(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Aaron Harrison once believed the Wildcats were going to turn around the season with a fantastic finish that would be a great story. He was in fact, a prophet. Seven years later John Calipari believes this Kentucky team has what it takes to make another great story.
Speaking shortly after Kentucky snapped a three-game losing streak with an 82-80 win over Auburn, Calipari was asked if the late game hero, Davion Mintz, could potentially return for another season. UK’s head coach refused to look that far ahead.
“I’m worried about Vanderbilt. I’m not worried about next year. I’m just telling you all right now, I want this team to finish and be something people talk about for the next 20 years. I’m trying to get them to believe what I believe and I’m trying to motivate them that way. I’m trying to hug them and be positive, yet here’s the tightrope we walk, you gotta hold them accountable,” Calipari said.
“My hope now is these kids get it. We can look back but I tell you we got another tough game and another tough game and another tough game. There’s no easy games. We just gotta worry about us getting better. If we continue to grow and come together as a team and limit these turnovers — cause we’re not trying to be heroes — we’re trying to play basketball as a team and keep defending and blocking shots and rebounding. Winning will take care of itself.”
It took one win for Calipari to regain his confidence. But let’s be honest — it was more than just one win.
Kentucky has progressively and steadily improved on offense. Over the last four games Kentucky has shot 38-of-87 (43.7%) from behind the three-point line, with B.J. Boston leading the charge by knocking down 11-of-18 (61.8%) long range attempts. Kentucky scorned 75.8 points per game during that stretch, seven points higher than their season average. The only problem — Kentucky wasn’t winning. Tonight was the reward they needed to move forward.
“What I told them prior to the game is I wanna see guys smiling,” said Calipari. “If you’re not smiling I’m taking you out of the game. SMILE. Smile, have fun with this. We’re tweaking, we’re trying, we’re practicing , we’re fighting, we’re having individual meetings, I have you on the couch with a wet rag on your head. I’m doing everything. I’m hugging. I hugged a guy, kissed a guy on the forehead. We’re doing everything. Smile. Smile. What do you want this picture to look like? What do you want it to look like? We can do whatever we want. We’re good enough to play with anybody in this league and we’re good enough to get beat by anyone in this league.”
Swaggy Calipari believes this team can beat anybody, while acknowledging they are far from perfect.
“I just want to keep painting the picture that I believe in you. We have some flaws. We have some limitations. But guess what, so does everybody else. We also have enough. I’ve done this now 30-something years. We have enough to win. The mental toughness, the physical toughness is the thing that’s still in flux. If we ever get that — like today it was Isaiah [Jackson]. The rest of the guys couldn’t come near a ball, but Isaiah did. What if we had 2-3 guys play like Isaiah? You can have a bad shooting night and still win.”
Kentucky limped out of its most difficult stretch of games this season with a much-needed win against Auburn. They’ve made strides similar to some of Calipari’s previous teams near the season’s homestretch. One win does not change the fact that it’s a long shot for UK to hear its name called on Selection Sunday, but you better believe it will give the team enough confidence to go down swinging in the final five games of the regular season.
“I’m proud of them. This may be one of those years, if we get this going, that I talk about as one of the greatest years for me ever,” Cal said. “All I can tell you is this team is fighting for the university, for the state, for the athletic department and they haven’t given up one bit and neither has our staff.”
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