John Calipari gives humorous explanation on importance of veteran players

Kentucky coach John Calipari is used to having young teams. But the Wildcats coach hit the transfer portal and got some veteran players on his roster — and he gave a humorous explanation about how important that is.

Calipari has plenty of experience on his roster this year, including Kellan Grady, who played his first four years at Davidson before transferring to Kentucky this year. Grady actually played against Kentucky in 2018 when Davidson made the tournament.

For Calipari, who’s getting the No. 2-seeded Wildcats ready for their game against St. Peter’s, he joked about the difference between veteran players and younger players.

“For one, we have older guys and I haven’t coached older guys in awhile,” Calipari said. “It’s kind of like they’re on time. They know stuff and they play together. They know they need each other.”

It’s an impressive blend of youth and experience for Calipari. Kentucky also has freshman standout TyTy Washington and junior Oscar Tshiebwe, who played one year at West Virginia in 2019-20 before sitting out last year after transferring mid-season. Factor in more veterans, including Jacob Toppin, and Calipari has a good group of older players he can lean on.

John Calipari reveals message to Kentucky’s inexperienced players ahead of NCAA Tournament

Kentucky coach John Calipari has been a part of plenty of NCAA Tournaments during his career. But with an inexperienced roster this year, he had a message for his players ahead of their first game.

Calipari spoke with the media before the Wildcats’ tournament opener against St. Peter’s on Thursday and addressed his team’s lack of experience. Although he has some players who’ve been part of March Madness before, he still had a message for his group.

“I have reminded them a couple times, ‘Please listen to what I’m saying because I’ve done this a few times, how many of you have, so please listen to what I’m saying,’” Calipari said. “They’re locked in. I’m just telling you. … When I met with Dontaie Allen, and he was so upbeat and he said, ‘Coach, I just want you to know, I appreciate you.’ Think about that. He’s not playing much. And he left the room and I’m like, ‘Man, I hope something good happens for him.’

“I told Bryce [Hopkins] today, his spirit in our practice was ridiculous. ‘Bryce, you have no idea how much I’m hoping you have another LSU game.’ But it’s not always how things work out. You’re talking about a group that they’ve got to experience this. Winning in this tournament, they’ve got to experience advancing or not advancing. I tried to tell them today … you walk into a cliff. Either you jump over the cliff or you go the other way, and the other guy jumps off the cliff.”