John Calipari explains how a role player builds confidence for tournament time

John Calipari’s teams at Kentucky have almost always had depth on the roster. While there’s always been the main five players, Calipari usually has a roster that’s capable of playing nine or 10 guys a game. That’s certainly been the case for the Wildcats this season – and it’s led to much success.

Kentucky is currently 19-4 overall, 8-2 in SEC play and ranked No. 5 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Wildcats are coming off a 66-55 road win at Alabama – a game in which multiple role players stepped up and produced, as Daimion Collins scored 10 points and had six rebounds and Davion Mintz added seven points and two steals.

Following Kentucky’s win over Alabama on Saturday, Calipari met with the media for his postgame press conference and was asked how he can tell when role players are prepared to produce in big moments – especially come tournament time in March.

“They’ve got to demonstrate in games,” Calipari said. “I can remember when we had Dominique Hawkins against Michigan [in the NCAA Tournament]. There are guys that have done it during the year and they get in the game and believe they can do it. It’s not what I believe – it’s what they believe. We’ve had five guys, or four, score 20 to 25 and two score 17.

“Now, that means in their mind they can do that. I’ve done it. I’ve done it in a real game. That’s what I like. That’s what I like. Now all of a sudden you’ve got a lot of guys that can go and score and do things.”

Fresh off its win at Alabama, Kentucky – which has won four straight games – returns to action Tuesday on the road at South Carolina. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Calipari announces decision on Shaedon Sharpe’s status for remainder of Kentucky’s season

Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, has yet to make his Kentucky Wildcats debut — and on Monday, head coach John Calipari gave a final word on his status: Sharpe will not play in the 2021-22 season.

“After talking with Shaedon and his parents, we want to end all of the speculation by again saying that he will not play for us this season,” Calipari said in a tweet. “He is committed to bettering himself and our team in practice this year and being better prepared to lead us next season.”

Sharpe, an 18-year-old true freshman, graduated early from high school and decided to enroll early at Kentucky. As a result, the talented shooting guard joined the Wildcats team over winter break, and Calipari had yet to provide any indication on whether he would be available this season.

Nick Roush of Kentucky Sports Radio reported on Jan. 31 that Jacob Toppin, Sharpe’s fellow Kentucky teammate, said that Sharpe had not yet participated in five-on-five portions of Kentucky’s practice. As of last week, he still appeared far from ready to make his SEC debut; Calipari reaffirmed that notion on Monday.

On3’s Simon Gibbs contributed to this report.