UK notebook: Calipari keeps players fresh

By Jerry Tipton / Herald-Leader Staff Writer

New Kentucky Coach John Calipari does not believe in tough practices on the day of games. Nor does he think much of criticism directed at his predecessor, Billy Gillispie, for conducting tough practices the day of games.

"Rick (Pitino) would do the same thing," Calipari said last week. "But he won. So it was great stuff."

When asked about Gillispie's tough day-of-game practices and the subsequent complaining about the players having tired legs, Calipari emphasized that there's no one correct approach. (If there was, all coaches would do the same thing.) In addition to Pitino, he noted that former UK star Pat Riley was famous for conducting tough practices as a pro coach.

"There are so many ways of doing this," Calipari said. "If (Gillispie) had won, they'd have said he's a genius and that's how you should do it. He's making sure they're prepared.

"If we don't win the way I do it, they'll say he doesn't spend enough time on game day. He needs to do more."

So how does Calipari do it?

He places the highest priority on the players being lively and vigorous at game time.

"I want them fresh," he said. "I want them mentally fresh. I want them physically fresh. And they'll be at their best. If we can't win at our best, then we're not winning."

Any workout the day of a game would last no more than an hour, Calipari said. And if there is a noon tip-off, his teams might not conduct a shootaround or could be ordered to come to the arena an hour early to get in extra shooting.

Earlier on game day, his teams break a sweat and try mightily not to break anything else, the UK coach said.

"We go through our stuff," Calipari said. "We go through (the opponent's) stuff. Everything is scripted.

"Then we shoot half-court shots. We do fun shooting stuff to get the blood flowing. And that's it."

Calipari even extends his wish to keep the players fresh to the practice the day before a game.

Of practices that day, he said, "I've got one job: Getting no one hurt."

As the season unfolds, Calipari wants to gradually reduce practice times. Less than two-hour workouts in February, no more than an hour in March.

"My thing is less is better as the year goes on," he said. "I'm not going to get them in any more shape in March. They're not going to fall out of shape in March. And I'm not having any basketball genius stuff in March."

While Kentucky fans probably will welcome the end of tough practices on game day, Calipari kept stressing his way is not the only valid way to prepare.

Criticism of tactics can be directly linked to losing, he said.

Calipari noted how critics pounced when his Memphis team lost to Kansas in the 2008 national championship game after leading by nine points with 2:12 to go.

"If we had won, every move I made was right," he said. "If you lose, every move you make is wrong. It's the same with preparation. Everybody does this stuff differently."

Tickets disappear quickly

UK officials said all of the tickets for Big Blue Madness were distributed in 45 minutes Saturday morning.

Thousands of fans were at UK's Memorial Coliseum ticket office when the distribution of the free tickets began at 6 a.m. Others obtained tickets online.

Big Blue Madness, the first practice opportunity for Kentucky's men's and women's basketball teams, is Oct.16 at 7:30 p.m.

Fans criticize, UK adjusts

While waiting in line for Big Blue Madness tickets last week, fan Jeff Miller overheard a first-time camper capture the atmosphere of confusion, anxiety and annoyance with UK's perceived indifference.

"I know why they called this madness the other day," Miller heard the fan say. "Because almost everyone was mad!"

Fans were unhappy because UK prohibited tents from being erected before 8 a.m. on Wednesday. They were unhappy with having to practically stampede to the front of Memorial Coliseum when a security official let them set up an hour or so early. They were unhappy that UK officials gave no advanced notice that vouchers for tickets would be distributed that morning. They were unhappy that UK officials gave no advanced notice that armbands would be distributed Thursday (without an armband, the vouchers were worthless). They were unhappy that UK distributed the vouchers and armbands during the day when children attended school and at least some parents had to work. Fewer people present meant fewer vouchers, which were good for two tickets each. So families could not sit together.