Cal: “Bam goes 100 percent of the time, which is an outrageous number”

More from John Calipari’s pre-Asbury press conference, where Bam Adebayo was a hot topic for his effort on the floor. Coach Cal said Adebayo is (not surprisingly) the team’s leader in rebound attempts on offense and defense.

“He goes 100 percent of the time, which is an outrageous number,” Cal said. “This kid works every day. He’s in there, one of the first in the gym. He’s got a smile on his face. Every day I walk in, he’s — I’ll give him a mean look and then he gives me a mean look.”

While the effort is certainly there, the staff is working with Adebayo to go straight up to the rack with the ball, and to break the habit of dribbling in the post. They also have to get him comfortable at the free throw line, because he is going to spend a lot of time there.

In raving about Adebayo, Cal also noted that all of his big men are really good passers and midrange shooters.

“These guys all shoot the ball. And so, that makes us better.”