Mike DeCourcy spoke with John Calipari about his upcoming chore of finding ways to play all 12 players in the upcoming 2014-15 season and it sounds like the players will determine who plays and who doesn’t.
Calipari told these Wildcats there will be similar sacrifices and significant demands. He intends to install a list of several “non-negotiables” – actions that will lead to a player being automatically removed from a game. If a player does not dive for a loose ball, or sprint while changing ends, or slide down into proper help position if defending the weak side …
“Thank you. You’re out. He’s in,” he explained.
He believes that such absolutes will make it easier on him in coaching the squad. It also will lead players to a greater sense of accountability, and thus a higher standard of performance.
“We were practicing last week and this one guy started pouting and being a baby,” Calipari said. “I go, ‘Stop. I just want to tell you guys: If you pout, if you’re a baby, if you think you’re going to win an argument with me, I’m good with that. And why is that? Because you can take him out, play somebody else and make somebody else happy.”
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Read “Kentucky’s high-class problem: Loaded roster forces Calipari to be creative” by clicking here.
Should see a lot of hustle out of this year’s team, because it sounds like every one that is in the game will be doing what they are supposed to do.
Or they will be spectators, just like we are.
