Head Coach John Calipari
Opening statement …
“Let me do one thing first: We’re doing this Zoom and we’re going to do after the game tomorrow, Zoom. The kids get to go home for Christmas. We’re trying to mitigate what we can. They’ve all gotten booster shots. So, just knowing that it’s about being a great teammate. Like, there were many of them that didn’t want to do it, but they did it for each other and they did it for their families at home. So, we’re just going to try and mitigate. Maybe we’re going to do this for the next week or two. This week and maybe the following one when we get back, just like, unless things start lightening up and then we’ll be fine. And you know how I’d rather be in your company than doing this this way.”
On goals of scoring a certain amount of points …
“Well, when I say 75 or 80, it’s an efficiency thing. If they’re playing a game that makes the game, instead of 40 minute, it’s 32 minutes., all right, let’s go 75 and say its 75% of 75 or 80% of 75. If they’re going to shorten the game, I get that. But it’s just that you, if you’re a team that’s scoring in the 60s, you’re going to face somebody who can get 70 even if you play great defense, even when you shorten the game. It’s just hard. Now there are going to be games and we’ve already had one where you score 65 points. Well, why did that happen, Darrell (Bird)? [Bird: Not a lot of passing.] How about we went 2 for 19 from the 3-point line? You go 2 for 25 from (the 3-point line), you know stuff like that happens. Where normally we like to take with this team 20 to 22 (3s a game). Sometimes we take a little less because we have driving opportunities, which we’ll take. Sometimes you’re playing and taking a little bit more. But we want to be able to play whether we are making 3s or not. The problem is if you’re not making 3s you better be defending to keep them in the same area as you are.”
On having a second straight game canceled with a new opponent and how confident he is in the season continuing …
“I don’t know what you mean by normal, but here’s what I would say: I’m worried, just like I was last year, of mitigating and having every opportunity for our team to play basketball games. I have enough friends that, if we have games canceled, that we can fill them in with other games and against good opponents. This one was such a quick turn. We did start calling teams Saturday night. So, we did after the game start calling teams. But you just didn’t have the time to get something together. But you know there are a lot of teams that want to play us. They want to say, ‘All right we’ll come to you, but next year you’ve got to come to us.’ And it becomes a home-and-home. There’s a lot of teams, so I think if we do this right and I think there’s got to be some–like, if you have eight scholarship players and a coach, you must play the game. I mean, there’s got to be that. This is not going to be perfect. I like the fact that we’ve had our vaccines, 100%. We’ve had the booster. And what it means to me is that if someone gets it, it’s not going to (make them real sick). I’ve got people’s children under my care, and that’s my first thing that I worry about. I did it last year. Last year was about as much mental health to make sure that you know we didn’t have any issues there either.”
On Western Kentucky’s challenge …
“Well, there are two things that happened. I first of all said, ‘We’ve got to have (fans). This building is sold out. We have to try and get the best team that we can get. We can make it about West Kentucky with another big-time opponent.’ But as you went through the list, there were none that were willing. Then it became, well, what level do we do all of this? And is there a chance we say we’re going to postpone the game and not play anybody? Well, that kind of went out the window right away if we could get a good opponent. Now, with Western, the history of their program in our state, the respect they get within our state and even nationally. People still remember Western Kentucky and Coach (E.A.) Diddle and the red towel and all of the stuff. I mean,, you’re talking about a top program, and what they’re doing now is, they’ve got a good team. I mean, they beat Mississippi good. They beat Louisville good. Louisville made some 3s to make it close. I mean, this is a team with the leading shot blocker, shooters. They’re well coached. Rick (Stansbury) does a great job. He always has. And you’re right, this is a dangerous (game). I don’t want it to call a no-win because it’s a win. Playing the game is a win. We’re playing basketball. The other thing that’s a win, let’s really bring light and honor to West Kentucky and do it in a way where the country is watching. So, I don’t know. Someone is going to lose the game unless we can go tie. I’d take a tie. But it’s still going to be something special, and I think whoever is in the arena, those people are going to say, ‘Wow. This was special. I’m so happy I’m here and maybe this worked out for the best.’ ”
On rescheduling the Louisville game …
“Well, if there’s cancellations and there’s an opportunity, obviously we’d play it. But we just don’t know where this is all going.”
On where the Louisville game should be played next season if they can’t play this season …
“Yeah, it should be played here. I mean, didn’t we do that in football? So, I imagine we can do it in basketball.”
On the process of scheduling Western Kentucky …
“Look, when I called the people that I called, I had to make that available (future home-and-homes). And I also told them, ‘You understand we don’t just take this program to anywhere on the road? We don’t do that, and I’m willing to come to you now next year if you’ll come to us this year.’ Now, what was the other fly in the ointment? [Jerry Tipton: You beat North Carolina by 30.] Yes. That was the fly in the ointment. Now, I told the guys, ‘You screwed this up.’ ‘What?’ ‘You screwed this up. You beat them so good no one will play us now. They think that’s who we are. I sent them tape of Notre Dame. They didn’t want to see it.’ ”
