A five-spot from Kentucky basketball media opp today.
- Yes, John Calipari was available to the media today. The word out of Louisville is that Rick Pitino’s last media availability was after the Cards’ loss to Georgetown on Wednesday. He took UK questions then. During Cal’s presser there were questions about the relationship between the two coaches. Cal said they do not send Christmas cards, but that the two are cordial. When asked if they were too much alike to get along, Calipari said, “We’ve both taken three teams to the Final Four. We both got fired in the NBA. We’re Italians with big noses.”
- There was a media altercation during the players’ interview portion of the media opp. Unlike the modus operandi of some other sites, I’m not going to comment on what I didn’t see, but Calipari heard about it and was laughing about it when he started his interview session. “Only in Kentucky,” said the coach.
- Both Anthony Davis and Doron Lamb claimed that they had not even seen Louisville play on television this season. Davis, Lamb and Darius Miller, who admitted he has watched the Cards on the tube, said the coaches had not yet shown them video on Saturday’s opponent. That’s consistent with the way Calipari prepares his team. He’s more about his own team than the opponent, where Pitino preaches preparation. Rick wants to know everything the other team is doing.
- Being strong with the basketball was an overriding theme, especially among the players. They know Louisville is going to use a full-court press. They’ve heard their coach talk about team’s grabbing and slapping at the basketball. And this Kentucky team has had trouble with turnovers this season. No one said it, but this has to be a big game for Marquis Teague. He was recruited very hard by Louisville, but signed with Kentucky. There’s no doubt the Cards will go hard at him with on-the-ball pressure.
- Cal talked up Louisville point guard Peyton Siva, saying he is one of the best guards in the country. He said he liked the way Siva gets into the lane and that he will be a key in the game.
