[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B][U]KENTUCKY HEAD COACH JOHN CALIPARI:[/U][/B][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]Please share you initial thoughts with our listeners about participating in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. [/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“I have a history being the coach at UMass and being involved in maybe the best or craziest time in Tip-Off history when we played Arkansas. When they won the national title that year we played them in Springfield. Many friends at the Hall of Fame. Just a lot of friends at the Hall of Fame and great opportunity to bring a team like Kentucky to this environment and do it all to benefit and be apart of the Hall of Fame.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]You open your season in the first game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament on Friday at home against Marist. What are your thoughts on their program? [/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“Well Chuck worked for me and when he took over they had a large turnover of seniors and a few kids transferred and I think what he’s doing is step by step to get that thing going. I think he’s doing a fine job and hopefully this year is that year that they break through. It takes time though. I just know Chuck as a basketball coach, a recruiter, a father and I have a lot of faith in him.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]What does playing in an event like this do for your program and how will these games help your team? [/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“First of all we go on the road right away and most teams that play all their games at home in November end up not understanding and get into league play and get bashed right away. We got a game in New York City before we get to Connecticut so out of our first four games three of them are away from home. So we got a tough schedule and this is suppose to toughen us up and get us ready. Early on that’s what you want to do. We are such a young team we are going to be a team that is freshman and sophomore oriented. We got two seniors in our top eight, those two Darius and Eloy are going to help us and the rest of the guys are freshman and sophomores.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]You have a very talented team once again. How do you think your freshman will have an impact on the early part of the season?[/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“Terrence Jones is arguably one of the top players in the country. What has he done this off-season to put himself in a position to lead this team this year? “He’s changed as a player, he’s changed his body and he’s changed is attitude towards playing. Physically he is probably our best-conditioned player and he wins all the runs. He has a competitive spirit and concentration level that he didn’t have a year ago. He’s just way better and not even the same guy in my opinion. What I always say is you got to change your body, change your attitude, change your approach, change your skill set if you are going to get results. You got to change something about your game and what you do to get results and he has.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]How have practices been going to this point? [/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“We have done fine. We are a team that is in November. I’m not sure we are a team that is ready to win basketball games but we have enough in that we can play a game. We got out of bounds plays finally in and side out of bounds plays in and finally threw in a press attack. Just trying to figure out offensively how we want to play. We’re teaching them dribble drive, how you get into it, how you finish it. We’ve worked some on the zone but not a whole lot. We’re probably where most teams are that have all new players. It takes time and I don’t want us to be in February shape when it’s still November. We’re not conditioned that way yet and we’re not going to be looking like we will in two and a half or three months from now. But right now they are playing hard and trying and that’s half the battle. Just compete. We’re going to make mistakes but just compete that’s what its all about.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]Coach, obviously you have achieved a lot of success in your career. What does the Hall of Fame mean to you personally?[/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“Because we were in Amherst and spent a lot of time with the people up there and went to many of the dinners and understand that there’s special building and a special building they built to bring our game together on all levels. This year we have Bobby Hurley who was in inducted, you have FIBA coaches and players, you have college players and pros and pro coaches. Its all about basketball at all levels and is truly the Hall of Fame for basketball. It’s a neat thing and I’m just glad we’re able to come back and support it. I always looked forward to it when I was at the University of Mass and now to be able to do it at Kentucky its special.” [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]Talk about some of the coaches in this event and the brotherhood type of community that is involved with being a coach? [/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“What happens is we all know how hard of a job that we have. How expectations in most cases or a lot of cases are beyond the resources or opportunities the coaches from those universities have. So we all have tough jobs. We might have young kids we are trying to get together or the player’s aspirations are bigger than the team’s aspirations. And we’re all battling now the media and some or a lot of them are agenda driven. You have to split the media network down which ties all these blogs and where anybody can say anything. We’re battling a lot. So I would say that if a coach doesn’t have respect for another coach that’s kind of beyond me cause this thing we do is very hard.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]Anyone after watching practices who might be an unsung hero or someone that might emerge as a role player on the team? [/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“Well they are all important with the way we are playing. I mean our point guard Marquis Teague player the last game and was really, really unselfish which then in return made us unselfish as a team. You have Kyle Wiltjer who might surprise everyone with his ability to make plays and make baskets and create for his teammates. Then Anthony and Michael Gilchrist’s energy. People have been talking about it and how he just brings it every possession that he is out there. They have all brought something different to the table. But this team will be drive by the four veterans Darius Miller, Eloy Vargas our seniors and Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb our sophomores. It will be driven by those guys but our freshman will play a part no question.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][LIST=1]
[*][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]Any last thoughts you’d like to share today? [/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/LIST]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]“We’re looking forward to it. My daughter goes to UMass so I’m going to get to spend some time with her. And just to get back into that area and see friends I’m happy to bring my team and hopefully we perform at a high level. Even though there are times I say there isn’t anyone we could beat playing this way.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
