Calipari on Cats: ‘They’re still trying to figure out who they are’

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Entering his ninth season as head coach at Kentucky, John Calipari is no stranger to dealing with young players and the growing pains that accompany them.

This particular edition of the Wildcats, however, may prove to be the biggest test of his patience to date.

“We’re a ways away from being a good basketball team,” Calipari said Thursday in advance of UK’s exhibition opener against Thomas More. The Cats will face the Division III program on Friday night at Rupp Arena, followed by a disaster relief charity exhibition on Monday against Morehead State from the DI ranks.

While it should have no issues competing with either opponent, UK is trying to blend in eight new faces with a roster that has very little experience returning from last year’s Elite Eight squad. And even though the newcomers include five-star prospects like Kevin Knox, P.J. Washington, Nick Richards and Quade Green, the transition can be bumpy.

“This year, I have got to be doubly hard in practice, like even tougher,” Calipari said. “Not mean and nasty and cuss... but I just raised the bar and the expectation level of what they can do (in practice). And if they don’t do it, they run. We’re conditioning like crazy right now.”

“It’s been a little tough,” freshman guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander conceded Thursday. “... It’s looking a little rough early, but we know it’s a process and we just want to be good in March.”

Asked what type of things have been setting off their coach, Alexander cited sloppiness and lack of attention to detail

As the games begin, Calipari’s plan is to back off a bit, although he readily concedes he may not be able to do that.

“When we get in these games, I’m going to back up a little bit because this is not the swaggy, ‘We got this’ group. They’re still trying to figure out who they are, which means I’ve got to back up and accept some of the stuff I see, which normally I don’t accept.

“Now, the question is, can I do that?”

The UK boss said some fans may not recognize him due to the lack of sideline antics he plans to display early in the season.

“Other groups I was tough on and in games where there was slippage I didn’t let that slippage keep going, Calipari said. “I think right now with this group, where we are, is go hard in practice, hold them accountable, and then accept where we are in games.”

Kentucky could start five players with no college game experience on Friday. The game notes feature Quade Greeen, Hamidou Diallo, Nick Richards, Kevin Knox, and. P.J. Washington as potential starters.

Two newcomers will not be in the rotation. Freshman forward Jarred Vanderbilt and freshman guard Jemarl Baker are both still recovering from foot and knee injuries, respectively.

Calipari did offer, however, that recent tests on Vanderbilt’s left foot have come back positive, and the 6-foot-9 Houston native is no longer wearing a protective boot.

Baker is slated to have his knee scoped again on Friday. Calipari said a previous procedure when Baker was in high school did not heal properly. There is no timetable on his return.