Maxey Takes ‘Big Step’ against Vandy
At practice on Monday, John Calipari asked a question of his team: Which player gets the toughest time from Kentucky’s head coach?
The answer was unanimous.
“They said, Tyrese (Maxey),” Calipari said. “And they all pointed to Tyrese.”
Calipari knew he would get that answer. He also knew what he was doing when he asked the question. Coach Cal wanted Maxey to think about why it is he who so often is at the receiving end of his coaching. Maxey understood the message immediately.
“Coach Cal always tells me he feels like I can do more,” Maxey said. “He feels like I can be better than how I’ve been so far and I really appreciate that. I feel like his belief in me makes me elevate my game.”
That’s exactly what has happened for dozens of players who have come before Maxey at Kentucky, but coming around to the idea that Calipari’s coaching comes exclusively from a place of genuine care isn’t always easy. It is, however, essential.
“If a guy that cares about you, that loves you is doing everything he can to help you for your future and what you’re doing, you personally, and you can’t take the coaching or the aggressiveness, you probably are not ready,” Calipari said. “The guy that loves you, that’s going to do whatever he can to help you, will put you in great position, is going to — and that one bothers you, you’re not ready.”
Karl-Anthony Towns was ready, which is why, when Calipari asked his 2014-15 team that same “who am I getting on hard than anyone?” question four years ago, Towns embraced the fact that he was the answer. This week, thanks in part to some help from assistant coach Tony Barbee, Maxey took a positive step in that direction.
“He was just saying, ‘You’re listening to how loud he’s saying it and not what he’s saying to you,’ ” Maxey said. “I feel like it has affected me and I feel like just the last couple days in practice I just listened and embraced it. I’ve been embracing it, but I tried to get down on myself. That’s not who I am. I stay happy and just say ‘yes, sir’ and keep it pushing.”
Maxey has had moments of incredible brilliance during his freshman season – scoring 53 combined points in UK’s wins over Michigan State and Louisville top the list – but consistency has escaped him. That includes two games last week against Georgia and Texas Tech, when Maxey scored 14 combined points on 3-of-13 shooting and committed eight turnovers.
Wednesday night, however, Maxey turned that around. He scored a team-high 17 points in a 71-62 victory, keying a comeback from 10 points down early in the second half by scoring nine points in the final six minutes as No. 13/13 UK (16-4, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) pulled away late against Vanderbilt (8-12, 0-7 SEC).
“I think today was a big step,” Calipari said.
It was a step that Maxey began taking well before tipoff. For one, he finished first in a sprint for the first time all season, beating Immanuel Quickley. For two, he attacked national defensive player of the year candidate Ashton Hagans in practice in a way few can.
“So all season in practice when I put him against Ashton, Ashton will demoralize you,” Calipari said. “He will demoralize you. Like, he’ll go and play so hard that you just want to stop. Let me go, and I got a hamstring. Two days ago he went right at Ashton, defensively went into his grill and scored on him and did stuff. And I’m like, ‘Where has this been? Why have you settled for less than this if this is who you can be?’ “
Of course, Calipari knows Hagans can do things better. The same is true of Quickley, EJ Montgomery, Keion Brooks Jr., Nate Sestina and Johnny Juzang. Heck, even Nick Richards can improve. But none of those players get coached quite like Maxey does. That’s because Calipari has seen what UK looks like when Maxey is at his best, and it’s scary.
“It’s tough, and that’s why Coach Cal is on me every single day, pushing me,” Maxey said. “Because he feels like I can elevate my game to another level, and I feel like I can too.”
