John Calipari asks fans to support BJ Boston amid slump

To say BJ Boston is in a slump is an understatement. The former top five recruit struggled again tonight, hitting 3-9 shots for 6 points in 27 minutes. This was the first game in which Boston hasn’t scored in double figures at Kentucky and at one point in the first half, boos were heard in Rupp after he missed a shot. John Calipari ended his postgame presser by asking fans to support Boston and direct their frustrations at him instead.

“We need our fans to absolutely support BJ. I don’t know why anybody would be nasty to anybody. If you want to be nasty, be nasty to me. It’s my fault. Don’t be nasty to him. I’m the one who put him in the game. So, if you’re mad, just be mad at me. Be positive. Everybody left Devin alone. When Devin struggled early, no one really got on Devin. Our fans left him alone and they let him do his thing and look where Devin is now. And now I’m saying the same thing.

“Our fans haven’t been bad on BJ. They’ve been pretty good because they’re good people. They’re not nasty. They’re not trolls. That’s not who they are. So now, you’ll see him begin to come — and you know what? You’ll feel like you played a part in it.”

To be clear, Calipari wasn’t happy with Boston’s performance tonight either, telling reporters he took Boston out the final seven minutes of the game not because of his offense, but because of his defense.

“We can lie to kids or we can keep it real. If someone is playing better than you and tougher than you, they’re going to be in there, especially the last 5-8 minutes of the game. It’s just how it is. And he knows that. And I told him, when I took him out, I said, ‘Man, take pride in your defense. They’re just coming right at you.’ And he will. He’s a terrific player.”

“I don’t give up on any player and I believe in BJ,” Calipari added. “We have been working on BJ to play a certain way but he will revert back to what he knows best, those flips. Don’t get fouled. I told him, ‘All the stuff we’ve been working on, you did none of it today.’ And I expected him to have a big game today because he’s been so good in practice, so good in individuals. All the stuff, coming to a stop in the lane and just a one-two stop, a little floater and he had two or three opportunities and he’s trying to flip balls. But he’ll get it and I believe in him.”

Last night on his call-in show, Calipari said he had a player staying at his house, and on tonight’s broadcast, Tom Hart confirmed it was Boston. After the game, Calipari once again mentioned how difficult this season has been on the players, who have been robbed of the best parts of being a Kentucky Wildcat due to the pandemic.

“Do you know how hard this has been? How about they don’t get a chance to play in front of 24,000. Do you know how much this team would need that? Do you understand that all this stuff, we didn’t have team building and the things that happen, and then emotionally — and 0ur fans have been great. They haven’t been burying the kids. They’ve been pretty positive with them but you can tell that this stuff adds up and so now, I don’t want him putting too much pressure. Devin did that early. I had to say, ‘Come on, man, step back. I believe in you but you can’t be in the mindset you’re in, every basket is life and death. You can’t play ball.'”

Both Olivier Sarr and Davion Mintz said they know Boston’s time is coming, praising the freshman’s relentless work ethic.

“We’re just telling him to stay the course,” Sarr said. “It’s coming. He’s working hard, harder that anybody else. He’s in the gym. I think for him it’s just a matter of time and I know it’s coming for him. We have confidence in him because we see everyday what he can do in practice. It’s just a matter of time, honestly.”

“Just keep doing the same things,” Mintz said of the advice he’s giving his younger teammate. “BJ’s always in the gym. That’s the part people don’t see. We understand maybe he’s not doing the best but he’s still a freshmen. He’s still growing. But BJ’s in the gym all the time and eventually it pays off. It always pays off. He just keeps doing the same thing. Keep staying with the coaches. It’s going to fall his way soon. Right now all he can do right now is be patient with his game.”

Hang in there, BJ.