In case you missed it this evening, Pardon the Interruption has John Calipari‘s appearance on Thursday’s show in its daily podcast. You can access that by clicking here. Coach Cal comes on at roughly the 10-minute mark.
And for those that prefer to read, I decided to transcribe the interview. Most of it you’ve heard before, but Kentucky fans will particularly like what Calipari had to say about the chances of him leaving for the NBA.
Tony Kornheiser: What could possibly trouble you about this team?
Cal: Physical toughness. Teams are coming at us with the idea of get into their bodies, and I’m trying to tell my team, “You must negate that play. You’ve got to play guys before they catch the ball. You have to play your position before it’s entered to you. You have to stay lower and wedge more. You have to block out before the ball hits the rim because they’re coming at you. You have to finish around the goal with two bodies on you. You can’t miss one-foot layups.” We finish the game pretty good, but we have too many teams that are too close. And you understand, in that that tournament, Tony, one and done, one shot, two shots and all of a sudden you’re going home.
Michael Wilbon: You told me a few days ago that it might work to your advantage to lose one more game before you go into the big tournament. What would it accomplish? You guys are so good.
Cal: Here’s what it is: If we get physically manhandled and lose a couple of games because of that reason, it’ll be perfect for us. Now, what happens to us is, I know this team. They will be so mad that they’ll look at each other and say, “We’re not losing that way.”
TK: Over the years you have coached so many talented players. You’ve got a freshman now who we think is pretty good, Anthony Davis. How does he compare to the great players that you have coached?
Cal: He’s a lot like Marcus Camby. Marcus came to UMass and we were a top-25 program. Within two years of him being there, we became No. 1 in the country because he gave you that guy no one else in the country has. Guess what? I’m blessed again. I get another young man who was 6-3 not long ago, just like Marcus – as a sophomore the kid was 6-3 – and all of a sudden they grow to 6-11! Now they’ve got guard skills in a 6-11 body.
MW: Your former players very much seek out your advice once they’re gone to the NBA. What have you told John Wall, who has been struggling, or what would you say to him if he picked up the phone to call you?
Cal: He and I, we’ll text back and forth, and he was in town during the lockout. My biggest thing is, John, you’ve got to get in that gym. You’ve got to spend more time than anybody else. You have that ball in your hands 80 percent of the time. You have more responsibility to be in that gym to create that 15-foot game. It can’t just be rim, and then they just back away. You’ve got to get that 15-foot game. And then when you’re in those positions, you know what the hardest thing is for those young guys? You want to create a learning culture and you’re still learning. But you’ve got to drag other guys with you. I know you’re only 20, but that was your choice to go into that league. And, how about this: As an organization, when you take a player that’s 19 years old, he hasn’t been through all of the experiences, so when things go wrong, you don’t really know how he’s going to react. And for all these young kids going into the league, I think that’s the hardest thing. When it doesn’t go your way, how do you respond? How do you react? And you know what, my guys that I had that are in that league are all good people, but I’m telling you, it’s hard. NBA – No Boys Allowed. Unforgiving league.
TK: Let’s go to the NBA for a second. You have stocked a lot of NBA teams with a lot of terrific players. What part of you wants one more crack at the NBA?
Cal: I’m not thinking in those terms right now. If I wasn’t at Kentucky, I’d probably say, “Hey, well …” I’m at Kentucky. I’m at Kentucky! I’m like I may have the best job in basketball. The only time I’ll watch any NBA games is if Derrick (Rose) is playing, John’s playing. If one of my guys is playing, I’ll glance at the game. My focus right now is let’s get this thing to the next level and let’s separate. Let’s get Kentucky on its own playing field.
