Calipari calls for Sestina to become ‘hungry man’ for Kentucky. ‘Prove who you are.’
As a graduate transfer, Nate Sestina made one significant adjustment. Now, Kentucky Coach John Calipari wants another.
On a Southeastern Conference coaches teleconference Thursday, Calipari spoke of the need to work with Sestina.
“We’ve got to get Nate back to where he was,” the UK coach said ahead of Kentucky’s game at Texas Tech in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday. “He kind of stepped back. He’s not playing bad, but he’s not at the level (he was). He doesn’t seem as confident and sure of himself as he was three weeks ago. We’re trying to figure that out.”
At Friday’s news conference, Calipari said he had sensed that Sestina’s mindset had changed.
“It went from ‘I’m going to prove I’m good enough to be here, and I’m going to fight like heck to prove it,’” Calipari said, “to where, ‘Now, I’ve got to live up to how I played.’ And I think that’s a mindset I’ve got to get him out of.”
The objective will be to transform Sestina into a “hungry man,” Calipari said. “Prove who you are. Prove you belong here.”
Of Sestina’s diminished impact of late, Calipari also pointed out that Keion Brooks has been playing better. This is reflected in playing time, the UK coach said.
Not shy
A recent surge by Johnny Juzang pleases the freshman.
“I’m doing good,” he said with a smile. “I’m feeling good.”
Calipari had lauded Juzang for continuing to show the gumption to take shots even though he had not been making many.
“If you ask about me, I’ve never been one to hesitate,” he said.
Calipari had advised players to not dwell on shooting, but look to contribute on defense and with rebounding no matter how the offense goes.
When asked if he has that mentality in games, Juzang said, “I would say when I’m out there, I’m not, like, actually thinking about it.”
Stopper?
Immanuel Quickley had the defensive assignment against Georgia’s star freshman, Anthony Edwards, in both games. He also defended Louisville’s Jordan Nwora.
Quickley shied from the label of UK’s stopper.
“Whether you call me a stopper or not, our defense is really based on team defense,” he said.
Quade?
Earlier this season, former UK guard Quade Green was declared academically ineligible at Washington. Calipari said he had not spoken to Green.
Washington said that Green can restore his eligibility in time for the NCAA Tournament.
“I hope they do,” Calipari said. “They’ve got a good team. And they were counting on him.”
Be aggressive
Texas Tech is coming off a 65-54 loss at TCU. Coach Chris Beard cited two factors: TCU’s Desmond Bane, who scored 27 points, and how Texas Tech was less aggressive than the opponent.
“We settled for jump shots … ,” Beard said. “We got outplayed tonight. We got out-competed tonight.”
Rebounding a key
TCU out-rebounded Texas Tech 34-27.
“If you get out-rebounded, there’s still a way to win, but it’s a fine line,” Beard said. “Small margin for error if you’re not going to rebound with your opponent. You have to have a magical night.”
Don’t foul him
If the game comes down to a possession-by-possession struggle, each team has a player who is almost automatic as a free-throw shooter.
Of course, Quickley is that player for Kentucky. Going into the weekend, he had the sixth-best shooting percentage in the nation (91.8 percent). He had made 67 of 73 free throws.
When asked if there’s any added pressure to shoot free throws in the final minutes of a close game, Quickley said, “I actually kind of look forward to it. Just a way to put the game away.”
For Texas Tech, that player is Davide Moretti. A native of Bologna, Italy, he had the seventh-best shooting percentage in the nation (91.5 percent). He had made 54 of 59 free throws.
In his three college seasons, Moretti has made 91.1 percent of his free throws (175 of 192).
Familiar face
Former UK guard Sean Sutton will be on the Texas Tech bench. He works on Chris Beard’s coaching staff at Texas Tech. His job title is “executive advisor” to Beard.
Sutton played for UK in the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons.
Precedent
UK has played at Texas Tech once previously. Rupp’s Runts won 89-73 at Texas Tech on Dec. 22, 1965.
UK leads the series 4-0. The last meeting came on Dec. 17, 1994, when UK won 83-68 in a game played in Cincinnati.
Streaking
Texas Tech has won 54 straight home games against non-conference opponents. Butler has the longest active streak with 58 straight.
Duke had won 150 straight home games against non-conference opponents until losing to Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 27.
Etc.
Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes will call the game for ESPN.
