Clarion coach praises Kentucky’s skill, length
November 6th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Clarion University coach Ron Righter has seen some talented teams during his 30-plus years as a coach. However, he’s not sure he’s ever seen a team quite like the one he watched here Friday night when Kentucky beat his Division II team 117-52.
“That is as skilled a team as I’ve seen. It’s just a matter of time and this place will see something special. What I was saw tonight was veterans blend in and give the 100 percent he (John Calipari) demands. There was a nice energy and nice team play from everyone of those guys,” Righter said. “I was very impressed with everyone coming off of the bench and the way they played hard.”
What else did he like?
“They are probably the longest team I’ve seen in a long time. I think you are going to have a lot of fun here in this place. If John gets a couple of good road wins, this team is going to get some confidence and it will be special for everyone,” Righter said. “My team usually plays below the rim, and this team played above the rim. In fact, they played above the block. We would make some pretty good moves out there, but we couldn’t get it off because they were so long.”
Righter said Calipari’s twice-a-day practices, including one early each morning, definitely got the Cats’ attention and he saw a far different and better team than the one that beat Campbellsville University Monday.
“You could tell right from the get go their closeouts were more intense. They didn’t miss any closeouts and you saw the way they closed out on our perimeter people. They got pieces of the ball and they didn’t allow many open jump shots,” the Clarion coach said. “Even when we swung it around, they always got a piece of the ball.
“The biggest difference was the space in the dribble drive. They ran their dribble drive offense night and day. They had their angles picked. The way they were rotating, no matter where (John) Wall drove, he knew where the other four were. The spacing, the closeouts and the aggression was there. They had fire in their eyes.”
Count Righter as a Patrick Patterson fan, too, even though he 14 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
“I’ve followed Patterson and the guy is a tough kid. I told him after the game, ‘You are going to be the foundation, you have the keep the young kids together and keep believing in what you’re doing. You are the key this year to how far the team will go.’ I’ve always watched his game and I’m glad he came out and did a good job for them tonight,” Righter said.
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I watched the pre-game interview with Coach Righter and he seemed like a classy, great guy. During the game, he was shown on TV several times and he was still smiling, even at the end. I may have been misreading him, but he seemed to enjoy what UK was doing, just as much as the good things that his team was doing. The last time I can remember seeing anything like that was when opposing coaches would watch their teams play the Dream Team in the 92 Olympics.
He was very gracious and appreciative of the opportunity. Same with his players
This appeared to be the opportunity that Clarion has been looking forward to since the exhibition game was scheduled. There was admiration in RIGHTER’s eyes as he prepared to play here at Rupp, as he presented awards to Coach Cal (the opposing team’s coach). How often does that happen? Also, during the game and after… even giving praise and advice to players and coaches of the opposition! A coach above most, in my book. I would love to see him return again. He seemed in awe at the opportunity to play against the Wildcats, in the house that Rupp built.
He did love being in the house that Rupp built and it is nice to see a coach appreciate the Kentucky tradition
How about the interview with Cal’s former coach at Clarion, at the end of the interview, he says GO BIG BLUE!!!..That was classic
Have to love a guy that knows the Cats rule
The Great thing about It He has been around a while, He has seen alot of great players/Teams In his days,was great to hear from Him..Big respect to that kind of staying power…GO BIG BLUE!!!