Tonight was likely one of the most listened to call-in radio shows in many, many years for the UK Healthcare and News 630 WLAP. Outside of the beginning of the year weekly ones where fans are just excited to hear about the incoming players, or the ones following a storyline of a player injury where we are all trying to see if fill in the blank will play in the next game, we all know that throughout the last half of the regular season those Monday night John Calipari shows can get a little stale with very little news coming out of them. I myself listen to every single one because that's just what you have to do when you run a media outlet that covers the team, but I completely understand why many quit listening after January. Well, tonight that wasn't the case as it seemed like more than ever that John Calipari could be doing one of his final appearances with the chance that the school parts ways with him after his 15th season in Lexington.
As I was also one of those that were tuned in with my ears glued to the speaker and hanging onto every word that was being said, I decided to keep track of all of the notable points that were the conversation topics for the ones who had to miss it or just wanted to read up on it one more time. Here are the major points that I took from it.
Great start to the show
John Calipari starts the show off addressing that it's been a really hard weekend and that "no one is hurting more than me." He says he feels so sorry for the fans who have supported this team and that he knew the standard for what this program expected the day he arrived. "We have a standard here. They don't put Final Four banners up, only National Championship banners. My standard is we're playing to play deep in the NCAA Tournament and compete for national titles and win national titles. I wanted this job knowing that was the case." He cronies with, "I love this job."
He says fans were mad at the outcome but the players were in tears. "They knew how much we expected to accomplish." Says that fans had the right for feeling the way they did about the loss and that it's all still weighing on him to this day. "I have had better weekends. Hurting. Our team, players, staff, their families, we're all hurting. I'm hurting for them. I'm hurting. I'm hurting for our fans and I know many fans out there are hurting. But I want to say no one is hurting more than me right now."
Meeting with Mitch Barnhart
John Calipari says he has not met yet with Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart just yet like he does after every season, but he expects to in the coming days. He says he has a lot of individual player meetings set up to determine their off-season moves and to see who is staying and who is leaving. Doesn't want it to drag out late into the summer because it puts back bringing new players in. "I have a bunch of individual meetings set up." Says he will never force a guy to leave nor stay. "They have to make the decisions for themselves and their families and one that they can live with."
Keeping the same Offense, Different approach to Defense
The Head Coach says he loved what the offense was like this past season and doesn't want to change it. He acknowledges that the defense definitely needs to change and that he has a lot in mind on how to do that. "You don't get beat by the UNC Wilmington's with a good defensive team" and that they have to get back to the way it once was. "We gotta get back to that, yet I don't want to give up what we're doing offensively. How we ran, we flew up and down the court, how quickly can we get a new team to play that way?"
Summers in Lexington
Calipari says they have to get away from the international trips they've been taking up in recent years and go back to the old ways of grinding it out all summer back in Lexington. "Instead of Bahamas or Toronto, we're back to where we're grinding and working on physicality and defense? We're trying to set a foundation of who we're going to be."
Mentions that they usually don't spend most of the summer working on defense but they plan to hit it hard this summer. Usually the summers consist of individual work, running offense, and teammate bonding, and while it still will be they're going to put much more of an emphasis on defense earlier than ever.
Roster changing
After spending the hours following the Oakland loss complaining about "youth" on his roster, he seems to be listening to the outsiders on the team needing to get a little older to avoid the freshman nerves and mess-ups. Expects to eye the portal more and may bring in a draftable guard while keeping who he can. He seems to really like the incoming freshmen class but "we need to get older." He thinks they might retain some of the talent from this year as well.
"For us, we need to get older. Who's coming back? Does that make us older? Guys now that are juniors or seniors. Freshmen coming in, I like this group because there's physicality. Then you look at the portal, who is that guy or 2 to make us older, make us more physical, that really adds to what this group needs when you're having a bunch of young guys and a few that are returning? That's all part of it."
Off-season Roster Turnover
The coach says that there is a lot to be determined and that he will meet with a lot of them this week. Says he will be there for them and help them in every way possible. He will not advise any player to stay or leave, and that they need to make the decision for themselves. Expects Antonio Reeves to get drafted. Says Tre Mitchell was such a crucial part of this team.
He loves being the coach at Kentucky
"I love this state and I love this program. I'll tell you why I love the program - what we've built, this country wants to see. Every game sold out and all of that. But because you know how I am with my players, I will always love and support my players, they fight for me, for our fans." Mentions that he's always wanted this kind of job and that "there's a reason why I haven't left!"
"If you don't get involved in this state, if you're only worried about this part of it, you can't do this here. I love all of the parts. I love being about the kids. I love being about this program. I love walking in and being Kentucky."
While the meeting with Mitch Barnhart still has to take place tomorrow, it's clear that John is expecting to be kept for another season in Lexington. And as he's always been so good with doing is handling the spotlight and getting off his chest what he needs to say. He's a marketer, a recruiter, and he knows just the right things to say to get people to buy in for more.
I feel like he it all of the main points that needed to be hit and he literally kept talking as the show ended. The hard break interrupted his sentence as the show finished it's hour, going off air and abruptly ending with no close out. John likes to make his points, but the radio break can't be defeated.
The thing is, will we actually see these changes he's claimed to enforce (assuming he's kept) next season? We will just have to wait and see I guess.