Kentucky Basketball: 3 Takeaways From Coach Cal’s Press Conference
By Drew Koch
Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari spoke to the media ahead of his Wildcats’ match up with Monmouth on Saturday. Here are three takeaways from Calipari’s press conference.
1) This year’s Kentucky basketball team will not be a prolific three-point shooting team.
Kentucky basketball fans can look up and down UK’s roster and they will not find a knockdown shooter. Cats’ fans are used to prolific shooters such as Devin Booker, Jamal Murray and Malik Monk. None of those guys are walking through the door. Though it’s crazy to think if they hadn’t committed to the NBA, all three could be on Kentucky’s roster today.
Calipari said during his press conference that he would like to see the Wildcats make about six to seven three-pointers per game. Kentucky is currently taking about 12 3-pointers, however, Calipari wants to see that number go up a bit.
2) Calipari wants Wenyen Gabriel to channel his inner Derek Willis
Wenyen Gabriel is the only player on the Wildcats who’s played meaningful minutes outside of the first eight games this season. Sacha Killeya-Jones played in only 14 games and averaged less than 7 minutes per game last season.
The Kentucky coach praised Gabriel’s work the past few days. Calipari said, “I’m trying to get him to play a little more like Derek Willis played.” Willis was a grinder for the Kentucky program during his junior and senior year. Willis averaged 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds during his final two years at Kentucky and did the little things to help the Wildcats win close games. Calipari is hoping Gabriel can be that guy this season.
3) Kevin Knox has got to get some help.
Kevin Knox is Kentucky’s best player. The freshman forward is averaging 16.6 points per game and 5.9 rebounds. However, he’s also averaging 35 minutes per game. John Calipari said that’s too much.
The problem for Kentucky is that no one else can fill in for Knox. Not just at the same position, but at the same level of play. Calipari mentioned subbing in Gabriel or P.J. Washington, but neither of those players have shown the ability to elevate their play to the level of Knox. Cal did say during the press conference that he’s been encouraging Washington to take more shots. Don’t be surprised to see Cal tinker with the lineup in an effort to give Knox some extra time to rest.