The familiar surroundings of Rupp Arena will be a welcome sight for the Kentucky Wildcats Tuesday night against the Tennessee Volunteers after UK dropped two road games this week to Ole Miss and Florida. John Calipari spent some time Monday morning talking about his team on the Southeastern coaches’ teleconference. Calipari will have additional comments this afternoon, so make sure to check back for video of those.

Audio of Calipari

• Similar to last week, Calipari pleaded ignorance about UK’s upcoming schedule, saying  “When do we get home games?” when learning UK would again hit the road to play the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville after hosting Tennessee on Tuesday. Don’t worry, Coach Cal, UK plays four of its final six in Rupp to make up for this long bout of road games.
• Calipari talked a bit about what Kentucky needs to do to right the ship and win some close games. He didn’t bemoan UK’s inability to close, instead chalking up Kentucky’s recent losses to extended stretches of poor play earlier in games, like the one the Wildcats had to begin the second half against Florida. “There are gaps in the game where we’re letting go of the game, then we fight to get back and we’re just a little bit short,” Calipari said. “You’re losing the game in this stretch, not the last shot.”
• A question was asked about Doron Lamb’s play over the last week and Calipari said that his play is symptomatic of what the staff deals with in coaching freshmen. “The last game (against Florida) he didn’t play the way he had been,” Calipari said. He didn’t have the energy, he didn’t have the motor. Against Mississippi, he didn’t guard. He made baskets to keep us close, but he also gave up baskets, but that’s what happens with freshmen.”
• Calipari spoke about the play of DeAndre Liggins, praising him for his defense yet again but saying that he needs to be more involved on offense. “He is defending so well and doing so many things defensively that help us, he deserves to get more shots,” Calipari said. Additionally, Calipari said that Liggins needs to be more effective in finishing his drives to the basket.
• Calipari talked about the one-and-done rule in college basketball and whether another rule would be better for all parties involved. Calipari said he wasn’t completely familiar with the negotiations on the topic, but that he had heard that owners were pushing for a rule requiring players to stay in college for two seasons. “Obviously having guys for two years would be better for college basketball, probably better for the NBA so they can evaluate (players better),” Calipari said.
• Tennessee junior guard and leading scorer Scotty Hopson sat out the Vols’ loss on Saturday to Alabama with a left ankle sprain. In his comments on the teleconference, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said he was “questionable” and would test the ankle Monday in practice to determine whether or not he would be able to play. Calipari said that he anticipates Hopson will play, but also that Tennessee is deep enough to overcome his absence. “It’s the advantage you have when you have that kind of depth,” Calipari said. “You’ve got enough other talented guys that can take up 10 percent and probably they’re capable of doing 10 percent more, they just haven’t had to. I think obviously they’re better with him because he’s such a good player but they’ll be fine without him.”
• Tuesday’s game will mark Pearl’s return to the sideline after sitting out his team’s first eight conference games serving a league-mandated suspension. Pearl said that he will face two of the leagues toughest challenges in road games against Kentucky and Florida in his first two games back. “It’s an honor anytime you coach at Rupp or play there,” Pearl said. “It’s something that I think any player or any coach during the course of their career will remember.”
• Pearl praised the job his assistants did in filling in for him, especially associate head coach Tony Jones, saying “not a lot is going to change” with his return. However, he did concede that he could make a difference. “It’s just one more helping hand in the sense that when I’m out it’s one less voice,” Pearl said. “Depth is an important factor (on a coaching staff) and it will be good to get back. I hope I can come back and help, obviously the schedule is very, very challenging and we’ll just take it one at a time.”
• Finally, Pearl talked about the Kentucky team Tennessee will face Tuesday. Even though UK has lost two in a row, he praised the Wildcats. “Kentucky is a very talented basketball team,” Pearl said. “They’ve got some really special players and they’re playing really well together. Pearl continued, saying that winning in the SEC is a challenging proposition and the simple fact that UK has been in a position to win so many games is a credit to them. “To be able to go to Florida and have a chance to win that game against a very experienced, talented Florida team says a lot about their potential,” Pearl said. “They’re really close to blowing it open.”