Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: John Calipari press conference on Ohio State

THE MODERATOR: We are joined now by the University of Kentucky head coach, John Calipari. Coach Calipari will make an opening statement and then take questions.

COACH John Calipari: We’re excited to be here and happy we’re still playing. And knowing we’re playing against a really good opponent. No. 1 team in the country, so we know we have a challenge ahead of us.

THE MODERATOR: If have you a question for Coach Calipari.

Q. John, would you talk about Brandon Knight and the way he progressed through this season? And what are you most happy with in facets of his game that improved as the year has gone on?

COACH John Calipari: Probably the best thing that happened to Brandon was Hawaii. Where we played top-notch opponents and he — at that time we all know and he realized that he had a ways to go. Since that time it has been a steady climb. And he’s such a hard worker and so conscientious he has just gotten better and better.

The way we play, where you have the ability to create and do things, you’ve got to also balance that with running a team. So the point guards that I’ve had, that’s been the challenge. And they all catch it at different parts of the year, whether it was Derrick or Tyreke or John and now Brandon. And good for us, that they have been playing their best, all of those guys played their best toward the end of the season.

Q. Coach, you’ve had a lot of success recruiting this area, Doron Lamb, Michael Gilchrist. Talk you talk about the talent, St. Anthony, St. Pat’s, St. Benedicts, does playing here helping you facilitate recruiting do you think?

COACH John Calipari: Well the second thing is not really. We’re on television so much, I don’t think it really plays that big of a factor.  But I will tell you that there are talented players here and the competition is so strong. And the notoriety and exposure they get, you’re getting kids that are ready for the spotlight so to speak.

Q. John, six years ago, when you interviewed at N.C. State, A, did you come close to taking that job? B, what about it made you interested enough to interview?

COACH John Calipari: Yes, I was close to taking the job. And what had me saying I want to do that, I just wanted to be on the same footing with the Dukes and the North Carolinas. Now let’s go. We’re in the same league, let’s go have at it. That’s what interested me. But it’s obviously a terrific job and someone will go in there and do well.

Q. Cal, you look at Ohio State and the shooters around Sullinger, do you see any similarities to the team that you thought you could have if you had Enes (Kanter)?

COACH John Calipari: Boy, I am getting some questions off the wall here. Yeah, but I haven’t thought about that. You know, we’re going about our business and I’m just trying to get us to play well. I’ve watched a ton of Ohio State tape. There are times I watch the tape and I go, oh, my goodness. And they are really talented. They play to their strengths. They are very skilled. They shoot, they bounce. They have got great strength, they have got size. I mean, they’re really a terrific basketball team. And we’ve gotten better, too. I mean, we’re playing as well as we’ve anticipated all year right now.

But, you know, it is funny in these situations, everybody handles this different. And I think, you know, we’re with freshmen starting and with, you know, our veteran players not being as experienced, this is an interesting thing. Someone will know you know how you play, I have no idea. I think we will be prepared. I like my team. I have liked them from day one. But, you know, we’ll see.

Q. John, one of the few times since have you been here you are actually an underdog going into it. Do you approach it differently with your team from the motivational side?

COACH John Calipari: Well, at this point it’s just two teams going at each other and obviously they’ve had a wonderful year and they are the No. 1 team in the country. But we’re a Top 10 team, also. And we’re not — our players have watched — other than if they watched Ohio State on TV we have showed them no Ohio State tape yet, which is typical for us. This is no different than any other game. They have seen no scouting report, which they won’t see. We are worried about us. We are worried about us playing well. We’ll give them what they need to play this game. But to this point we have been focused on us and I am not worried about who is favored, who is not favored, who is the underdog or who is the favorite. None of that matters in this stuff.

There is so much more that goes into it and players dealing with all this other stuff. And an inexperienced team like mine, it is hard to predict how they will come out and do that with the lights on the way they are.

Q. John, when you look at around the country this year I think the criticism has been there has not been a, quote, complete team anywhere in the country. Is it Ohio State close to it?

COACH John Calipari: There have been a couple. Kansas, there are times I have seen those two teams play and I am like, man, I hope we don’t have to play them. And I think those two teams have separated a little bit. But there’s another grouping of about seven or eight teams that are right there. And, you know, I think over years there was really a clear-cut two or three teams, and I think these two separated from the rest and I think they are that good. And they deserve the accolades that both of the teams are getting. The way they are playing, they deserve.

Q. John, before the season you said one of the things you wanted to do was look for the two or three things your team had to do as a freshman-oriented team to get over the hump, deeper into the NCAA Tournament. I’m wondering what you came you with.

COACH John Calipari: I don’t know yet, we’re still trying to figure it out. I mean, we’re a young team. And the thing that I can tell you that I am proud of, each of these guys are playing as well as they have ever played in their career. And that’s all I can ask for as a coach. And they are working to prepare. And to get ready to play a terrific team.

Q. Over the last few years you’ve had to rely on a lot of elite freshman and obviously next year could be a similar thing. Did you ever think about what it would be like if some of these freshmen could stay an extra year and, you know, mix with the freshmen you have coming in, what type of team you could have?

COACH John Calipari: Well, during the season it is about our team. And when the season ends, it is about individual players and what’s right for them and their families. So all I can tell you is we’ve encouraged young people to chase their dreams, especially if they’re in that lottery area. And it’s never really hurt our programs. Our programs have just kept going. And I think this collective bargaining may bring that about two years. That may happen. It may not. But it may happen. And it would be interesting to figure that this would maybe in the ’70s when you have the same guys for four years, boy, we would have some fun. But it is not the ’70s and we’re playing in a situation where these young people have a chance to put their names in the draft and reach their dreams.

And they’re not all coming to us where oh, he’s definitely going. No, no one knew Eric Bledsoe would be a pick and play as well as he is in the NBA and no one knew that Daniel Orton would be a first-round draft pick; he didn’t play his senior year. Guys on this team — that was hanging out there. So if they have
worked hard to develop, and our programs promoted them that way and they have an opportunity, we roll with it and we will figure out who is next year’s team and get that thing going.

Q. John, as much as you probably knew as an outsider the phenomenon of Kentucky basketball, once have you been there, what have you discovered about just what a phenomenon it is in the sport?

COACH John Calipari: It’s different. It’s different than any other program. And I don’t know — I know there are programs that are connected to their state, but none like this. And they breathe with every shot. Inhale, exhale. You make it, exhale. You miss it (gasping). That’s just how they are and they are everywhere. Everywhere we go they figure out how to get tickets. I don’t know how they do it. A lot of them are taking every penny they have to go on a vacation or whatever else to just go to the SEC Tournament or follow the team in the NCAA Tournament because they can’t get tickets in Rupp. We play whoever, it doesn’t matter. There are 25,000 people in that building. And the upper deck they there an hour before because they drove from eastern Kentucky. It is just a unique thing. There is such a connection to the people of the state and the program.

And there’s high expectations. It doesn’t matter whether we lose this guys or this guy, you win. If you don’t win by 25, why aren’t you winning by 25? So it is a unique place and I am humbled to be able to coach there and have this opportunity to be a part of it.

Q. Thad Matta was complimentary of your help and you gave him help for like, for example, getting the Xavier job. Can you talk about your relationship with him and where it started?

COACH John Calipari: Well, Thad was real close with Sean Miller and Sean Miller is like family. That’s where I got to know Thad. In the Xavier situation I did make the call. And Mike (Bobinski) and I talked and I don’t know if it did any good or not, but we did talk. And even Ohio State, Tommy Huf was the assistant A.D. and he and I talked about that. And what I said was, you will get a guy that will recruit players, will coach players, get the players to play hard and help you get the program to that level that you are competing and trying to win and winning national titles. And I believe that. I think he is a terrific coach and a terrific recruiter. And, you know, I’m happy that I made a call. I don’t know how much it did, but, you know, we did, he and I did talk about it and I talked for him.

Q. I have two questions on Liggins if I may: First one, I know he’s made a real name for himself as a defensive player. How has he evolved to this point, especially coming out of high school as a pretty good scorer. And the second thing is I read a quote by you saying something like he is the player that tried to please you more than any other, and I am wondering what you mean by that.

COACH John Calipari: Here is what we forget sometimes and I had another player on the team, because you’re not playing well because you’re doing this and this and this. And he said, “Coach, I am just telling you, I’m trying to please you.” We get away from that sometimes as coaches. We think they are doing this because of this or this and we think we are in their minds. And at the end of the day, the guys I have on my team are really trying to please me, including DeAndre Liggins. “How do you want me to play? I want you to be happy with me.”

Here’s a young man — for me it’s, you know, I have recruited players from all kinds of different backgrounds. Because of my own background, first college educated in my family, an opportunity to give a young man who has come from where DeAndre has come from, to have the chance to do the things that he’s doing right now, terrific. Here’s a young man that yeah, he scored in high school but didn’t shoot the ball. You watch him now, and I will tell you tomorrow he will make shots. He will make shots. But you will also see a fabulous defender. And the team needs it, but also he is making his own way now. He’s creating an opportunity for himself. There isn’t a coach at any level that doesn’t want a defender who will go after balls and play with unbelievable energy. That is a skill. Just as bouncing that ball and passing. Shooting is a skill.

So how far — when I first took the job, the first thing out of everybody — you have to get rid of DeAndre. That’s what they said. And I had recruited him a little bit in high school and I said you know what? I will get him for awhile before I make any kind of decision. And I am so happy that he is on my team. And he’s somebody going to war with us.

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