Defense still worries Calipari
November 13th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Morehead State was 4-for-24 from 3-point range and shot only 38.5 percent overall from the field.
However, those numbers meant little to coach John Calipari after Kentucky’s 75-59 win over Morehead here Friday because he liked very little of what he saw from the Cats defensively.
“When I watch the tape I will be sick because we came out of a (defensive) stance. How about we foul 55 feet from the basket. I wanted to tackle him,” said Calipari. “To be a good team we have got to play an entire (defensive) possession and stay in a stance. Everybody should be talking and loving it. We are not close.
“For this team to be special, we have to be that and rebound. The offense will be fine.”
Calipari says his team has poor defensive habits it must break and develop good habits the players will commit to daily.
“I have not had an inexperienced team like this in four years. I got a little impatient and mean. I started stomping, running and grabbing. Certain things are not acceptable and if you want to stay on the floor you have to do this,” Calipari said. “The only reason you play this game and Miami of Ohio (Monday) is you get to see your weaknesses. Those teams will exploit weakness and if you do not come to play, they will beat you.”
Calipari said his last four teams at Memphis averaged letting opponents shoot about 38 percent overall and 29 percent from 3-point range, a higher mark than what UK gave up to Morehead. Still, Calipari is not convinced about this team’s defensive prowess yet.
“I am hoping that is what we are, but I am telling you what I am seeing. Not staying in a stance and we have bad habits. We don’t talk. If you want me to keep going, I will. There are so many things I am going to watch on tape and pull my hair out. I have to be patient, though,” Calipari said.
Posted in UK Basketball
6 Responses to “Defense still worries Calipari”
Leave a Reply
UKAthletics.com
Wow! That is harsh. I thought that was pretty good D. Yeah, there were quite a few lapses, but it wasn’t anything that I would rip them apart for. Most teams would kill to have those defensive field goal stats. I do understand Cal’s frustration over the lack of verbalization. These are college kids. All they do is talk off the court. Why can’t they do that in a game? I don’t get it. The only thing I had a problem with in the game was the turnovers, but Cal told us to expect that, so I won’t worry about it. All in all this was a solid enough game for the first time out against a pretty solid team. I think we were the only Top 25 team to play an NCAA tournament team tonight. I’m happy.
GO BIG BLUE!!!
Thats right Jim,I think he is happy with those #’s too,but make sure these Kids stay hungry on the Defensive END,Remember CALS statement,”These freshmen think they poop Ice cream”, Keep them on their toes, Over all Good Starting Game,WOW how about that EAGLES team,Geat things comeing for Morehead IMO..The turnovers was the “WEAK” spot for the CATS!!I don’t think Coach has to do much Attintion getting, if you will, MOREHEAD STATE did that….GO BIG BLUE!!!
After that 9-0 run by Morehead in the first half I thought Cal was gonna have to get a new paint job on his hair. Overall though, they looked pretty good. Morehead is a decent team. That Faried is a good player and they should do well in the OVC. How ’bout that shot by Bledsoe. My wife said that was a luck shot only but I told her to make a luck shot you have to put it up somewhere close to the hole. I think that he thought he was going to be fouled and was trying to get off a shot so he could go to the line for two. Anyhow I think we will see it again on ESPN’s top ten plays.
Great first opener..
Coach is right.. Its not harsh but we are the better team on the floor with the talent. And dunking for Morehead St.under the rim was too much tonight.. Defence break downs. We are the taller team. I think the screens helped them and we haven’t played through screens which if they were making 3’s well you know the story.. Overall a good match-up and we needed this type of play to get ready for December.. See you at the top..
Go Big Blue
Good comments by all. I think the defense will get a lot better as the season goes. But what about that Rider win over Mississippi STate
AMEN Larry, That Rider win is the best thing that could have happened for CAL>>Just point out that Rider Beat the SEC WEST favorites and the Motivation is much easier IMO..Rider will be another great test for these CATS…GO BIG BLUE!!!