John Calipari met with the media today to discuss where his team is after its first exhibition and also previewed the game with Kentucky State tomorrow night.
Here's part one of the transcript:
On if he sees Skal Labissiere being more aggressive:
Yeah, but he’s got a ways to go. We’ve got to really do a better job of teaching him how to fight position, how to hold his position and how to make sure you’re catching balls. Catching it close, it’s all new to him. We can’t just run by and say ‘just catch it’ because you can’t. And you have to do it without fouling. We’ve got a long way to go.
On what Labissiere can get out of playing an undersized team:
Again, like every game, I’m not worried about the opponent. I’m worried about my team. When we watch the tape, it’s just our scheme, what we’re doing in the press, are we in the right spots where we’re supposed to be? Are we moving our feet or are we trying to hold and grab people? Do we have the correct spacing? Because last game, what we did was made a bunch of shots. They were where they were supposed to be but the shots went in so you score like we scored. It didn’t matter who that was against. We didn’t score in the post. It wasn’t like we just threw it in there and you know you’re going to score into the post until they double team you—that’s not what we did. It’ll be interesting. These guys are athletic and they’re fast. We’ll see how this plays out.
On how the team is progressing in blocking shots:
We’re OK. We’ve got a ways to go. Alex (Poythress) has to get back to where he’s blocking shots and doing stuff—now you have one more shot blocker. I thought other guys tried to do what we’re trying to get them to do, which is block it at the rim. Don’t come away from the basket, just stay in there. Make them shoot tough shots or make them come all the way to the basket.
On how aware he is of Kentucky State’s tradition in the 1970s:
We understand the tradition and what that program has been about. This was an opportunity that they deserve. For us, I want whoever our opponent is, they walk away from this ‘this was great for us. This was a great experience that we’ll remember.’ It’s not just playing the game. It’s more than that for the programs that come in, and for us.
On Kentucky State head coach Darnell Williams making his head coaching debut against Kentucky:
Got a chance to do something crazy. That’s what I’d be thinking. Like, let’s go do this, see if we can shock the world. Let’s rock everything.
On if he feels better about a rotation after watching the team play someone else:
A little bit. Is it going to grow or is it going to get smaller? You kinda get a grasp of where we are with five or six guys, and then it becomes, ‘does it become seven or eight, or does it stay at six?’
Here's part one of the transcript:
On if he sees Skal Labissiere being more aggressive:
Yeah, but he’s got a ways to go. We’ve got to really do a better job of teaching him how to fight position, how to hold his position and how to make sure you’re catching balls. Catching it close, it’s all new to him. We can’t just run by and say ‘just catch it’ because you can’t. And you have to do it without fouling. We’ve got a long way to go.
On what Labissiere can get out of playing an undersized team:
Again, like every game, I’m not worried about the opponent. I’m worried about my team. When we watch the tape, it’s just our scheme, what we’re doing in the press, are we in the right spots where we’re supposed to be? Are we moving our feet or are we trying to hold and grab people? Do we have the correct spacing? Because last game, what we did was made a bunch of shots. They were where they were supposed to be but the shots went in so you score like we scored. It didn’t matter who that was against. We didn’t score in the post. It wasn’t like we just threw it in there and you know you’re going to score into the post until they double team you—that’s not what we did. It’ll be interesting. These guys are athletic and they’re fast. We’ll see how this plays out.
On how the team is progressing in blocking shots:
We’re OK. We’ve got a ways to go. Alex (Poythress) has to get back to where he’s blocking shots and doing stuff—now you have one more shot blocker. I thought other guys tried to do what we’re trying to get them to do, which is block it at the rim. Don’t come away from the basket, just stay in there. Make them shoot tough shots or make them come all the way to the basket.
On how aware he is of Kentucky State’s tradition in the 1970s:
We understand the tradition and what that program has been about. This was an opportunity that they deserve. For us, I want whoever our opponent is, they walk away from this ‘this was great for us. This was a great experience that we’ll remember.’ It’s not just playing the game. It’s more than that for the programs that come in, and for us.
On Kentucky State head coach Darnell Williams making his head coaching debut against Kentucky:
Got a chance to do something crazy. That’s what I’d be thinking. Like, let’s go do this, see if we can shock the world. Let’s rock everything.
On if he feels better about a rotation after watching the team play someone else:
A little bit. Is it going to grow or is it going to get smaller? You kinda get a grasp of where we are with five or six guys, and then it becomes, ‘does it become seven or eight, or does it stay at six?’
