Calipari wants to be booed (and other takeaways ahead of UK’s game at Auburn)
Takeaways from interviews previewing Kentucky’s game at Auburn on Saturday:
▪ For a third straight Saturday, UK will play on an opponent’s court in front of charged up fans. Arkansas and Texas Tech were the sites the previous two Saturdays. You can embrace the atmosphere or be taken aback by it, Calipari said before adding, “If I don’t get thoroughly booed when I’m introduced, I’m mad.”
▪ Calipari said Nick Richards isn’t the only player UK cannot afford to get in foul trouble. Ashton Hagans is another. Calipari suggested Hagans can sometimes take things too personally in a game, which can lead to fouls.
▪ Austin Wiley gives Auburn a big man to compete against Richards. Wiley played for the USA team that Calipari coached a couple of summers ago. “Great kid …,” Calipari said. “I love him to death.”
▪ After the Texas Tech game, Richards said he looked forward to the game at Auburn. EJ Montgomery agreed. “Yes, definitely,” he said. “It’s a great atmosphere there. It’s going to be a very fun game.”
▪ Immanuel Quickley and Montgomery downplayed any notion of Kentucky exacting revenge after Auburn beat UK in an Elite Eight game last March.
▪ Calipari said Thursday’s team activities included massages. When asked how he reconciled massages while repeatedly calling for toughness, Calipari paused before answering. “Probably a good point,” he said. “I can tell you I don’t get a massage.”
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 2:36 PM.
