Kentucky‘s season has been nothing in need of a catastrophe on the halfway level. Sitting at 10-5 with a resume that displays a workforce sitting firmly outdoors the NCAA Match area, together with a tricky highway forward because the meat of the SEC schedule hits, it’s laborious to be overly optimistic in regards to the long-term outlook.

On the skin, at the least. Inside this system, although, confidence stays excessive that the Wildcats are able to a particular end. It’s a narrative the workforce is happy to put in writing.

“My focus is on the subsequent sport. That’s why fan assist is essential to those children, and it’s on the market. There are some folks which can be mad that we misplaced these video games and I’d say I’m mad,” John Calipari mentioned throughout his call-in radio present Monday night. “I’m extra involved about, how do I repair this with these children? How can we play with this group? This group is completely different than the group we had final 12 months. However this group nonetheless, in my thoughts, in my thoughts, can do some particular issues. And the story we write, we’re writing. Nobody else is writing it for us. We’re going to put in writing this story.”

Issues simply aren’t coming straightforward for this present group. Open pictures aren’t falling, easy scoring alternatives aren’t presenting themselves they usually’re merely not caring for enterprise on the highway. Put all of it collectively and also you get a reasonably ugly product at this level.

“I’ve had groups battle. I’ve had groups go on the highway — and Alabama is an efficient workforce. I imply, they’re good. They’re good. However I don’t suppose we’re as unhealthy as we performed,” Calipari mentioned. “I wish to give them credit score, perhaps they made us play the best way we performed. Possibly. However the pictures we had that we usually make, we virtually missed all of them. It’s laborious to play if you’re not making these open pictures or attending to the rim like we have to.”

The items, although, are there. Kentucky has the expertise to win these video games, however the execution merely hasn’t been ok. The mentality hasn’t both.

That’s the message he’s stressing to his workforce. If they’ll dangle in there mentally, they’ll simply compete bodily. Expectations are excessive, however manufacturing and success general will be even increased.

Calipari believes the turnaround is coming.

“I mentioned to them at this time, ‘We’ve received good gamers. Go play good. We’ve received good gamers.’ I’m telling them, you’ve received to get on from one play and go subsequent whether or not it goes unhealthy or good. Go subsequent. Right here we go, every possession,” Calipari mentioned. “Like, hugging guys, ‘I consider in you.’ In the event you go in and miss 4, it’s laborious to be assured. That’s the psychological toughness of this sport we’re in.”

“The expectations listed below are actually excessive. Tremendous. After I took the job, I mentioned, ‘This isn’t for each coach and this isn’t for each participant. That is Kentucky.’ The requirements are excessive, and we fed that beast. And also you’ve received to maintain feeding them. You’re feeding them so much. So I’m saying to those guys, ‘We’re ok to do that.’”

It begins on the defensive finish of the ground, Calipari says, an space Kentucky has struggled with towards high quality competitors. The toughness hasn’t been there on that finish of the ground, neither has the battle. The Wildcats additionally haven’t been selfless sufficient offensively, with ball motion and spacing being critical points for the workforce this season. “Our spacing stinks proper now,” the UK head coach mentioned.

For Kentucky to be Kentucky, change is critical throughout the board. An identification must be discovered on each ends of the ground.

“The opposite aspect of this if you discuss my groups traditionally and also you have a look at the identification of our groups, it’s all the time been nice protection, powerful protection that led to good offense,” Calipari mentioned. “Battle, 50/50 balls, first to the ground on free balls, taking expenses. The opposite factor my groups have traditionally executed, they’ve been nice rebounding groups with powerful rebounders, two-handed rebounds. That results in offense.

“Lastly, an offense that assaults and touches the lane, however shares the ball as a result of we get 5 or 6 guys in double figures. It’s not one or two guys, we share it. There’s ball motion, participant motion. I’ve simply received to get these guys with that identification. That is Kentucky, that is how we do that.”

Admittedly, the story sucks thus far. Actually not the page-turner we hoped for when the season started. Nonetheless, although, there’s nonetheless technically over half a season — and half the story — to go within the common season earlier than a ultimate conclusion shall be made.

Calipari is assured that ultimate conclusion shall be value celebrating.