During the SEC coaches teleconference today, Kentucky coach John Calipari surprised no one with his opening statement that his 1-6 team was “struggling” but insisted there were no locker room or player issues.
“Had an issue with one player (Cam’Ron Fletcher) and he’s back now. He has a smile on his face. He told the team don’t do what I did. This is where you want to be,” Calipari said.
Calipari asked Fletcher to “step away” from the team nine days ago for an attitude adjustment. The coach said then he thought Fletcher would return even though he made it clear a lot of things about his attitude and team demeanor would have to change after his emotional outburst on the bench and in the locker room when UK lost to North Carolina. Fletcher was upset he did not play more.
That led me to ask Calipari what he talked about with Fletcher before he could return since the coach said his leave from the team was to “preserve the culture” of the UK program. Calipari said he talked with Fletcher, his mother and his high school coach about what was expected of him if he did return.
“I told him he may not play a minute this year. How are you going to deal with that? I wanted everyone to hear that, to understand that this is the long haul.”
Calipari said there were also a “couple of other things” Fletcher was told that were “absolutely” expected of him if he returned but did not reveal what those were
“I think the kid feels bad, but he had to have a wake up call. He urged me and said, ‘I will be a different guy.’ I’m not doing it to prove a point,” Calipari said. “I discipline kids and not one of you ever know. Why this [time]? It went to a length that disciplining within wasn’t working. But he’s not a bad kid. He is back and the team were all happy he was back. They all knew he needed to change and we move on.”
