Checking in on John Calipari's weekly mailbag on Fox Sports reveals the following:
Is this year’s team a bit slower to get than last or is the SEC that much stronger in 2010-11? – Justin, Detroit, MI
Coach Cal – “We’re well ahead of last year’s team. Last year’s team was deep… [this year] we’re not playing as many and we’re not as tough, but we do have the advantage of being a better execution team, a better free-throw-shooting team, a lower turnover team. I love this team… and I think this team has the biggest opportunity to improve.”
You’ve flirted with undefeated seasons before. Is it ever beneficial to lose a game before the NCAA tournament? – Patrick, Providence, RI
Coach Cal – “My goal before I retire – and don’t tell anybody this – is to coach an undefeated team that goes 40-0. Why? Because everybody says it can’t be done... People say it’s better to lose one before the NCAA tournament – it’s too much pressure. My thing is look, we’ve had three teams that I’ve coached that had a chance to be undefeated, and I think that [my] approach gets them to reach beyond what maybe they’re even capable of doing.”
Where do you realistically see your team in two months heading into the tourney? – Phillip, Boulder, CO
Coach Cal – “I see our team being one of the best teams in the country. But it’s not what I see; it’s what I can get my players to see.”
Finish this sentence: People would be most surprised that I’m afraid of… -- Francis, Arlington, VA
Coach Cal – “The dark. Never liked the dark. When you have an imagination and you’re a little bit of a dreamer, there are a lot of things going through your mind [in the dark].”
How about Big Ben and company! Any message for my Steelers heading into the Super Bowl? – Marco, Pittsburgh, PA
Coach Cal – “Let me tell you my message for those Steelers – my Steelers. Let’s go Steelers! You see the Terrible Towel? Oh yeah. I’ve got a real helmet signed by Bradshaw, by Ben, by Mike Tomlin. All I’m going to say is: Go Steelers!”
Why are you always talking to the media about having only 6 players or only trusting 6 players? What do you think this does to those guys on the bench when they hear these comments? When you do use someone other that the big 6, he is jerked out with the first missed shot or mistake. How would you feel if you were allowed to coach for a minute or so and then the head coach says "I'll take over now and this happened to you over and over - do you think you would have confidence and coach a good minute or so?? Give some of your bench a chance to grow with 4 of the regulars in and see how much better they become. You can't expect to win with only 6 players especially when you're in foul trouble and now you have to put in someone who isn't used to playing. I love you as a coach and so happy you are at Kentucky but don't understand the logic with not using the bench more---one at a time and
ReplyDeletethe other players need to include them in plays - not ignore the fact they are in the game which seems to happen. Thanks and hope to receive a reply..
I wish he had played more of the bench players early on in the season in easy games. It would have got their feet wet and they might be able to contribute now. Oh and I've noticed that Terrence Jones refuses to pass to Jon Hood.
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