John Calipari: "We have not had a bad practice yet"

Kentucky basketball practice is well underway with less than three weeks until the start of the season. So far, John Calipari likes what he’s seen from the Wildcats.

“We have not had a bad practice yet,” Coach Cal said at Wednesday’s media day. “We go through seasons without a bad practice here — SEASONS — and those are the teams that are winning 38, 35 games and there’s a bunch of them. Last year is a blip. That’s so far behind me. What we went from, I learned from it and you move on.”

The nine-win season is in the rearview mirror. The Wildcats welcomed seven newcomers onto the roster and players are champing at the bit to find a spot in the rotation.

“You’re competing with each other, but I’ll play as many that deserve to play. But I’m saying this again, it’s not communism,” said Calipari. “It is not communism. If I have to play 10, 11, 12, I would, it’s not what I’d like to do but it’s not about me. It’s about them.”

Intense Preseason Practices

Of the seven newcomers, four are from the transfer portal. Their college basketball experience has made early practices more competitive. “You’re able to move at a different speed,” said Davion Mintz.

There was one practice in particular where the Cats cranked it up a notch. Things got physical between teammates, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“Sometimes it gets a little physical, but I think that’s good for us, understanding how to play with physicality and also playing with poise…” said Keion Brooks. “That practice was really good for us and we’re just building on that.”

The next step is taking that intensity from practice onto the floor in a game. Even if it is just Friday’s Blue-White scrimmage, Calipari wants to see how individuals react under the spotlight.

“When there’s popcorn popping and there’s people in the seats, guys seem to play different,” said Kentucky’s head coach.

Two players immediately came to mind for Calipari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Immanuel Quickley. He wants to see if any players will rise to the occasion before Kentucky tips off the season against Duke in Madison Square Garden.

“There have been times I haven’t started players, they forced their way in and they’re lottery picks. They weren’t even starting because I thought it would be the other guy. Most of the time it takes me a minute for them to figure out who they’re supposed to be.”