John Calipari insists he was ‘really mean’ in practice to get ready for UCLA

Kentucky was considered by many to have the best roster in the nation heading into the year. But now, a full month into the season, Kentucky is barely a top 20 team.

The Wildcats are 7-3 on the season with no good wins, losing all of their ranked matchups on the schedule. The Wildcats suffered their worst setback of the year Saturday night, looking utterly lost in a 10-point loss to UCLA.

Now, the Bruins are a very strong basketball team this season. It’s how Kentucky looked in the process of losing that is concerning. This is a team and program that is expected to win or at least look good while doing so. Kentucky failed to do either under head coach John Calipari Saturday night.

Calipari was disappointed postgame and said the Wildcats will get better. He noted that he was “really mean” to players in practice this week in preparation for the Bruins’ tough playing style.

Safe to say, that didn’t quite work out.

Calipari says he was “really mean” for a couple of days in practice to try and get UK ready for UCLA’s physicality.

End the presser saying “we’ll get better.”

— Hunter Shelton (@HunterShelton_) December 18, 2022

Calipari also noted the terrible free throw shooting by the Wildcats. Kentucky finished 5-13 from the free throw line. It’s worth noting Kentucky is shooting 66% from the charity stripe this season.

Cal: “We’re not a bad free throw-shooting team. But we were today. But mental toughness comes into it. … everybody we play against plays like they have nothing to lose. … the only way you can learn about your team mentally and physically is to be in games like this.”

— Simon Williams (He/Him) (@SimonHFWilliams) December 18, 2022

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.