KENTUCKY
What John Calipari said after Kentucky's blowout loss at Tennessee
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After beating then-No. 1 Tennessee 86-69 a couple of weeks ago, the Kentucky Wildcats came up short in their trip to Knoxville on Saturday.
The Vols dominated early and often in the 71-52 victory, paying the Wildcats back for the earlier defeat.
Kentucky struggled on both sides of the ball, and after the game, coach John Calipari wasn’t happy with the way his team played.
Here’s what Coach Cal said during his postgame press conference:
On Tennessee being a great team:
Kentucky coach John Calipari: People who said Tennessee wasn’t good after we beat them in our house are crazy. That’s a great team. Now those same people will probably say we’re not good.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) March 2, 2019
On the Wildcats not thinking they could come back:
Cal: What made me mad was getting it down to 14 and only one person thought we could come back … me.
— Darrell Bird (@DarrellBird) March 2, 2019
On selfish play from the Wildcats:
Calipari: 1st game in a while where we didn’t play for each other. Every man for yourself. My team: everybody needs each other.
— Darrell Bird (@DarrellBird) March 2, 2019
On the tough environment in Knoxville:
Calipari: "They haven’t lost here in two years. For us to win here without Reid, we were going to have to play one of the best games in 10 years."
— David Ubben (@davidubben) March 2, 2019
On not having big man Reid Travis:
Calipari on no Reid Travis: "It wasn't that. They beat us." Not at all interested in that excuse.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 2, 2019
Both teams have two more regular-season games remaining. Then, it’s off to the SEC Tournament in Nashville, where we may get Part 3 of this intense rivalry.
Ky is a really good team. I hope we play them or LSU in the tourney but first hope we can come down from the high and be ready for two more very tough games to close the season.
This is why you don’t chant “overrated”. UT fans fortunately didn’t have the same hubris. UK is still a team I’d rather not play again.
It’s the time of the year when our one and dones start playing for
themselves to’up’ their draft status.
Let’s not forget Calipari proudly claims he a ‘player’s coach’ first. Team? lol, yea, right.
Cal is right. UK would have lost even with Reid Travis playing.
Good game cats. I hope y’all get knocked out early in the sec tournament, y’all sure do like to fight us, either way I respect your program and the players you have. Sure am happy we got the W today though
I remember the last time Tennessee had a decent team.
Bruce Pearl was Coach. Of course the Pearl teams were recruited by cheating and the players were thugs.
I wonder if the same cheating is going on with Barnes
I’m loving how this loss is still hurting you the day after. I can’t imagine having such a pathetic life to where you’re still bothered by a loss 24 hours after the fact. Then again, I’m not a resident of the garbage state of KY. Thanks for the insight on what it’s like to be worthless. Enjoy losing out the conf for a second consecutive year. Maybe you can console yourself by selling your food stamps for more meth/pills?
wow, simmer down Oskie – can’t enjoy it too long, Miss Stake coming up tomorrow night.
How many teams have been in NCAA trouble after Calipari departed?
If I cheated like Kentucky did, I’d be upset at losing too.
I keep expecting them to come up in this big hoops investigation…
That’s a pretty big statement SevenT comparing Barnes and pearl, and one that doesn’t have any basis whatsoever.
The Vols are a very good team and they gave our Cats a spanking. Would it have been closer if Travis was playing? Yes, but I agree with Coach Cal on that excuse and I still think the Vols would have won.
Quit being a sore loser.
Maybe I missed it but did you see any where he mentioned MAYBE the coaching staff didn’t have the players ready for game?
It was ALL the players fault.
And when Kentucky’s defensive player was slapping the floor as to say ‘bring it on’ in front of Tennessee’s guard only to be about five steps behind him when he blew by and laid it in.
Tennessee was ready for the game, it meant more to them.