"Camp Cal" ramps up, plus other notes from John Calipari's radio show

With Christmas on Monday, John Calipari’s weekly radio call-in show was pushed to Tuesday (with no call-ins. Sad). And since Kentucky started doing multiple practices per day on Tuesday, the show was pre-recorded in advance. That means we only got two segments from Calipari this week, but the head coach still had plenty to say.

For starters, as I just mentioned, “Camp Cal” has ramped up this week. Players have returned from their holiday break with SEC play right around the corner. As is the case every year, the stretch right before/after Christmas and into the new year has become known as a time for nothing but practice, practice, practice, and more practice for the team — thus the name, “Camp Cal”. The players will go twice a day in preparation for the second half of the schedule, which begins on Friday at Rupp Arena against Illinois State. Kentucky will then have another eight days off before kicking off SEC action against Florida on Saturday, Jan. 6.

That’s plenty of time to squeeze in some extra practice. Hopefully on the defensive end, which has been Kentucky’s biggest issue through 11 games this season. Calipari did mention that he thought the pick-and-roll defense was better against Louisville than North Carolina, but that there is still room for improvement.

“The upside of this team is really, it’s up there. But we got a lot of work to do.” Calipari said.

Adou Thiero accepting his new role

It only took Aaron Bradshaw one game on the hardwood to take a starting spot in Kentucky’s lineup. Naturally, that means someone had to slide to the bench. That someone was sophomore wing Adou Thiero, who continues to make leap after leap. Only now, he’ll have to develop in a reserve role. So far, the early returns on this lineup change have been positive all around.

“I’m loving that Adou is taking on the challenge,” Calipari said. “He started, now he’s coming off the bench. And it’s kind of like he’s fighting for his life. All of a sudden you see a guy rebounding blocking shots, driving to the goal making jump shots. You’re like, damn, I didn’t know he was just good. No, it’s in there. But we gotta bring it out.”

In two games since he was moved to the bench, Thiero has posted seven points, four blocks, and two assists in 17 minutes against UNC then seven points, four rebounds, and one block in 13 minutes against UL. Thiero went from averaging 26 minutes per game without Bradshaw in the mix to now 15 minutes over his last three with Bradshaw included.

The plan all along was for Bradshaw to work his way into the starting lineup once he was fully healthy. Thiero likely knew that his minutes would go down because of it. But he’s fully embraced the new role and Kentucky is reaping the benefits.

Needing more from Justin Edwards

Freshman wing Justin Edwards has struggled through 11 games. No need to sugarcoat it. As Calipari said in his radio show, Edwards hasn’t been bad by any means, but Kentucky needs much more from him. Edwards was a projected top-five NBA Draft pick just a couple of months ago. UK has yet to see that guy play.

“He just hadn’t stepped up like he’s capable of,” Calipari said. “He should be one of our best defenders, but he’s not. He could be, he’s gotta want to be that guy.”

Calipari said that he even ran an out-of-bounds play — he also mentioned multiple times during the show that he “hates” running plays — for Edwards just to get him going. Edwards made the shot before Calipari came over to tell him “That’s how much confidence I have in you”. Calipari wants Edwards to focus on doing what he can, instead of trying to do the same stuff that the likes of Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham can.

Calipari wants more rebounding, more tip-dunking, and more free-throw attempts for Edwards.

“Don’t take advantage” of the freedom

Calipari has endless amounts of talent at his disposal. While they share some traits, they’re all mostly different players as a whole. They all bring something different and unique to the table. The best way to make sure every player is used to the best of their abilities is to let them, well, be them. Rob Dillingham and his array of dribble moves and stepback jumpers is a perfect example. Calipari has let Rob be Rob and Kentucky looks better because of it.

Calipari’s message to his team now is not to revert to old ways. He’s empowering his players, but he doesn’t want them playing too much for themselves.

“You give freedom to some guys and they take advantage and they got to be responsible, respectful,” Calipari said. “They got to understand you have freedom. Don’t take advantage of that. Because now you’re doing that to your teammates. We still have some of that.“

No bad practices with this group

Calipari has said many times before that his best teams don’t have bad practices. During his radio show, he mentioned squads such as the national title team in 2012 and the 2016-17 group that featured De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Bam Adebayo.

Calipari says this current version of Kentucky doesn’t have off practices either. Let’s hope it stays that way during Camp Cal.

“Every practice has been on it and part of it is because it’s competitive,” he said. “You’re going against another guy that can play, you get ready. You don’t walk in practice after sleeping all day. You get there early, you stretch, you get the treatments, you get ready because you know what, he’s just as good as you. So that’s been a big part of how we come along.”