‘A pretty steep learning curve.’ Next opponent less experienced than Kentucky.
Not often in John Calipari’s 11 seasons as coach has Kentucky been the grizzled veteran team in a game. But that will be the case on Wednesday against Utah.
With a roster that includes 11 freshmen and four sophomores, Utah rates next to last in experience among the 353 Division I teams, according to stats savant Ken Pomeroy. Memphis is last.
By contrast, Kentucky is a relative graybeard team at No. 344 in Pomeroy’s experience ratings.
Utah Coach Larry Krystkowiak described his players as “super eager” to improve.
“I feel little bit rejuvenated to get back to some basic stuff,” he said.
Krystkowiak likened coaching so many freshmen to, say, teaching an introductory math class.
“You’re reminded that there’s a lot of basic math before you start getting into the algebra and trigonometry,” he said. “There’s a few times during the course of a practice where coaches catch eyes with each other and we’re just reminded it’s not elementary, but, definitely, it’s not advanced right now.
“We have a bunch of kids from high school. It’s a pretty steep learning curve. But it’s fun to coach them.”
Of course, such a roster is business as usual for Kentucky, which has been synonymous with so-called one-and-done players since Calipari became coach in 2009. For example, UK lists the top five scorers of each season in its media guide. Of the 50 players listed during Calipari’s first 10 seasons as coach, 30 were freshmen. Of those 30, 22 played only one season for Kentucky.
But UK’s top six scorers this season include only one freshman: Tyrese Maxey.
Krystkowiak said he had “great respect” for how Calipari and staff have annually transformed freshman-dependent teams into national championship contenders. He also said this season helped me better relate to that task.
But …
“I’ve never thought of feeling sorry for Coach Calipari having to deal with all the young kids,” the Utah coach said. “Because there tends to be numerous stars behind the guys’ names. But you do find a new-found appreciation for dealing with youth.”
Utah’s top six scorers are sophomores or freshmen. Sophomore wing Timmy Allen leads the Utes in scoring (20.6 points) and rebounding (7.4). Krystkowiak said Allen has benefited from losing about 25 pounds from last season and moving from power forward to small forward.
Sophomore Both Gach (11.7 points per game) has shown a knack for playing well in bigger games. For example, he led the Utes with 22 points in last season’s 88-61 loss at Kentucky. Utah has three 7-foot freshmen, including 7-4 Matt Van Komen, who has “shown glimpses,” Krystkowiak said.
Another of the 7-footers, Branden Carlson, had a good feel for the game and is “pretty darn skilled,” the Utah coach said. “He just needs a little more weight room. Actually, all three of our kids do. They are 7-foot and freshmen, which usually means a little light in the trousers. We’ve got to get them beefed up a little bit.”
Despite its inexperience, Utah will take an 8-2 record into the game against Kentucky. The Utes won 73-69 at home against Minnesota, which beat Ohio State on Sunday. Krystkowiak also pointed out a 102-95 overtime victory at home over Brigham Young on Dec. 4.
But the Utah coach also noted a first-round loss to Coastal Carolina that put the Utes in the “mid-major bracket” of the Myrtle Beach Invitational.
“So, we’re probably about what we deserved,” Krystkowiak said of his team’s record. “We certainly have a long way to go. We haven’t gone up against the Thoroughbreds we’re about to see moving forward, starting with Kentucky.”
‘There’s a chance’
As of Monday, Pomeroy gave Utah a 15 percent chance of beating Kentucky.
This moved Krystkowiak to playfully reference the movie “Dumb and Dumber.” The Utah coach recalled actor Jim Carrey’s character asking a woman about the chances of dating.
“Not good,” she replies.
“You mean not good like one out of a hundred?” Carrey asks.
“I’d say more like one out of a million,” she replies.
“So,” Carrey says as his face brightens, “you’re telling me there’s a chance. Yeah!”
Krystkowiak said he does not pay close attention to attempts at predicting outcomes of games. He added that he’s usually more comfortable as the underdog.
“We’ll just let it fly Wednesday night and see what happens,” he said.
Wednesday
No. 6 Kentucky vs. Utah
What: Neon Hoops Showcase
Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
When: 11 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Kentucky 8-1, Utah 8-2
Series: Kentucky leads 10-2
Last meeting: Kentucky won 88-61 on Dec. 15, 2018, in Rupp Arena.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 7:09 AM.
