Calipari says Kentucky needs max effort and energy from Tyrese Maxey
As Johnny Juzang waxed in Coach John Calipari’s estimation Saturday, fellow freshman Tyrese Maxey waned.
Calipari saluted Juzang’s effort in Kentucky’s 77-64 victory at Tennessee. And he held up Maxey as a contrast. He mentioned Maxey’s reaction after getting an ill-advised shot blocked.
“One-on-four, and you get it blocked,” Calipari said of Maxey’s one-man fast-break against multiple UT defenders. “And you jogged back. Where’s your energy? You had (energy) going that way against four guys. Where’s the energy coming back?
“And that’s all part of the growth. That’s all part of maturity.”
Playing with effort was UK’s theme going into the game, Calipari said.
“If you want to win this game, you’re going to come up with balls,” Calipari said. “There’s nothing else I can tell you.”
Without mentioning any names, Calipari added, “If you decide ‘I’m not going to play hard,’ you’re not going to be open. You’re not going to be strong with the ball. … You’re going to look bad.”
Calipari included Maxey with EJ Montgomery, Keion Brooks and Johnny Juzang as players who can make Kentucky markedly better.
“It’s nothing to do with skill and basketball ability,” Calipari said. “Your effort and energy has got to be where everybody’s else’s is. If it’s not, you can’t be in. You just can’t be in.”
A moment later, Calipari made clear he and Kentucky want Maxey in the games.
“I know how good Tyrese is,” Calipari said. “We’re not going to be better without him on the court.”
Maxey contributed 15 points, five rebounds and four assists to the victory.
‘A killer’
Reviving memories of the near half-court shot he made near the end of the first half against Texas Tech, Immanuel Quickley showed again why he’s Mr. Clutch for Kentucky.
After a three-point first half, Quickley scored 15 more points. That included nine in the final 6:08.
“He’s a killer,” Juzang said. “He’s a killer, for sure. What he’s doing this year, he makes plays, clutch plays.
“He’s different.”
To which, Maxey said, “I second that.”
More turnovers
Ashton Hagans committed five turnovers. That marked the seventh time this season he has had five or more turnovers. He had four such games as a freshman last season, including a career-high seven in UK’s Elite Eight loss to Auburn in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
The recent rash of giveaways has dipped Hagans’ assist-to-turnover ratio below two-to-one: 156 assists, 80 turnovers.
“Sometimes he’s trying to make a harder play than he needs to make,” Calipari said.
That said, the UK coach added how important Hagans is to UK.
“He’s so physical, defends so well,” Calipari said. “He rebounds. Now, he’s got to get his decision-making to where he’s not just turning it over. And we need him in the game.”
No Kentucky?
Juzang and Maxey all but shrugged when asked about Saturday’s announcement of the preliminary top 16 seeds for the 2020 NCAA Tournament. UK was not on the list.
“I’m not concerned about it,” Juzang said. “We still have time.”
While conceding that UK had lost games, Juzang said, “I feel we’re getting a lot better. And we keep growing.
“It’s still early February, so as long as we keep growing (and) we keep getting better …, I’m not really worried about it.”
Maxey echoed that theme.
“We just try to get one percent better every single day,” he said. “Today, we got a step better.”
Calipari made light of Kentucky not being included in the 16 seeds. He facetiously asked, “Were we a two-seed?”
When told UK was not among the 16 seeds, Calipari said jokingly, “We’re not in the tournament?”
Calipari dismissed the suggestion of using the NCAA announcement as a motivational tool.
“I thought we could be a one-seed,” he said, again facetiously. “But that’s just me.”
Losing streaks
Kentucky had lost its last four games at Tennessee.
UK has lost five or more straight “true” road games only five times. Tennessee beat UK five straight times in 1973-1977, and seven straight times in 1979-85. The latter is the longest such losing streak for Kentucky.
UK also lost five straight at North Carolina (2005-2014), at Indiana (1983-2008) and at Florida (2005-09).
