UK’s Ryan Harrow and Coach John Calipari talk during the loss to Texas A&M. (Clay Jackson photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
Sophomore point guard Ryan Harrow has become the go-to guy for insights about Kentucky basketball and provided plenty of them after Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M.
Question: What does this loss do to the team’s confidence?
Harrow: “I hope it doesn’t mess with anybody’s confidence because we have been working so hard. We just have to go out and be prepared for the next game. We have to keep guys’ morale up in the next practice and just be focused for our next game (Tuesday against Tennessee).”
Question: What kind of message did coach John Calipari have for the team after the game?
Harrow: “He just said more guys need to buy into the system. We just need to make changes.”
Question: What sort of changes?
Harrow: “Just who we are going to play and how we are going to play.”
Question: Do you worry that losses like this could keep you out of the NCAA Tournament?
Harrow: “I don’t worry about it. We are always supposed to make it to the NCAA Tournament. We have to keep that attitude.”
Question: Is there just a different mentality with this team compared to last year’s national championship team?
Harrow: “You have to remember that last year’s team had Darius (Miller) who was a senior, Doron (Lamb) and Terrence (Jones) who had played here one year already. They just had those type guys on the team. They had a little bit more depth. We definitely have had to grow faster.”
Question: Is there any chance some players thought it would be easier this year than what it really is?
Harrow: “I hope that is not the case. I don’t think that is what it was. It’s just a different level of basketball.”
Question: Were expectations too high for this team?
Harrow: “I wouldn’t say that. We have a good team. Everybody is just not buying into the system.”
Question: Did the Thursday night game in Nashville and then quick turnaround to Saturday afternoon game create any physical problems for the team?
Harrow: “I wouldn’t say we were tired, but I know that my body is pretty tired just from a lot of practicing and games back to back and stuff like that.”
Question: Why do you think this far into the season that not all players would buy in to what Calipari is saying?
Harrow: “Most of us are freshmen and sophomores. Just change of mentality from where you were in high school. Some other of coach Cal’s teams have taken off quicker. Last year’s team, Doron came back, Terrence stayed back and Darius was still here and Eloy was still here. It just takes time.”
12 Responses to Ryan Harrow says Cats have to make changes and buy into what Calpari wants players to do
Leave a Reply
Blue Zoom Radio Show
Polls
Loading ...Choose Your Favorite!
Smart and gracious young man…I love Ryan and he’s getting it !
Thoughtful answers to good questions.
Can’t ask that guy to do anything more! ! From undisclosed family issues to 16 points a game and few to no turnovers he really gets it. I still believe in this team. March will be Magnificent! !
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
Time to take control Ryan and make this YOUR team to lead. Put the rest of those guys on your skinny little body and be the man. They are not heavy, their your brothers. This team is just dying for someone to take control and be the leader they can all look up to. You been through this before Ryan, show them the way.
Harrow is in his third year of college ball, even though one of them was last year’s sit out year. He has the maturity that the freshmen lack. Mays is a graduate student, but this is his third school. Wiltjer does not seem to have leadership ability. Polson is a junior, but until this year he has played little and he seems back to that level now. I can’t see the super stars paying much attention to him. Hood is a red shirt junior and Beckham is a senior. Neither have played much. Malone, Lanter and Long can’t be leaders since they never play. So, it looks like Harrow must be the upper class leader.
A check this AM shows that UK’s freshmen are still considered first round draft picks even though the team is not producing. That opens up the possibility that the success or lack of success of this team does not relate to where these kids will be drafted. That is not good. Put yourself in these kids place. Millions are waiting. Times have changed. Kids now come to UK in order to leave as millionairs. The name on the jersey might not mean as much to some of our kids as we think it should.
I hate it when I hear guys aren’t “buying in”. Not always sure what that means but for me it means there is internal strife between coach and players or players and coach or between players. It has become more a mental game of convincing them what to do and mental games are hard to win.
I know it’s apples to oranges but we heard this in football about players not buying into what Joker was selling and it possibly lead to our’s and his demise.
I don’t know what the solution is. I know the college game is leaps different from high school but these guys never had to “buy in” before to win. They have raw talent and they just did it. Seems like they aren’t having any fun, practice or games. I think too much exposure is too much for this group of guys. I’m hoping Mayes, Harrow or Kyle can become the man the team needs in a leader.
Seems every week the reason we don’t win changes. This week, “they won’t buy in”, before it was conditioning, before it was youth. We need to find ways to win instead of excuses why we aren’t and this includes everyone on that bench, player and staff.
It real simple to me, seems Our Opponents get pumped up and excited when they play Kentucky…Kentucky gets pumped up and excited in spurts ! It really does come down to Youth. I still love this Team…
Getting out “pumped” up is as real a problem as missing free throws and being out of shape. There is something behind the scenes that is keeping these boys from playing full out. Think about it, these are the best players in the country who want nothing more than to win games and go to the next level. Why aren’t they playing that way? These guys live to play ball and right now they seem to be impartial to the game they are recruited to play and Cal is running out of excuses. I love this team too, I bleed Blue, but obviously something going on.
Well,I see noel going pretty high in the draft . I see Alex,Ryan,Archie and Wille going in the 2nd round., or coming back and being on the bench, while the new freshmen star for Kentucky for next year”s class. Just my take, with the effort they give as a team. I see them in the bottom of the 2nd round and making the minimun, then being cut .
I smell transfers. But if next years team is this apathetic about playing we will have a rock solid team of the most talented BBall players in the world who refuse to play or can’t even be coached into a frenzy. I don’t get it at all. I would weigh on the youth size if they weren’t so talented. If I were any one player out there I would say to he=* with this and make a run on my own, put up 30-40 points. I know this isn’t AAU but talent translates or no one would be interested in these guys. And the SEC is so down as individuals these guys should be mopping the floor in their positions and collectively that equals wins. They can’t play alone and they can’t play together. That make any sense to anyone?
Goodwin does not go 2nd round. Unless the draft was today. That kid has NBA written all over him. Don’t forget that Wall was 135mph in a 55mph zone too and committed his fair share of turnovers to match. HOWEVER. Wall hit some of those crazy shots and the hype around him was so high, most people over looked that. Including NBA exec’s. Goodwin actually shoots better than Wall did. Not sure how Wall is shooting now, I haven’t watched a single game he has played in the NBA.
I think WCS comes back next year and as far as Alex, who the heck knows what is going through that kids mind.
Archie, yeah, I can see him going 2nd round…
“BUY INTO THE SYSTEM”.
Can someone tell me what this system is and how much does it cost. I got $50 on it.