Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Q. Coach, I just want to know how close Royce White was to becoming a Wildcat.
COACH CALIPARI: He didn’t get on the plane, or he would have been. When I met him and his mom, I was blown away. Like I really want to coach this kid. I knew he had some issues, but it wasn’t anything of the heart. I’ve done this a long time, and if a young man has a good heart, I can deal with everything else, and I think he has a good heart. And then having to play him and watching how he’s playing, I’m not real happy, but I’m happy for him. I really am.
Q. Coach, will you talk about the pressure on this game as the Number 1 overall seed. It would seem like everybody’s expecting to you win. Iowa State maybe can play without any kind of pressure and just let it all hang out on Saturday night?
COACH CALIPARI: So who are you rooting for? I think at this time, when you’re in this tournament, you just got to play basketball. What I’m trying to tell my team, forget about tournaments, we’ve got a basketball game to play. And I’ll tell you, it’s not nerves that I’m worried about. Iowa State is a really good team. Fred has them playing exactly how they have to play to be successful, which is why they’ve gotten to this point. I watched some tapes where I had to stop watching the tape because I started getting worried that we can’t beat this team. So I’m trying to watch a tape or two that they’ve lost so I can see like‑‑ but they shoot it well. They play hard. They spread the court. Royce is a point forward. But you have guys that really know what they have to do to have success, and they play that way. They’re a terrific team is what they are, and they’ve got terrific players now. He’s done a little bit like I’ve had to do, which is get a team together. People that have transferred from other schools. And yet, they’re together as a team and you see it. It’s going to be a hard game for us, I know. It will be a very hard game.
Q. Coach, you kind of bumped into Coach Prohm before practice there. Can you kind of share what you guys talked about and a message maybe for the UK fans who could help them out tomorrow in the game tomorrow?
COACH CALIPARI: I would hope the State of Kentucky fans are rooting for all the Kentucky teams. But he’s a good guy.
I just like the fact that Coach Kennedy comes back and he treats him with great respect, lets him speak to the team. Now think about that. I mean, it just shows me a lot about Steve. And he just thanked me, and I just told him he’s got his team playing great. Just keep playing, keep doing what you’re doing.
He’s got a good group of guys. He makes it about his players. It’s not about him. That’s why they’re playing so well.
Q. Coach, can you talk about Chris Allen and what he brings to the Cyclones. Not just his play, but also the fact that he’s been to two Final Fours before?
COACH CALIPARI: That‑‑ and I thought about that with both Michigan State players, that you got guys that are, one, they got to be physical to even make it through a Michigan State practice. So they have to be that way. So they add that.
But he also can score the ball. So now you’re talking about a three‑point shooter who has toughness. Folks, we have our hands full. I mean, I can go on and on if you want. But we’ve got our hands full. This is going to be one of the toughest games we’ve played in a while.
Q. Anthony Davis seemed to really be getting backed against the goal in the low post, wasn’t standing his ground last night. What are you going to be able to do about that in 48 hours?
COACH CALIPARI: We are what we are at this point. That happened in the conference tournament, the same thing. We’ve worked on some stuff. But at the end of the day, this is a very young team. If they’re allowed to be dislodged, like pushed three steps, there’s not a whole lot you can do. Now, the rule says they cannot be dislodged. If they have a guarding position, you cannot move them off that position, but if it’s‑‑ you know, get lower, push them with two hands. There’s not a whole lot you can do. You hold your ground if you get pushed, maybe front. They’ve done fine. I think every team that we play, the whole point is be really physical, push, grab. They’re a young team. Get them rattled. And we really haven’t gotten rattled. Now, there have been teams stronger than us, no question about that, but we’ve probably played about ten of them that have been stronger, more physical than us. The great thing about this game, it’s basketball. It’s not won in the weight room. You’ve got to go on that basketball court and make shots.
Q. One more Royce question, if I may. Had you known about his grandfather, would you have asked him if he could have just driven him to Lexington?
COACH CALIPARI: I knew of his grandfather, and I knew he was a big part of his life. But never entered my mind.
Q. That he could actually drive?
COACH CALIPARI: Well, you could do that, and if he didn’t want to get on the plane, maybe he just didn’t want to come to Lexington. That’s at the time probably how I thought. But you’re talking a couple of years ago.
Q. What does it say that they didn’t drive here? It’s not like he didn’t want to come.
COACH CALIPARI: That’s what makes it neat. When we all think these young men are machines, they’re computers, that they never miss a shot, that they never make a mistake, that how could that guy do it? They’re human beings and they make mistakes, and they have failings and flaws just like we all do. I think we all go through life trying to overcome our shortcomings, and we have strengths, and we have weaknesses.
He’s a fine young man. He’s doing well, and everyone should be happy for him.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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March 17th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Tough time of year to be a Cat fan in here (KSR). With no screening, the trolls, idiots, etc… who have no activity on their own blogs infest our site and it gets tiring reading the crap.
C’mon KSR…fix this please.
Go Cats!
March 17th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Coach, I know it’s march madness, but it seems reporters only want to talk about one thing. What do you think about Peyton Manning?
March 17th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Royce White (must be at least 35) had better get over his fear of flying if he plans to guard AD or TJ! Welcome to UK AIRLINES the not so friendly sky’s!
March 17th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
K-State hanging in there even though they are struggling putting shots in and the suspension of Jamar Samuels for eligibility issues.
March 17th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Why even post this? What is in any way positive for Kentucky fans to get out of this? Moral of the story: Coach Cal let a great player slip through his hands that now plays for a team that we just happen to be playing that no one has even talked about this season. What happened to positive Kentucky posts? It’s all about the other guys here at KSR now.
March 17th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
#1 – Is that you, matt… or drew?
MOST RIDICULOUS MANNER POSSIBLE
Goes both ways bro…
March 17th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
4. It’s funny you bring up Jamar if K-State loses no one will be talking about it. If Syracuse loses all the talking heads will bring up Melon.
March 17th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
8…absolutely.
March 17th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Hey ridge runner, when did Harlan get Internet? Which coal mine is shutting down this week?
March 17th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Maybe we shoult tell Royce that the NBA flies and he wont be able to drive all games. He will be thinking bout that whole game.
March 17th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
While Iowa State is a scary team. I think this is a bad matchup for the Cyclones. White does’t have his normal advantage he has over other big men. Our big men can guard on the perimeter, also we have two wing players who have size with MKG and Miller at 6’7″. Whoever guards White can do without fouling and make it as hard as possible to score, and the perimeter guys stay tight on the shooters no matter what we should in going away. Make White score 50 to beat us. He can not shoot very well. On defense the Cyclones will struggle guarding MKG or Darius especially if they are in the game together. They have one good defender in Babb who is 6’5″ he will probalby guard MKG. If we put Lamb at the point he will most likey have the Kris Allen kid on him. That leaves the goofy white kid guarding Darius. Advantage Miller.
March 17th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
A) enough with the duke commercials, damn.
B) the refs in this syracuse game wouldn’t have money on the game, would they? Interesting officiating.
March 17th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
This is going to be a close one. A true Maalox Masher.
We have to play to our strengths. Guard the three. Let white get his.
Otherwise they are going to get David and jones off the post, and backdoor us.
This non switching man to man defense, could really hurt us today.
We need Jones, lamb, and miller to have monster games!!
We have to shoot the three well, and above all, we can’t win this game without Jones being a monster!!
March 17th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
12) Why did you have to specify that a white kid would be guarding Miller? If the kid couldn’t play, he wouldn’t be starting for a Division I school. What college did you play for? Aaron Craft is a “goofy white kid” but he is probably the best defensive point guard in the nation.
March 17th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
If Royce White had a problem with flying and knew that he couldn’t fly to Lexington when Coach Cal wanted him to, he should have, or his grandfather should have explained the situation to Coach Cal. You cannot blame Cal, he is not a mind reader.
March 17th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Ridge Runner is playing chess not checkers as you can tell from his non reply
March 17th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Better hope Cal doesn’t lose in the Round of 32 this year Cayuts fans. Tubby was run out of town and he always made it to at least the Round of 32. If Cal loses, then in 3 years he will have proven to be Tubby-lite. Except, of course, his bank account. If you want to see a real team with heart catch the Cards game today. L1C4! How about the Big East owning the competition this postseason?
March 17th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Cal is paid big bucks to read minds. He should have asked the grandfather, “Does your grandson have any anxiety disorders that would prevent him from flying to Lexington on short notice?”
March 17th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Cal is gonna get this Wizards job. One foot out the door
March 17th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
#18 has down syndrome…..he can’t help it. Bless his heart!
March 17th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
20. Why on earth would Cal want to coach the Wizards?
March 17th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
21 My thoughts exactly.
March 17th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Have fun picking up the pieces Cayuts fans! Why would he want to coach UK?
March 17th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
15. You obviously have not watched Iowa State play. The goofy white kid is 6’3″ and can’t guard a sould of the bounce. Miller is 6’8″ he will have an advantage. Whoever the goofy white kid is guarding will have advantaage. Just like Brad Tinsley at Vandy. And Craft isn’t a goofy white kid. Craft is a an athetic white kid who can play. This kid at Iowa State is on the team because he can shoot threes. He can’t defend, he can’t rebound, and he can occasionally can find the open man. He is goofy because of his lack of skills on the court not because of his skin color. Just like Vargas is a goofy Dominican. Stop trying to start a problem.
March 17th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
24. He can be king here. In the NBA, he will be just another coach of a losing team in an organization devoted to keeping its players happy. He might run a players’ first program, but he wouldn’t get NBA players to listen to him in quite the same way his team does. He has NBA offers every year and refuses.
March 17th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
If the Cats don’t play like the Champions they want to be,(like they did the first and second Fla. games) then we lose like UCon. Should they play like they are the Champs then it shouldn’t even be close. Which team shows up is what I’m the most worried about. Go Cats!!
March 17th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
is my inferiority complex showing? i thought I tucked it in.
March 17th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Not buying this story even a little bit. If Coach Cal had REALLY wanted this kid, he’d be wearing the blue. He had too much baggage, afraid of heights, air travel, pregnant girlfriend, etc. This is Coachspeak, people. Cal being Cal.
I don’t think this guy at almost 300 lbs. can get up and down the court with AD, TJ and company. Not for long anyway.
As long as our guys are ready to play, we’re good to go.
Go CATS!
March 17th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
29. You must not have watched him play UConn the other night. The kid is solid muscle. He is an athlete no doubt.