By LARRY VAUGHT
WINDSOR, Ontario  After Monday’s win, Kentucky senior center Josh Harrellson joked that maybe somebody needed to “punch†him before a game to get him going sooner.
That’s why Kentucky coach John Calipari wondered after Tuesday’s 104-75 win over host Windsor here if someone in the media had done something to inspire Harrellson after he pulled off 19 rebounds, made four steals and scored eight points.
Harrellson said it had more to do with advice he got from assistant coach Kenny Payne.
“Every time coach Payne kept saying every rebound is yours and not let anyone take them from you. Go after every ball and get each one you could,†Harrellson said. “Coach Cal always stresses defense and being in the top of the nation for blocked shots. If we do that and rebound, we will be a good team.â€Â
Harrellson said it helped his rebounding, and defense, that he quit staying behind his man.
“Coach just told me to stop playing behind the post and if I could get the steal, get it. I started fronting my man and got more aggressive,†Harrellson said.
Harrellson liked what he saw from younger teammates during the three-game trip and earlier practice sessions.
“We came together as a team more. We got conditioned out of it. We have come a long way in practice. Now we will take two weeks off and come back strong,†Harrellson said.
Calipari noted this was his time to “de-compress†and think about starting a season rather than conducting two-a-day practices, traveling to Canada and then playing three games in mid-August.
Time to relax
Now he wants his players to take time to relax. That’s one reason he sent injured freshman Terrence Jones on his way home before Tuesday’s game when he put him on a plane to let him have a little extra time at home in Oregon.
“Normally I give a team one week off when we come back, but I may give them two or more,†Calipari said. “I may leave them alone because we got a lot of work done.
“I don’t want a team to do in November like what I want it to do in January. Teams that do that peter out. But what this gives me is where we are still not a November team in December.â€Â
Calipari thinks when he gets Jones as well as centers Enes Kanter and Eloy Vargas, who were not eligible to make the trip, added to the team that the Cats will be fine.
“We need the three big guys. Put them with this team, then we are pretty good,†he said.
21 Responses to Harrellson finds ‘punch’ he needs
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I am so excited by the change in Josh Harrellson after this trip to Canada with the team. Each player is motivated differently, and the coaches have found the right stimulus to get him to the next level. I remember last year when Coach got after Patrick Patterson and molded him into a first round draft pick. It’s so much fun to see this team start on their journey, and when we add the others, well, I have big dreams for them! Thanks for all the great reporting, Larry, and I hope you had a great time in Windsor.
I really thought that everyone would be worn out after two games and no more rest than they got, but you sure could not tell it if they were, the way they were up and down the floor.( I guess I forgot how people that young can spring right back)Actually the other team seemed to be worn out more than the Cats.
Again I was impressed with them, I know they have a lot to work on for the regular season and the SEC, however I think they looked good to be in Aug. a new team, a very few practices.
Anxious to see Kanter and Vargus and watch all the pieces of the puzzle fall together.
I guess everyone knew who my favorite player was today the way I was cheering for Josh and it looks like his all 3 grandmothers watched him today!
I thought all the boys had moments of greatness and it looks like it is going to be another wonderful season, but remember, we have a lot of young players again.
This respite was quite nice in the middle of a very hot summer, my favorite past time to occupy my blonde mind while I decide what to do with the next stage of my life!
Really did nothing but drive, went to game, wrote, slept, went to game and then drove home. Very action packed 39 hours. But Josh played best today I have seen. so much more aggressive and confident. Could be big step for him
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Larry, you went to the game? You drove to Canada? You didn’t stop by and pick up Josh’s grandmothers on the way?
A few things about Josh. Before the game, while half the team go through shooting drills, the other half stretch and loosen up at halfcourt. Josh hates stretching and loosening up. He puts into it the least amount of effort possible. Don’t know why he bothers; it’s doing him no good. And frankly I’m surprise the conditioning coach lets him get away with it. He is without question the least flexible guy on the team. His teammates put in an honest effort. But not Josh.
Also, Cal kept telling Josh to keep his defensive stance, to keep his head low and his butt out and not to stand up straight. Josh wouldn’t listen, and it sent Cal into conniptions. To be fair, it wasn’t only Josh. But he was the worst offender. Cal repeatedly turned to the bench mimicking Josh’s upright stance and drew laughter from the fans with his sometimes comic frustration.
But Josh, together with Miller, also had the biggest smile on his face during practice, and occasionally during the games. And that made a lot of us smile, too.
Sorry Linda. Worried you might be too wild (ha ha)
Larry, if the NCAA does not get off their butts and get Kanter cleared then Josh is going to need those very big steps.I wonder just how long they are going to delay this, I have heard that they are not getting answers from Turkey that they need, also that they are short handed and need to take care of football first, ( that I can understand)But you know Linda has some free time now maybe she could volunteer to help them out if they are so shorthanded.
Are we absolutely sure that the coaching staff didn’t light a fire under Josh by threatening to put him in a bathroom stall?
No. Wait a minute. That was someone ELSE’s motivational technique. Cal will get the best out of him, the old-fashioned way…by TEACHING him and pushing him to be his best.
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
Jan, I think that Linda working for the dopes at the NCAA would be the end of our program. I’m not saying she’s partial or anything, but she would clear LeBron, MJ, Kobe and Shaq to play for us, if she could. That would be really fun, for a while, but the other pinheads would eventually catch on and we would end up with the death penalty.
Just kidding Linda.
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
holy crap: all it took for a 6’11″ , 250 lb center , is for someone too say go get the rebound? gee , now theres a novel idea! And a 1st year uk asst. coach at that. Please folks c’mon, yes i am glad to see he had a nice game , but reel it in a little here, for one thing, he is a senior, and all the sudden it sinks in to get some rebounds , at 6’11″ ! Are you serious? Yeah no crap get rebounds! Whats he think he’s in there for , to run the weave out front? Just think what we have been missing all along, almost a double double guy, if only someone would of just said go get the rebound. Mind boggling!
Oh wait one more thing! Maybe coach payne can pull josh aside and show him some youtube highlights of larry bird, and then coach payne can merely say , “go play like that”. Sky is the limit for josh , just the power of suggestion can turn it around for him. See this coaching thing is a breeze!
Easy Cotton, but point well taken. This was competition he should have dominated  and did in only one game. Hopefully this let him see what he has to do, but I think it’s fair to wait to see what develops here. He has to get a lot better to play in front of Kanter, Vargas or Jones
OK guys, I could teach the idiots at the NC2A a thing or two or three fur schure! I could also get Josh to stretch and do what ever else he has to do to be the player he needs to do. I could show him highlights tapes of Issel and Boogie and all the greats that played at UK. I would entice him with chocolate chip cookies. I would pound into his head how important it is for him to do the stretching and what ever else he needs to do to get his body ready to play, not just for the team, but for himself. I’d bring my son with me who is a physical therapist and knows the importance of all this stuff to help keep you from being injured during play. My son doesn’t even like the way I go down steps! I would not be the end of our program, I would be the end of the idiotic things the dopes at the the NC2A do to keep these kids from doing what they want to do. I would put an end to the stupid journalist that make up stories to hurt the kids and programs without proof. I would put Larry in charge of all stories and journalist with a big salary and they would all have to answer to him before anything was printed. I would make everyone of them pledge allegiance to the University of Kentucky! Now Larry, I would have behaved myself IF you had taken me with you, I behaved myself watching the games at the UK Sports bar in Louavull. I can act like an adult when needed. IF I can find someone to go with me tomorrow night to Eddie Montgomery’s I am not going to make that promise! My blood is boiling! One of these days, when I’m famous…LOL…you guys are gonna be sorry! Go Cats, I bet they still love me!
BTW you have to remember Josh was playing out of his position, give him a break! DUH! He probably didn’t have much time to practice the position and he was playing against Cuz and PPat the past few years and he had to play the way he was to defend himself. He had to be a brick wall to go against those guys! Poor Josh, he needs his grandma’s to defend him. The poor baby, getting beat up on the floor, from the coach and team mates and then from the BBN. That is not fair. Poor Josh.
Linda, I knew you would have the right words to say to defend Josh, and I knew as soon as you read what was said you would do just that!
I also said that you could go and HELP the NCAA.
I can’t believe Jim Boyers had the audacity to say I would get the program in trouble. I think I am gonna add him to my list. He better apologize, big time! Thank you Jan, for defending me! Go Cats! I don’t know if I have forgiven Larry yet, have you? He could have picked you up too!
I’M SORRY LINDA!!
But I did say I was only KIDDING.
You are too partial to EVER work for the NCAA. AS AM I. We would BOTH help our team a little TOO much and get them in trouble.
Have you found someone to go to Eddie’s with you yet?
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
I know you were only kidding Jim, just wanted to make you feel bad! LOL…I have not found anyone yet. Most people work and don’t want to drive that far on a week night.
It was really good seeing this team play together so well. Some really good passing and shooting at times. I think when the bigs join this team, it will change everything, and everyone’s role will be interesting to watch play out. Great games, it’s going to be another really fun season with these fellows!
Go Cats!!