John Calipari discusses whether Kentucky’s problems come because of young roster

Head coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats are looking for answers after losing at home to Gonzaga, and one potential problem for the team to tackle seems to be its own youth.

Kentucky has eight freshmen and another four sophomores on its roster currently. That lack of experience can create a challenge at times, as Calipari explained, especially against an experienced team like Gonzaga.

“You’re going against a veteran team that really executes what they’re trying to do at the four-minute mark,” John Calipari said. We weren’t able to withstand some of the stuff they were doing. Most of it were breakdowns like you can’t have them at that point in the game.”

Kentucky went into halftime against Gonzaga down by 10 points and despite a strong second half effort, it wasn’t enough to win the game. With that, the Wildcats dropped their third straight home game. It was also Kentucky’s fourth loss in its last six games overall.

“But, young teams, I’ve been here with young teams where we had to kick it in gear and go. As much as I’m feeling it hard, tough, I can’t stand losing,” Calipari said. “How do you think they’re feeling? So, I have to make sure I’m focused on them and keeping them in the right frame of mind.”

None of that is to say that Kentucky is without any experienced players. Antonio Reeves, for instance, is a fifth year player who got 31 minutes of playing time against Gonzaga. Then there is Tre Mitchell, who missed the game with an injury. However, the majority of the team’s players on the court were young and still learning to play at the college game.

Still, amid all these issues, John Calipari wants to make sure fans are pointing their frustrations at him, not the players.

“You know you’re going to have some of the negative Nellies out there attacking and that’s fine. I told them the other day I hope they just attack me and leave you alone,” Calipari said.

Luckily, for Kentucky, the Gonzaga loss was a non-conference game and won’t hurt the Wildcats in the SEC standings, where they’re currently in a tie for fifth with a 6-4 record. With eight games remaining and every game mattering, Kentucky will look to get back on track Tuesday, at home, against Ole Miss.

John Calipari explains lack of minutes for Rob Dillingham in 2nd half

Freshman guard Rob Dillingham was used sparingly by Kentucky in the second half, a move that John Calipari later explained.

“The team that was out there was playing so well together that I left it alone,” Calipari said. “And I told he and DJ [Wagner], that’s the only reason I left it alone. And if we finish the game — you would have said, ‘But’ — now you look at it and say ‘Why didn’t you have him in?’ You’re right. We could have. But that group was playing so well that I didn’t go to the rotation.”