John Calipari says his players miss having UK fans at games. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Early in his weekly radio show Thursday night Kentucky coach John Calipari had a caller suggest terminology the coach might want to avoid because it makes it seem he is talking down to fans. Calipari seemed genuinely surprised the caller thought he was doing that to fans.
“I don’t even know how to respond to talking down to fans and if anybody takes it that way I will be more careful,” Calipari said. “Part of what is happening this year is having no fans.
“University of Kentucky basketball is about these fans. Now that we are struggling, people are piling on and they are happy as heck. Maybe even some of our fans are. But it doesn’t budge me and what I am trying to do. I told them (players) again today, ‘Let’s do this.'”
Kentucky certainly has not been doing “this” all season now that the Cats are 5-11 going into Saturday night’s game against Tennessee in Rupp Arena where there again will be limited fans. On road games where UK fans often show up in force, there are no UK fans or very few.
“I remember the one year we were struggling and played Florida the last game and I asked nobody to sit down the last five minutes and take us home and they (fans) did and we won that game. They (fans) are so important to what we do.
“They (fans) are upset and this is uncharted waters. This is uncharted for me. I have not been in this situation for 35 years but stuff happens. I am not talking down to fans or blaming players. I have to figure this stuff out.”
Another fan wanted to know why Dontaie Allen did not play the second half of Wednesday’s loss at Missouri after getting only seven minutes the first half when he went 0-for-2 from the field.
Calipari basically gave the same answer he did after the game — and I am not sure fans are buying that after only a few weeks ago he talked about not crushing hearts by not playing players when he didn’t start Allen the second half of a game when he clearly outplayed some who did start in the first half.
“He has been great. He is trying. His engagement defensively … but what happened last game was real simple,” Calipari said. “We started the half, got back in the game and I just rolled with guys in the game.”
Calipari said there have been games when Allen or Lance Ware entered a game when things were not going well and changed the momentum.
“Other games teams are taking advantage of him defensively or he is missing shots,” Calipari said. “Okay, you are trying to win and whatever I am doing is trying to win the game.”
Not sure that is going to be words of wisdom that UK fans wanted to hear.
