Hello all. We'll be meeting with UK coach John Calipari here at approx 11:30 ET to discuss the Cats' matchup with Ohio State on Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic in Las Vegas. Stay tuned...
* Calipari begins presser by thanking media for all the help it gave in promoting the UK tornado relief telethon. The fund is over $4M now, he says. "We're not a big state, but we have great people with generous hearts." He thinks it could rise over $5M when the fundraising event officially closes on Sunday. "Probably the last time I thank the media," he says with a deadpan. "Mark the date."
* OK, let's talk basketball, Cal says...
* LOL, so of course, the next question is about Covid and UCLA.
* Calipari says the players really want to get back on the court and "get the taste out of their mouths." Close loss like they experienced at Notre Dame feels like they lost by 20.
* Ohio State is really good, by the way, Calipari adds. "Obviously, they beat Duke, who beat us." Physical team. Run good stuff. Cal impressed by what Chris Holtmann has been doing.
* Calipari had a close friend call him and say his teams always have a swagger, even in warm-ups. The friend did not see any swagger at Notre Dame. What does that say about us, Cal asks? Only way to have that is creating confidence in what you're doing every day in practice and carrying it over to the game. Can't go 2-for-19 from 3. He told them he can go 2-for-19 shooting hook shots. Hit one in practice.
* Asked about Sahvir Wheeler and defenses not honoring his shot, Calipari says he has to use it as fuel and figure it out. "At the end of the day, he should be one of the best point guards in the country."
* "Let's keep focusing on keeping people around 60-65 (points)..." (Oh boy. Ducks for cover.) But Cal quickly adds they've got to find ways to increase their scoring. "How do we get to 75?" Says they only had 5 turnovers, so maybe they aren't attacking the basket enough.
* Asked about Ohio State's physical play... Cal goes on some random stream of consciousness about meritocracy and communism.
* On Shaedon Sharpe... Let's just get him to campus. Says he should be here after Christmas. "Great kid."
* How many years have I been here, Cal asks? Eric Lindsey quickly tells him 13. "So, OK, 91," Cal replies.
* Cal tells story of some Notre Dame fan hitting his head on something and bleeding trying to rush the court and celebrate beating UK. Says players have to know that's what they're up against.
* Calipari begins presser by thanking media for all the help it gave in promoting the UK tornado relief telethon. The fund is over $4M now, he says. "We're not a big state, but we have great people with generous hearts." He thinks it could rise over $5M when the fundraising event officially closes on Sunday. "Probably the last time I thank the media," he says with a deadpan. "Mark the date."
* OK, let's talk basketball, Cal says...
* LOL, so of course, the next question is about Covid and UCLA.
* Calipari says the players really want to get back on the court and "get the taste out of their mouths." Close loss like they experienced at Notre Dame feels like they lost by 20.
* Ohio State is really good, by the way, Calipari adds. "Obviously, they beat Duke, who beat us." Physical team. Run good stuff. Cal impressed by what Chris Holtmann has been doing.
* Calipari had a close friend call him and say his teams always have a swagger, even in warm-ups. The friend did not see any swagger at Notre Dame. What does that say about us, Cal asks? Only way to have that is creating confidence in what you're doing every day in practice and carrying it over to the game. Can't go 2-for-19 from 3. He told them he can go 2-for-19 shooting hook shots. Hit one in practice.
* Asked about Sahvir Wheeler and defenses not honoring his shot, Calipari says he has to use it as fuel and figure it out. "At the end of the day, he should be one of the best point guards in the country."
* "Let's keep focusing on keeping people around 60-65 (points)..." (Oh boy. Ducks for cover.) But Cal quickly adds they've got to find ways to increase their scoring. "How do we get to 75?" Says they only had 5 turnovers, so maybe they aren't attacking the basket enough.
* Asked about Ohio State's physical play... Cal goes on some random stream of consciousness about meritocracy and communism.
* On Shaedon Sharpe... Let's just get him to campus. Says he should be here after Christmas. "Great kid."
* How many years have I been here, Cal asks? Eric Lindsey quickly tells him 13. "So, OK, 91," Cal replies.
* Cal tells story of some Notre Dame fan hitting his head on something and bleeding trying to rush the court and celebrate beating UK. Says players have to know that's what they're up against.
