John Calipari snaps back when asked about pressure facing Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament
It’s no secret about the feel around a third-seeded Kentucky as they enter the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats have what it takes to be in contention as much as anyone else in the field but also have four years of no postseason success to wipe out.
With that weight comes pressure, especially now that the remaining teams are in win-or-go-home scenarios. Still, that duress isn’t something that John Calipari wants anything to do with. As he said on Sunday, he knows what that strain feels like himself and he doesn’t want his players to have that same feel ahead of or in the tournament.
“I don’t feel that. C’mon now,” responded Calipari to a reporter at his home following UK’s draw on Selection Sunday. “C’mon – I’ve done this how long? And what’s the worst that could happen? It’s already happened to me. What’s the worst? (Getting fired) is the worst? I’ve already been through that.”
“I mean this ain’t about me. This is about these kids,” Calipari said. “So, that’s the reason I try to take all the pressure off them. If it were your child, when we’re going into this or any other tournament. ‘We gotta win this!’, ‘You gotta play your best!’ – that’s how you want me to coach?”
Much of this has to do with frustration from the fanbase, especially based on results since 2020. After 11 seasons where Calipari and Kentucky excelled as much as anyone, they are just 2-7 in postseason games between the SEC and NCAA Tournaments over the last four years.
However, while there’s a fair share of grumbling, Calipari is muting that noise altogether. If that’s someone’s approach, he doesn’t believe in their support of the Wildcats anyways, especially now when his team needs as much help as they can get entering March Madness.
“Now, there are people that can do that – ‘If they don’t do this and they don’t do that!’. They’re not fans of this program or these kids. What they’re trying to do is put more pressure on them so they don’t play well so they can double down on what they’ve said,” said Calipari. “I don’t buy into it. My job is to get them fresh, loose and then be focused and locked down when we practice. Then let’s see where it goes.”
“Let us just play this tournament and let us all have fun,” Calipari said. “If anybody has those things – ‘What if?’, ‘What if?’? They’re not a fan and they’re trying to get this off point.”
There’s no denying the drop off by Kentucky since the turn of the decade. It’s obvious and has led to plenty of concerns back in the bluegrass, specifically now with another NCAA Tournament finally here.
However, for now, Calipari is solely thinking about his team and how they can achieve what he thinks that they can. That starts with a matchup with No. 14 Oakland in Pittsburgh on Thursday with expectations of even more beyond that from there.
“I think I got a good team but they’re going to have to go perform,” said Calipari.
“I’m good. I’m, like, let’s go. I’ve done a lot of these. I don’t even know how many games I’ve coached in the NCAA but it has been a lot,” Calipari said. “I’m looking at this team saying what I’ve said for how many weeks – we’re built for March. Let’s go. Let’s prove it.”