By LARRY VAUGHT
Is it easier to tone down an aggressive player or boost a non‐aggressive player to be more aggressive?
Here’s how UK coach John Calipari answered that question Friday:
“They’ve got to recognize, first of all, that they’re not playing hard enough and they’re not competing like the other people on the floor. And then, they have to make a choice that, ‘I’m going to change.’ There’s nothing I can do,” Calipari said. “They’ve got to make the choice that they’re going to change. My job is to get them to recognize where they are right now. Like I told them, we won the game (at Vanderbilt). And, we won on the road and we had these plays at the end of the game which helped us win which were huge, gutty plays.
“We didn’t give up on the game. But, now let’s watch this stuff. This was all effort. This was all physicality. Why would you not do this? And that’s what I did, I said, ‘Learn from it.’ And, I’m not mad. We won, but if we don’t correct this, you’re not going to win what you think you can win.”
5 Responses to Can John Calipari make a player more aggressive
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It is just so strange to see a KY team that has so little pride and gives very little effort to correct it. All Cal can do is stay on them and hope things change! I am slowly losing hope hat the light will come on with this team. Just the wrong combination of passive players that are ok with just being average.
I am not talking about Harrow, Noel, Cauley- Stein or Polson, but the rest have little or no pride. I will never give up on a KY team, but this team is a very confusing one. I maybe to spoiled by Cal’s excellent teams. I would never change the way things are today with Cal!
Ben, not only does it sound like you’ve already given up on this Team, your Post, IMO is the ultimate insult to OUR YOUNG PLAYERS….Pride, Pride ! You have ” no idea ” how much ALL these young men Love Ky Basketball and Each Other…These Young Men are so Kind and Polite, that it’s hard for them to grasp the aggressiveness of a Champion. I agree they need to Play Tougher and with a Chip on their shoulder, but, they never had to before and they are not a lite switch. Heck, I’ve even suggested in past post, that someone should be at the Tunnel and before they get to the Court, that someone should punch them in the mouth, to get the adrenaline and anger pumping…But, never have I questioned the Love and ” Pride ” that this Team Has…Ben, they are 18 and 19…it took Josh , his ” Senior Year ” to Wake-Up ! Ben, I think your being unfair and if you met these Young Men, I think you would apologize…
I’m with you, Larry. These are young, young kids trying to adjust to working in the classroom, working on charity, practicing ball, traveling, and then playing again. It may take them awhile to get better, but, goodness let’s be behind them pushing them forward – not pushing them out of the way. Go Big Blue!
Just a simple question: if you are a member of a D1 college basketball team, you have chosen that team (school) to play for, have chosen that school to receive your free education why would you NOT play with every ounce of engery, for every second you are on that floor to represent that univesity 100%. Makes no sense to me that a true competitor would or could give less than that. I have watched probably 14 or 15 high school games this year and have seen kids sacrifice their bodies running into walls, jumping over chairs, diving on loose balls, sprinting down court to cut off a fast break because they are pround of their school and the uniform they wear.
Yeah I find it hard to say anything about their pride or heart. They chose us over everyone and I’m with Larry when it come to calling out their pride. But that goes for players and coaches in all sports. They come here and give everthing they have for our enjoyment so for anyone to question their pride or desire to be successful makes no sense to me. Since I can’t attend practices I assume Cal is showing them exactly what they need to know and learn and that since they were all winners in high school the still want to be winners today.
I have said this all year with this team. They will be fine. Does that mean they won’t lose games they should win NO. But will anyone in the country want to see them in their bracket in March? HELL NO. Ask any of the teams that have beaten these young men and they all say the same thing. “Watch out for them come tourney time”
Thursday was frustrating to say the least but I still believe in Cal and these young men. We all saw what an 8 loss team can do with the Brandon Knight team so lets relax and enjoy the ride.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GO BLUE AND REMEMBER IT TAKES A LITTLE SOUR TO APPRECIATE THE SWEET ! ! !