Here is the video and transcript from John Calipari’s press conference earlier today.
Head Coach John Calipari
On if he does anything extra to prepare the team for the first real road match …
“No, these guys, you know the games that they’ve played in and the venues that they’ve played in, you think about Chicago, it was crazy. It’s Carolina-Kentucky, what do I got to do? I need a Knute Rockne speech? It’s Carolina-Kentucky. Both programs, the most wins in the history of the game. Think about the players that have gone through there and the players that have gone through here. You think about, from Frank McGuire, Dean Smith on; from Adolph Rupp on; it’s craziness. This is why you coach and this is why you play, to play in games like this.”
On expecting to get North Carolina’s best shot …
“Look, their frontline players are as good as any we’ll play and that’s what’s giving us trouble. Their guard play is solid, I mean they don’t shoot it well but neither do we. (Marcus Paige) will shoot it. Do you expect anything other than the best game they’ve played all year? We’re going to face North Carolina at their best. We have to be at our best, which is our best at this point in time, be as good as we can be for December whatever.”
On North Carolina getting a lot of scoring from their bench …
“It doesn’t matter where you get it from. I remember one year, someone said, ‘do you know their bench outscored your bench by 25?’ I said, that’s OK, our starters outscored theirs by 50, so it really doesn’t matter. What you’d like to have is balanced scoring, have five guys. You’d like to have a bench that adds energy, it may not be bench scoring, what if it’s bench defense, rebounding and assists; it’s not just points. Alex (Poythress), Dominique (Hawkins) and Dakari (Johnson), those guys are important to this team and they know it. You know what’s great about it? Even last game; these guys want Alex to get going. I mean, they want him to get going, they do it in practice, you can feel it and see it but he’s got to go do it.”
On Willie Cauley-Stein revealing that he had the sickle cell trait …
“Yeah, I was surprised he was that open. There are many athletes that have it. It’s a trait, it’s not anemia; it’s a trait. I’m a little cautious, I’ve coached other players who have it, have that trait and I’m a little cautious. If I see them get winded I’ll make sure they get fluids and all the other things and you don’t want them to get dehydrated and stuff, I’m conscious about it. The thing that’s happening for him, at times I think, and I’ve had guys, this used to happen to Marcus Camby, they get so hyped to play and they come out with so much energy that they’re exhausted 45 seconds into the game. We played Kentucky in the semifinal game in ’95, which should have been the final game, remember they didn’t seed right, and I had to sub Marcus Camby 30 seconds into the game, go back and look. We jumped it up, he ran up twice, he was humped over, I subbed him; then from there he was fine. Willie, same kind of stuff happens with Willie.”
On Willie getting winded being an issue …
“I mean, he played 30-how much did he play against Providence. He knows if he gets winded or feels it he’ll take himself out, he’s pretty good about it.”
On Alex Poythress’ minutes being down this year but rebounds still at the same …
“Look, you have to be comfortable going into these practices going nuts and loving it. Breaking through, not dreading practice, being energized that you’re going to practice and then going crazy. Then the games will become easier. As soon as he does that he’s going to take off. Until he does that, you know there will be some up-and-down games. But it’s not just him; I’ve got half my team trying to fight that right now. You have to love the grind of this, you have to love every day, push me, make me better, try to push me beyond where you think I can go and I’m going to beat the workout. We’re not there because these guys have never had to be there. But they’re trying, they’re getting better. I wouldn’t trade my team for any team. It’s just that, you know, it wears you out having to continue to teach. Out shoot arounds are like full practices because we need the hour.”
On UNC guard Marcus Paige …
“He’s a terrific player. He can get to the rim; he’s good in pick-and-rolls. He makes shots when they need one. They set doubles and do different things for him. He gets them in transition. He flies. He’s a terrific, terrific player. He’s good. Their front line, there are four or five guys on that front line (that) are as good as we will play. And that’s exactly, we need it. They’re going to be physical. Guess what? We need it. We need to figure out what are we when that other team gets really physical with us.”
On comparing the two programs …
“I don’t know if it’s better. I just know they are two programs that are storied programs. Think of the history. Think of the players that have gone through these. They are schools and states that really take great pride in their program. I think both programs do it. That’s why this is. Look you have 13 National Titles. I can’t even imagine how many Final Fours between these two programs. I know you have like the most wins between the two programs. All of the sudden, I bet you the NCAA Tournament wins are the most. I mean you are talking about two of the storied programs, and you’re able to go in this game. You’re going in this game and they want you bad. It’s a white-out. They’re honoring (former UNC) Coach (Dean) Smith, which I think is outstanding. They’re pulling out all the stops and you know what? It’s what my team needs. Let’s go see where we are. But I’m excited to coach in it. This is why you coach, games like this.”
On preparing for an intense atmosphere at UNC …
“We need to have a team full of guys excited that way. Now, that also leads to (being) too hyped. Fouling, doing stuff out of control, but I can deal with that. Let’s just see if we have grown from the last game. Let’s not do what we did between Providence and then the next game. Let’s go from Boise (State) to the next game, and let’s take a step up. Hopefully we’re guarding against what happened last time.”
On Willie Cauley-Stein’s physical play …
“As long as he doesn’t get five (fouls) I’m fine. Willie’s really made strides, but he knows this is the kind of game, can he perform? Now he doesn’t have to have 20 (points), 10 (rebounds) and nine blocks. You just have to be able to look and say ‘he held his own now. Those dudes were all over him, and he still rebounded the ball, he still blocked a few shots, he made baskets, he’s fine.’ That’s what he needs to see. The only way you build the confidence in that kind of guy is demonstrated performance. You know they’re going to be physical and you perform, demonstrated performance. You can’t be ‘I’ll be fine, watch this.’ No, you’ve got to do it on that court. And our team the same way, playing in this kind of environment let’s see how we do.”
On if UK has improved its transition defense …
“We are going to find out. They fly up and down the court pretty good. Their big guys get up and down the court. They’re good. I mean when you watch them at their best, you’re like ‘holy cow, they’re good.’ ”
On if UK will play UNC every year …
“Yeah, It’s those marquee programs. It’s a good deal. I think both coaches are pretty good with it.”
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