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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 10-16-2014, 04:22 PM:

I just hope he does what's right for the team even if it's having to change tactics in the middle of the season.

Kentucky coach John Calipari says his team needs a lot of work, but he was not surprised to learn that UK starts the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason coaches poll.

He said he did “not really” have a reaction to being No. 1 and drew on past history to show why.

“We may have been No. 1 when we lost in the first round in the NIT (two years ago) and may not have been ranked No. 1 when we won the national title (in 2012),” said Calipari at Thursday’s Media Day. “I can’t remember. That is fine. Probably five, six or seven teams that could be No. 1.

“Where were we last year (in the rankings when UK was near the top of every poll) and we almost fell off the fact of the earth. To me, that’s fine (to be ranked No. 1) and is something for the kids to live up to, but it has no bearing on what we are about to undertake.”

He noted how twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison came in last year with 16 percent body fat and now both sophomore guards are down to four percent. He said feedback from the recent NBA combine focused on their improved speed and athleticism.

“Everybody knows they have gotten better. I am trying to get those guys to play better and the way this team needs, that will be the key for us,” Calipari said. “Their skill sets, everything about them is way better. They are the greatest kids. Not seeing any body language. The biggest comment from the NBA is that these two have changed. But what if they play great and the other 10 stink, it won’t matter.”

Calipari emphasized he plans to stick with a two-platoon system even though many continue to tell him it won’t work.

“I am on a mission to make it work. I am hearing all the reasons you can’t make it work, though,” Calipari said. “I am staying focused on these kids. It is how do I get them together to understand each other.

“Will there be bumps in the road? Yeah, probably. The people in our state are fine if we lose games. I have to be patient, too, and know that is part of the process.”

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[ 10-16-2014, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]