Saturday, December 10, 2022
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
John Calipari
Press Convention

You’ve talked about how Oscar Tshiebwe has not been totally 100%. How was it getting him again, seeing what he might do?

JOHN CALIPARI: There’s two issues that occurred within the first half. He didn’t demand the ball. In different phrases, you’re ducking in and also you’re open, you need to say one thing. We have now a time period we use. You possibly can say ‘yet another, yet another.’ If that man hears it, he’ll throw it to you. He wasn’t.

The second factor within the first half, when he had photographs, he was passing them. Rating the ball, they’ll’t guard you. I advised the opposite guys, once more, we now have to throw him the ball. You’re driving and he’s within the center extensive open, throw him the ball.

Once more, you already know, that one is an NCAA match workforce. Once more, Harvard and Yale are going to be battling. They’re each actually good groups. However that’s a very good workforce.

We guarded fairly good towards them. It’s one other onerous sport to play. You bought to grind it. Once we discovered we might throw it inside, it gave us a niche and a few area. I appreciated how we completed the sport off. We did some various things. The execution, we solely had what number of turnovers? 9 turnovers. I imply, the execution of what we had been doing was fairly good. We bought to get a pair guys taking part in higher.

However I assumed I performed Oscar approach too many minutes. However Ugo (Onyenso) bought two or three balls ripped from him. Like, you’re going to educate to win the sport.

What was the distinction between the 2 components of the primary half? Appeared like offensively actually got here out properly the primary 9 or 10 minutes, then went 2-15, missed 10 in a row. What modified?

JOHN CALIPARI: You miss photographs, that is what it appears like. It’s form of like going 0-10. Doesn’t look superb. When you look across the nation, all people appears to be taking part in the identical approach, a variety of dribble handoffs, a variety of pick-and-rolls, a variety of area.

We have now a bonus, and the child’s identify is Oscar Tshiebwe. You bought to throw it to him. When you’re driving and he’s open, don’t shoot it, throw it to him. The loopy factor is that if he can’t shoot it, he’ll throw it again to you, which he does.

It was nice seeing Sahvir (Wheeler) make some layups. He’s been lacking layups. He’s the very best layup shooter within the nation for 2 years. This yr he’s lacking left and proper, like, layups.

Once more, we want Jacob (Toppin) to raise his sport, be extra bodily, go after extra balls. When you bounce 40 inches, how about each from time to time bounce 40 inches? Like go for a ball, bounce 40 inches, go get it. How about go block a ball? How about one-dribble pull-ups, which he makes. However what he did at present, he had 4 assists, they usually had been all essential to get us a niche in order that we might end the sport off.

However, once more, let’s give them credit score. They’ve carried out this to simply about each workforce they performed. I used to be actually anxious about London, the journey, after which the fellows not understanding this can be a good workforce. They see Yale, rapidly I’m like, ‘Look…’ They had been good. They’d the massive guys that performed. I believe their greatest participant was out, sure?

I believe Cason Wallace is floating round 50% for the season. What had been expectations you had for his three-point photographs? How a lot of a profit has it been for him to be so good early on?

JOHN CALIPARI: He does that. He defends, he rebounds. Locked into, like, execution of stuff. He is aware of. He’ll inform different gamers on the court docket. He’s uncommon for a freshman. A lot of the freshmen, you are worried about your personal stuff. No matter else is going on occurs. I’m simply anxious about me.

One of many issues I’ve advised these guys, confidence isn’t simply allow you to play half-hour a sport. Confidence is you get within the fitness center and also you get higher. Demonstrated efficiency, going within the sport, performing, is the way you construct your confidence. Not me. Not me saying.

You go in, and all of the stuff that we’re working with you, you’re engaged on, you go in and do it.

The most important factor for this workforce is we need to be a defensive workforce that basically locks you in. You requested about you missed a bunch. That’s as a result of they offensive rebounded or scored. However after we rebounded, we had been capable of go.

We advised them at halftime. Once more, let me say this, we out-rebounded them. We’re the primary workforce this yr to out-rebound them by one. However we out-rebounded them.

That’s considered one of their issues that they do an incredible job.

Your program paid Yale athletics $90,000 to return down right here and play this sport. What’s the good thing about paying a workforce like Yale to present your workforce some reps? How did you’re feeling if you went down by two?

JOHN CALIPARI: I performed a bye sport, Billy Tubbs was teaching. I used to be at UMass. I needed to go down there two years in a row. The primary yr they gained on the buzzer. He says, ‘You already know what’s nice, you bought to return again right here once more subsequent yr.’ That’s what he shook my hand and stated.

The following yr, we gained on the buzzer in Oklahoma. You already know what I stated? ‘The place’s the examine? Who do I get it from (smiling)?’

That is all a part of what you do. You perceive, once more, this basketball program makes cash for all the opposite sports activities. So if you happen to go on the street, you would possibly spend $150,000. You play at house, we pay them $90,000, we make over one million. What would you do? You pay the 90 or go on the street and play?

That’s what it’s. I’m not even speaking something exterior of what this factor does. Nevertheless it’s vital.

I advised you guys, I don’t take it evenly, that we play within the Champions (Traditional), we play within the CBS (Sports activities Traditional). Properly, they pay us some huge cash to play in these occasions. It’s like we’re taking part in at house versus going and taking part in three or 4 video games and it prices this and you find yourself dropping $3.5 million by taking part in these video games. That’s a part of it.

You additionally want a few of these robust video games to see the place your workforce is. This was a very good sport.

Youngsters have finals and so forth, however you do have some apply time. What do you need to concentrate on?

JOHN CALIPARI: They bought three days off ’trigger we’ve been touring everywhere in the world. I can say that actually. They’ve bought the remainder of at present off. They bought Sunday off they usually bought Monday off. They’re making ready for finals. We’ll apply in a two-hour slot each day in all probability at 1 or 1:30 each day so that you get your work in, then go do finals.

We go away on Thursday, after finals, to go to New York. We’ll be there Thursday, Friday, Saturday. We’ll come again right here. I believe we now have one other sport, then they go house for Christmas for 4 days.

We’ve been working proper now. I hope you can see we’re executing higher. We don’t make each shot. There’s generally you look discombobulated. A part of it’s you’re taking part in a workforce they usually’re possibly doing one thing defensively that you just’re not used to, then you definitely bought to speak ’em by means of it.

Acquired a extremely sensible workforce. Acquired a talented workforce.

Does the halfcourt offense concern you at any level thus far? What’s the important thing to getting the Plan B and Plan C to work behind Oscar clearly being Plan A?

JOHN CALIPARI: I believe we’re within the high 15 in effectivity. I’d prefer to be primary. I believe we lead or league in three-point capturing.

We movement and motion, however we’re so quick, we try to get to the place we’re flying if it’s not there. We’re taking part in. We’re engaged on it. We’re getting higher.

No, I imply, if I assumed we had been actually struggling, yeah, I’ll have a look at new issues. I’ll be trustworthy with you. These guys will inform you if you happen to ask them, how a lot does he are available in and alter stuff, how a lot does he change? They’ll say, ‘Jeesh.’ If I don’t like one thing, I throw it out, we attempt one thing new. The entire season is that approach.

Once more, making photographs is a part of it as a result of it actually makes your offense look actually good if you make photographs. While you miss 10 in a row, ‘What’s mistaken with this offense?’ You bought a very good shot, you simply occurred to overlook it.

As of late you’ve been speaking about getting Chris Livingston extra concerned. He did some great things at present.

JOHN CALIPARI: Sure, he did.

What do you need to see from him going ahead?

JOHN CALIPARI: Simply proceed on this path he’s on. He mixes it up. The one purpose I took him out, he left the very best shooter within the court docket, he left him, they usually made a 3. I stated, I don’t care about you lacking photographs, however this sport is simply too near have you ever not notice you’re not leaving that man. I stated, ‘You’re positive, however we’re making an attempt to win the sport.’ I advised him after.

On the finish of the day you bought to educate to win the sport, not I ponder how he feels, how he feels. Then they’ll go.

Look, I did an interview about Shai Alexander. He didn’t begin the primary 10 video games. Shai Alexander took 12 photographs a sport right here. He’s within the high three within the NBA or high 4 in scoring. Took 12 photographs a sport right here.

Anthony Davis and Devin Booker are additionally within the high 10. None of them had been capturing 25 balls a sport right here. There’s an effectivity to how they play, what they know, what they’re doing.

I imply, like I stated to those guys, you’re going to get minutes and also you’re going to get offensive alternatives. What are you going to do with them? How do you retain constructing your confidence?

We’re simply going to maintain on this path. Chris, he’s the very best. He’s the very best. Adou (Thiero) was sick yesterday, didn’t apply yesterday, however got here and couldn’t preserve something down, however he’s higher at present.

Ugonna form of bought pushed round in that sport. I used to be stunned, to be trustworthy with you, however he did.

In three of the primary 4 video games this season, CJ Fredrick had 14 or extra. 4 of the final 5 he’s at three or fewer. Didn’t have any at present. What’s it going to take to get him going once more?

JOHN CALIPARI: Yeah, you have a look at it, and one of many issues I stated at halftime is I need to put him and Antonio collectively as a result of I form of like these two taking part in collectively. Then Antonio broke down three straight instances on protection, put CJ in for him. Recreation performed out totally different than I needed it to.

I haven’t misplaced any confidence in him. However, once more, if somebody’s taking part in higher, then they’re going to play extra. After I put him within the second time, I stated, ‘Look, child, simply shoot the ball. When you’re free, let it go.’

Once more, this was a type of video games with simply the motion, dribble handoff, that form of stuff, which once more they’re a extremely good offensive workforce they usually scored 59.

One of many issues we had been making an attempt to do is, all proper, how we going to do that defensively. If guys are breaking down, we simply stated, ‘All proper, go together with the fellows which might be guarding.’

The Yale bigs began out fairly sturdy. What changes did you make to attempt to throw them down?

JOHN CALIPARI: We left our toes too many instances. They’ll step by means of. They do great things. They’ll spin away from you. All we saved speaking about is keep on the ground. All these ball fakes, all that stuff, simply physique up and keep down.

However, once more, they nonetheless damage us. I imply, there have been performs that we needed to swap. I’m making an attempt to inform the fellows, most vital factor is that we’re taking part in five-on-five. Doesn’t matter who’s on who, it’s that it’s five-on-five. We don’t have two males, then we’re in a rotation, then we’re making an attempt to scramble, then we’re making an attempt to speak late, now they’re getting straightforward baskets. No matter we’re doing defensively, we’re making an attempt to verify it’s five-on-five.

Thanks.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities

KENTUCKY BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES

KENTUCKY VS. YALE  

RUPP ARENA – LEXINGTON, KY.

DECEMBER 10, 2022

UK Scholar-Athletes

#2, Sahvir Wheeler, G

On largest distinction within the second half …

“I believe we performed with tempo. We tried to get Oscar some straightforward appears. I believe coach advised him, “Hey, get it and rating.” I believe that was the most important distinction and also you had been fairly spot on from the get-go.”

On getting the ball to Oscar permitting the ground to open up…

“On the finish of the day, I believe in basketball, you need to resolve what you’re going to do. Are you going to let Oscar rating each time or are you going to let the fellows who could make some photographs, make photographs? It’s a tough factor, you need to choose your poison. I believe the primary half, it took us a minute to understand that. However as soon as we bought it going, actually, when he bought it going, we saved throwing it to him and he catapulted our offense. He made some explosive performs.”

On how the opponent retains them out of transition…

“Generally it’s not all the time only for transition baskets. It’s simply the wear and tear on you. It will get to your legs. I believe that’s what occurred prior to now two video games. With Michigan, you already know. The ball strain and us all the time consistently working, it’s not all the time only for that one go. It simply means you need to have that fixed reply emphasizing, “run it again, run it again run it again.” And that wears on you, and we apply like that. I believe it occurred once more within the second half of this sport.”

#34, Oscar Tshiebwe, F

On how vital his efficiency was…

“Our workforce wanted that. We would have liked that. I advised them to present me the ball and in the event that they double-team me, I’ll kick it out and if they don’t double me on the ground, I don’t assume there are numerous individuals who can cease me, so our workforce threw me the ball.”

On how near 100% he’s now…

“I believe I jumped as much as 95 %. We’re simply working and it takes a variety of time. I had by no means had an damage earlier than, and I had by no means thought of my knee an excessive amount of, however now I do give it some thought.”

On if he’s excited concerning the subsequent sport in NYC towards UCLA…

“I’m excited. I by no means win at Madison Sq. Backyard, so I’ve to struggle this time. They’re a very good workforce, and we’re a very good workforce too and I respect them, however I’ve no concern of them. We’re going to go struggle and whoever fights probably the most is the workforce who’s going to win.”

#24, Chris Livingston, F  

On what’s totally different now and what he feels extra snug doing…

“Simply taking part in with my teammates, positively far more snug offensively, realizing the place I’ve bought to be defensively. I nonetheless had a pair errors in breakdowns, however I positively simply really feel extra snug– having fun with it extra on the market on the ground.

On if he had any dialog with coach Cal about what he wanted to do to cool down and have extra taking part in time…

“He doesn’t conceal it relating to what he needs to see from you so far as why he’s not taking part in the fellows extra and issues like that. He’s fairly straight ahead and upfront with it. I’ve bought to lock in on the defensive aspect of the ball and offense will care for itself.”

On if he appreciates when a coach is simple with him…

“Oh yeah, positively. That’s how they deal with you on the subsequent degree, too. There’s no sugarcoating or coddling or babying or something like that. You’ve simply bought to get carried out what you’ve bought to get carried out. You’ve bought to benefit from the chance.”

KENTUCKY BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
KENTUCKY VS. YALE
RUPP ARENA – LEXINGTON, KY.
DECEMBER 10, 2022

 Yale Head Coach James Jones

Opening assertion …
“I assumed our workforce performed onerous. I assumed they performed properly. I assumed we had just a few lapses that damage us. Within the sport had been a few two or three minutes stretches the place they bought uncontrolled and we let some issues get away from us within the first half. I recall that we gave up a few back-to-back transition layups and we doubled to shoot a basket and now we now have given up a few similar aspect kickouts that damage us within the first half as properly. After which towards the tip of the sport, you already know, we had been making an attempt to double him once more, he’s only a massive sturdy participant in there and we might discover out, nearly falling down there after which make him take the ball out of bounds as a result of we simply couldn’t guard below the basket, one on one. And you already know, he (Oscar Tshiebwe) had six factors within the first half and 22 within the second.”

On the important thing to limiting Kentucky’s offense …
“Properly, you definitely need to simply take away a few of their strengths proper? So that you need to attempt to deny to see the place the ball is and make it onerous for him each time he catches it and double him. (Tshiebwe) does a fairly good job as a result of we doubled big-on-big and, you already know, the 4 man just isn’t actually an incredible shooter, so when you’ll be able to double off him and don’t really feel such as you’ve bought to do one thing straightforward on the alternative aspect. And, you already know, for probably the most half, we did a very good job of that, but it surely’s onerous to do for 40 minutes with out one thing leaking. And I assumed we bought damage slightly bit that approach.”

On the impact of taking part in in a much bigger crowd …
“Properly, definitely it affected me. You already know, I don’t know that there’s a crowd that’s there prefer it’s not one thing that I soak up I’m anxious about what’s on the court docket. You already know, the gang bought loud a few instances, that’s what they name it house court docket benefit that’s going to occur wherever, whether or not or not it’s in a 20,000 seat area or in a band field that we form of play in our league so we form of see vitality from a crowd on a regular basis, however definitely taking part in in a spot like this. It’s going to present out guys, some expertise going ahead, which ought to assist.

On having the ability to compete with Kentucky …
“You already know, we now have 18-to-22 yr outdated children. And you already know we do. We do our greatest to attempt to coach them in the proper locations to achieve success. I’ve been very lucky. And I stated this to somebody. I believe the opposite day they’re in all probability higher children on the planet on a basketball workforce. They is likely to be nearly as good as my guys, however I can’t think about individuals which might be higher individuals. Nice to be round, a variety of enjoyable. And I’m simply lucky to be in a spot to educate a gaggle of youngsters to care as a lot about basketball as they do, after which work as onerous as they do, and capable of come out and play in a constructing. Like this. You already know, that’s the quantity 16 workforce within the nation. We’re not in high 25, so we exit and play this manner. You already know, it makes you’re feeling actually good about it. However similtaneously a competitor. We had a lead the second half, and we couldn’t maintain it. And that’s one thing we bought to attempt to work towards and making an attempt to get higher.”