So.
On how uneasy he is to travel to big cities after the attack on Paris:
I think everybody should step back and let's evaluate security. What are we doing for security? And again, I worry about my players, our fans, my own family, that they're there. And I think it's something that not just in football and pro sports but in college. What's our security? What do we look like? And so I think, as I say that, I don't think I'm the first person to say it, but I think we all gotta really look at that hard and say, 'What's the security?' Sad, though. All this stuff, like I said, just doesn't make sense to me. But it puts us in a different mindset, and having to have to think about stuff like that. Like, you really have to think about that? Yes, you do.
On if he looks at a possible future foreign trip differently than he would have before:
Haven't thought about it. You know me. The foreign trip better not be more than a hour and a half away or I'm not going. So, I doubt that that'll ever come into play play as long as I'm here.
On what Brandon Ingram presents:
Well, obviously I know him pretty well. We recruited him. Terrific player. Long, active, can score the ball. Derek Will will probably be a pretty good matchup for him. Two guys that size and mobile. Both can score, so that could be a matchup that would be a good thing for us. But again, we're gonna do what we do. And the reason is: we're not going to change a whole lot. We need to know if what we're doing will work.
“So let’s do it, and let’s do it for a whole game, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll be able to come back and say, ‘All right, we need to make some adjustments here. This isn’t going to work.’ They’re going to play how they play, then they’re going to find out what works for them. Right now, they play man-to-man defense 75 percent of the time, 80 percent. They’ve played zone, but when you look at the numbers, their field-goal percentage defensively is better when they’re in a zone than it is when they’re man-to-man. Does that mean they’re going to come out against us and say, ‘Let’s just play them zone’? That could happen. Now, will we be prepared for it? We know it could happen, but … We’re as a prepared as we can be: two passes and throw it to somebody to try to get a shot. (Shrugs) You know, we’ll just see.”
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