Kentucky’s John Calipari discusses changes to the starting lineup during weekly radio show
John Calipari’s weekly radio show returned for its final pre-Christmas episode Monday night, with the UK men’s basketball head coach joined by Tom Leach.
This week’s show came in the aftermath of a poor Kentucky offensive showing during Saturday night’s loss to UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic, and on the same day that UK dropped to No. 19 in the AP poll.
Calipari discussed the shortcomings shown by the Wildcats during the UCLA defeat, as well as two of the bright spots from that game: Freshman forward Chris Livingston and junior forward Lance Ware.
Calipari also hinted that significant changes to the UK starting lineup and rotation will be on the way soon. The Cats are next in action Wednesday night against Florida A&M, the final game before SEC play starts for UK.
Calipari hints at starting lineup change
Calipari didn’t mince words when stating the changes that will probably come following UK’s 63-53 loss to UCLA on Saturday, which marked the lowest scoring output for the Wildcats since March 2019.
He said the Wildcats watched the complete play-by-play tape of the game during Monday’s film review.
Also part of Monday’s breakdown? Calipari clarifying for his players what their roles are on this 2022-23 UK team.
UK’s head coach also said that he’s probably going to change the starting lineup.
“This is your role. Here’s how you’re going to play,” Calipari said he told his team. “Can you do that?”
The quintet of Sahvir Wheeler, Cason Wallace, Antonio Reeves, Jacob Toppin and Oscar Tshiebwe started Saturday’s game for Kentucky, the fifth straight game in which that’s been the starting lineup.
UK is 4-1 with that starting group.
As part of these lineup changes, Calipari also said that some players are playing too many minutes right now.
Six different Wildcats played 21 or more minutes in Saturday’s loss.
“Hopefully you’ll see a smoothness to us playing,” Calipari said of the impact from these expected changes.
In addition to a switch in the starting lineup, Calipari also talked up freshman guard Adou Thiero as the next Kentucky player in line for a breakout moment.
Thiero has only played in three games this season, and hasn’t seen game action since Nov. 23.
“He’s the next in line,” Calipari said, praising Thiero’s aggressiveness, strength and talent, which the UK coach said currently comes out in games more than in practice.
“He’s exactly what we were missing (in the UCLA game).”
Livingston and Ware praised
In a game from which few positives could be taken for Kentucky, two players rose to the occasion inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden: Freshman forward Chris Livingston and junior forward Lance Ware.
Livingston had career highs in both minutes played (24) and points scored (14), a breakout moment for the first-year player after Calipari had publicly fretted for weeks about how to get him more playing time.
“You’ve got to understand that he mixed up the game,” Calipari said of Livingston. “He went in and he wasn’t afraid to battle. ... He brings toughness.”
Ware was part of Kentucky’s best stretch of basketball in the game, as he was part of UK’s closing lineup in the first half and opening lineup in the second half.
He was the only UK player to finish with a positive plus/minus (+8) in the game, but Ware didn’t play in the final 12:19.
“Lance has a few flaws offensively, but you know what, (he’s) the smartest kid on my team,” Calipari said. “He’ll be a coach someday if that’s what he chooses. The smartest kid on the team.”
Cal shares message he sent to Kentucky team
Calipari didn’t shy away from the expectations and failures of this Kentucky season so far.
He admitted that UK should be scoring at least 80 points when playing top opponents, despite the fact that UK has scored only 77 (Michigan State), 72 (Gonzaga), 73 (Michigan) and 53 (UCLA) against brand-name opponents this season.
“I know we’re not OK offensively now,” Calipari said of what he took from the UCLA defeat.
He also lamented the physical nature of Saturday’s game that adversely affected Kentucky, and how that will force him to use players who are willing to bring that physical edge while on the court.
But Calipari also acknowledged the length of a college basketball season, and the patience that will be required as this Kentucky team tries to come into its own.
To this point, Calipari pulled out his phone and read verbatim a text message that he sent to his players earlier Monday.
“We will suffer the pain of defeat, the hardship of losing a job, of our teams underperforming at some point, but in those struggles come valuable lessons,” the text said. “In those hard times can come a resolve and dedication to being better prepared for our next challenge. No one who’s ever achieved success has dodged failure.”
How to access Calipari’s radio show
The show — which airs weekly on the UK Sports Network — will last throughout the basketball season, with Calipari taking questions from fans via phone at 1-800-606-GAME (4263) or (859) 280-2287, as well as via Twitter (@UKSportsNetwork).
The show can be accessed in Lexington on WLAP-AM 630, online at UKathletics.com, on UK Sports Network affiliates, on the Kentucky men’s basketball Facebook page, and through the UK Athletics app.
Fans can also download the show as a podcast through iTunes, Google Play and Spotify by searching “UK Sports Network Radio.” Additionally, the podcast can be located at UKAthletics.com/audio.
Here are the remaining scheduled show dates and times for the 2022-23 season.
Monday, Dec. 26 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, Jan. 2 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, Jan. 9 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, Jan. 16 | 6-7 p.m. |
Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 6-7 p.m. |
Wednesday, Feb. 1 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, Feb. 6 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, Feb. 13 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, Feb. 20 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, Feb. 27 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, March 6 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, March 13 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, March 20 | 6-7 p.m. |
Monday, March 27 | 6-7 p.m. |
This story was originally published December 20, 2022 at 11:19 AM.
