Junior Keion Brooks and other UK players better produce on defense or John Calipari says they may not start. (UK Athletics Photo)
It’s rare for John Calipari to do a September press conference to update local media members on his team. Obviously, he shared news Tuesday that he had tested positive for COVID during the summer despite being vaccinated and also stressed the importance of having the state legislature pass name, image and likeness regulations soon before the current emergency order allowing that in Kentucky expires.
However, he also talked a lot about his team but did dodge a question about which player has surprised/impressed him the most in preseason workouts.
“I’ll be honest with you, they’ve all … I could go right down the line and name, other than the two that haven’t been practicing, you could name 10 guys that have had good days,” Calipari said.
“That’s why I keep coming back to it: We may play the best five defenders. You’d better get in the best shape of your life. Your body fat better drop. You’d better fight like heck. And if you think you’re going to exchange baskets, you’re not playing.”
Would he do that? I doubt it especially with the offense placed on adding players with ball skills and 3-point shooting range after last year’s 9-16 season. But his point was to emphasize that he had the depth to do that if he wanted and maybe send a message to his players.
“Now that’s the challenge to everybody on there, that I’m going to have to defend and rebound and do all these other things because he and I are pretty equal everywhere else, but he does that, which means he’s playing before me,” Calipari said.
“I don’t want to pull out one guy (as the best) because, I’ll be honest with you, I’ve been pleased with all of them.”
