The referees cannot be everywhere at once. They have blind spots. They miss the forearm to the back on a rebound. They miss the extra shove after the whistle. They miss the "accidental" contact that wears an opponent down over 40 minutes.
For the first half of the season, Kentucky was often the victim of that game within the game. They were the "nice" team that got bullied.
But lately? The Wildcats are starting to master the dark arts. And it turns out, they are learning it with literal boxing gloves.
"We are literally punching them"
If you were wondering where Kentucky's sudden burst of aggression came from in the last two games, specifically the techs against Arkansas and Oklahoma, we finally have the answer. After the win over the Sooners, forward Andrija Jelavic revealed that assistant coach Mikhail McLean has introduced a violent new element to the team's routine.
“The boxing gloves is that we’re warming up by punching the boxing gloves from Coach Mikhail,” Jelavic said. “We’re literally punching them. He emphasizes that... We’ve been doing it for the past two games, and it’s brought good results.”
It isn't just a practice drill; it’s a pregame ritual.
"It’s the first thing we do when we walk into the gym," Jelavic explained. "He takes those sparring gloves, and we’re punching them five times... You have to do a layup. That’s just our pregame routines.”
Learning to Get Away With It
The drill isn't just about waking up the body; it is about waking up the mindset. Jelavic was surprisingly candid about what the routine is teaching them: It is teaching them to initiate contact, even if it pushes the boundaries of the rulebook.
“I feel like some breakout was the Arkansas game when we were really emphasizing us starting physically and hitting guys that are not even meant to be hit in that moment,” Jelavic said.
He even admitted that the "dark arts" are becoming part of his game. “I found some situations when I can punch a guy, make contact with a guy, and they’re not being seen by the referees... Even when you make contact and make a foul, it gave us energy.”
That is exactly what you need to do. Everyone gets frustrated at the refs, but you have to use them to your advantage. If you can smack a hand and get a turnover without getting called for a foul, then it only helps your defense.
Perfect timing
This culture shift couldn't have come at a better time. The rest of the schedule is looking brutal. And it starts tomorrow night.
Tennessee is coming to town, and under Rick Barnes, the Vols have practically written the book on the "dark arts" of physicality. They want to turn the game into a wrestling match.
In the past, Kentucky might have complained to the refs. Now? It sounds like they are taping up their wrists and looking for a fight.