Calipari, Cats Relying on Trust
John Calipari and his staff have been through this process before. His players, by and large, haven’t.
Regardless, it’s not easy for either group.
“It’s just hard,” Coach Cal said. “And it’s harder than they thought it would be. To be honest, at the end of the year I forget how hard it is as you’re going through it. So, it’s hard on all of us. It’s just a tough deal.”
Don’t take that as a complaint though. He did sign up for this after all.
“Look, I’m the coach at Kentucky, this is what you deal with,” Calipari said. “I’m not shying away from it, it’s not overwhelming me, I’m not panicked.”
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| Kentucky vs. Mississippi State | ||
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Tue., Jan. 23 – 9 p.m. ET |
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TV: ESPN |
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| UK | 2017-18 Team Stats | MSU |
| 14-5 | Record | 14-5 |
| 4-3 | Conference Record | 2-4 |
| 77.0 | PPG | 74.5 |
| 69.8 | Opp PPG | 64.7 |
| .481 | FG% | .461 |
| .404 | Opp FG% | .395 |
| 38.7 | RPG | 39.5 |
| .343 | 3PT FG% | .302 |
| .285 | Opp 3PT FG% | .319 |
| .678 | FT% | .665 |
| 14.3 | APG | 13.6 |
| 6.2 | SPG | 6.8 |
| 5.4 | BPG | 5.6 |
Just as he said after UK’s second loss in a row on Saturday to Florida, Coach Cal reiterated on Monday that he is steadfast in his belief in his team. The next chance the Wildcats (14-5, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) will have to back up that belief will come on Tuesday against Mississippi State (14-5, 2-4 SEC).
The Bulldogs are led by brothers Quinndary and Nick Weatherspoon, who combine to average 24.8 points. Mississippi State is just two victories away from equaling its win total from a season ago under third-year head coach Ben Howland.
“We’ve got a team, Mississippi State, coming in here (with) 14 wins, playing really good basketball,” Calipari said. “They’ve lost some games, but they’ve been in every game. Alabama had them down 20 and they came back and should have won the game. At Alabama. So, again – they’re really good. I’m concerned about my team. Let’s just get our stuff right and if that’s not good enough we move on to the next weekend.”
That should come as no surprise that Calipari isn’t shifting his focus away from his own team, not even in a much-improved SEC. The plan is the same as it always is, in that it’s all about what it takes to get this group to reach its potential.
“They’re all different,” Calipari said. “You guys should know every team I have here is different and it’s a different process. It’s different steps. The lesson plan at the end of the year is thrown out. (We) start with a new lesson plan. And then as you’re going through the lesson plan – I don’t like this. We’ve gotta try something different. They’re not getting it. So you go in another direction. And then they’re still quite not getting it. Then let’s try some of this. You tweak some stuff. You try some stuff. And you look and you say, ‘Man, they’re way better.’ “
One challenge unique to this season is the shifting dynamic of UK’s roster. For a two-game stretch, the Cats were down to a seven-man rotation. But against South Carolina, Jarred Vanderbilt made his college debut. A few days later, Quade Green returned from a back injury.
The added depth is helpful, but UK’s group has never played together as currently constituted.
“Honestly, I think with me just being inserted at this time of the season and Q coming back too, right now we just have to gain back our chemistry,” Vanderbilt said. “Just get a feel for each other. Not saying it’s a new team, but it’s new additions right now.”
Those new additions, to both Calipari and his players, are going to help make for another team capable of a deep run in March.
“I think we all know we’re getting better each and every game and as long as we’re trying, we’re putting in the effort and we’re attempting, we’re going to get better,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We trust the process and we’ll be special by the time the end of the year comes.”
“They are learning to trust each other,” Calipari said. “I’ve got to get them to trust each other on both sides of the ball and it may take more time. There have been years it has taken us to the end of February and, guess what, I woke up every morning, got ready to go, did my thing, coached my team and eventually they got it. I fully expect that from this team but they are growing pains.”
No. 18 Kentucky Falls to Visiting Florida
Wenyen Gabriel scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 10 points, but No. 18/16 Kentucky lost to Florida 66-64 on Saturday night in Rupp Arena.
Kentucky (14-5, 4-3 SEC) got nine points from Kevin Knox, while Nick Richards added eight points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats. The game was tied 12 times and there were four lead changes in the game, which was played in front of a season-high 24,394 fans.
Kentucky used its size advantage to outrebound Florida 49-38, and the Wildcats also outscored the Gators in the paint 38-26.
The first half featured seven ties and two lead changes. Kentucky had the biggest advantage of the half, as the Wildcats used a 7-0 run to take a 28-20 lead with 5:05 left in the half. However, Florida answered with a 9-0 run to take a 29-28 lead with 2:20 left in the half. Florida would lead 33-31 at the break.
In the second half, Florida went on a 10-2 run early to take a 45-37 lead. Kentucky fought its way back and the Wildcats eventually tied the game 51-51 on a free throw by Richards. Kentucky would take a 56-53 lead on a 3-pointer by Gilgeous-Alexander. But Florida had the answer again, scoring the next five points to lead 58-56 with 3:29 left.
The game was tied 58-58 when Florida scored six straight to lead 64-58 with 44 seconds remaining. Knox hit a 3 to cut the lead to 64-61 with 34 seconds left in the game. After Florida got a pair of free throws from Jalen Hudson, it was Gabriel hitting a 3-pointer for the Cats to cut the lead to 66-64 with 27 seconds remaining.
After Florida missed a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left, Kentucky had a chance to tie or win. But both Quade Green and PJ Washington missed, and Florida was able to run out the clock.
NOTABLES:
• UK had a pair of home winning streaks broken. UK had won 16 in a row at Rupp Arena and won 30 consecutive games against SEC opponents
• Kentucky outrebounded Florida 49-38. This is the first time this season UK lost despite winning the rebounding. The Wildcats are 13-1 this season when winning the battle of the boards
• UK is 41-9 under Coach John Calipari in bounce-back games after losses, including 3-1 this season. This is the first time this season UK has lost consecutive games
• ESPN’s popular traveling show, College GameDay, was broadcast from Rupp Arena. It was the 15th time that GameDay has hosted from a UK game, including the seventh time at Rupp Arena
• UK will be involved in back-to-back GameDays as the road show makes its way to Morgantown, West Virginia, for UK’s game on Saturday at West Virginia. It will be the 16th time overall Kentucky will be featured on GameDay, second only to North Carolina (17)
Coaches vs. Cancer Game
Kentucky coaches and staff will be wearing sneakers on Tuesday vs. Mississippi State as a part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week.
Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week is a nationwide event when basketball coaches across the country unite for a common cause – saving lives from cancer. Coaches and their staff across the nation wear sneakers with their suits during games to raise awareness and help save lives from cancer by raising funds and encouraging people to educate themselves about cancer prevention, screening and early detection.
The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. This initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Since 1993, coaches have raised more than $100 million for the American Cancer Society.
Wildcats Welcome Midseason Addition of Jarred Vanderbilt
Jarred Vanderbilt has been on the roster all season, but his presence in the lineup is expected to feel like a midseason addition with the freshman forward returning from a left foot injury. The injury kept him out of the first 17 games of the season.
Vanderbilt made his debut at South Carolina after suffering the injury in late September. In 14 minutes of action, Vanderbilt looked the part of a player who can make an immediate impact on this team. He posted six points, five rebounds and a team-high three assists — numbers that don’t tell the whole story of just how active he was at both ends of the floor. He made his home debut against Florida where he chipped in four points and six rebounds.
In recent weeks, head coach John Calipari raved about his presence in practice and mentioned that he didn’t remember how physical Vanderbilt being. Equipped with elite ball-handling skills, especially for someone listed as a 6-foot-9 forward, Vanderbilt has the ability to play “point forward” — and was needed to against South Carolina.
Although the initial plan was — and still is — to ease him into games to get him caught up in the offense and because of a lack of conditioning, Vanderbilt was forced to run the point vs. the Gamecocks when the Wildcats’ backcourt (already absent Quade Green because of a back injury) got into foul trouble. He played key minutes down the stretch vs. Florida.
It was announced at the end of September that Vanderbilt would be out until at least January after suffering the injury to his left foot. After consulting with his family and medical personnel, Vanderbilt decided to delay surgery and let the injury heal on its own.
Vanderbilt, a 6-foot-9 forward from Houston, was one of the top signees out of the 2017 class. A consensus top-20 prospect, Vanderbilt was ranked as high as the No. 9 overall prospect by 247Sports and the No. 12 overall player by Scout.
As a senior last season at Victory Prep Academy, Vanderbilt averaged 28.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists. The lefty appeared in the McDonald’s All American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit alongside the nation’s top talent. He shined in the Nike Hoop Summit, posting 19 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 8 of 12 from the field.
Vanderbilt was also a member of the USA U16 National Team that captured the gold medal at the 2015 FIBA Americans U16 Championship.
