Kentucky coach John Calipari talks with Marquis Teague during a game at Rupp Arena recently. (Sun photo by Bill Thiry) |
Kentucky coach John Calipari knows his team will face another tough challenge Saturday against Penn State in the Basketball Tip-off Tournament in Uncasville, Conn.
“They’re good,” the Kentucky coach said Thursday. “I mean, they’ve won a bunch of games.”
Actually, the Nittany Lions have won their first three games of the season and defeated the Wildcats in the last meeting between the two teams. Penn State, which had lost twice previously to the second-ranked Wildcats, came away with a stunning 73-68 upset over the Wildcats 11 years ago at Rupp¿Arena.
Calipari expects a similar encounter this time and is impressed with the Nittany Lions, who have gone about their business on the court while an embarassing scandal has rocked the school’s football program during the past two weeks.
“They do a good job at running their offense,” he said. “As a matter of fact, they run some stuff similar to what we are doing. They do a nice little job of throwing stuff at you and they bring some (pressure) at you.”
The Kentucky coach added that his team can’t afford a slow start similar to the one it endured in the first half against Kansas Tuesday night. The Wildcats struggled in the opening half, but used a strong second half to defeat the Jayhawks, 75-65 at Madison Square Garden in the State Farm Champions Classic.
“We need to really perform to be able to do this (beat Penn State),” he said. “I had no idea how we would play against Kansas. I was right in what I thought (the way we would play) and we came out the same way (against) Marist. We need to understand that every opponent is a worthy opponent, especially because they are playing out of their minds.”
Despite the early transitional period, the Wildcats have opened with two straight victories and hit the century mark in the win over Marist a week ago at Rupp¿Arena. Calipari wanted the first two games to be “easy,” but, “walked off the floor after the Kansas game and said this will be another grind.”
“A lot ot times, you try to analyze and put players in the best position to succeed as well as get minutes for everyone to play,” he said. “You need to have guys (ready to play), because you never know what is going to happen throughout the season.
“Last year we didn’t have this much (talent), but we do know, so we have to get the guys on the floor to get minutes.”
Calipari admitted Thursday that his team has “made strides offensively,” but added that his team needs to improve in several areas to be successful.
“We do break down to block shots and do those things, (but) we did get outrebounded (Tuesday),” he said. “We had a couple of turnovers early in the second half, but we didn’t have really any after that.”
“They’re good,” the Kentucky coach said Thursday. “I mean, they’ve won a bunch of games.”
Actually, the Nittany Lions have won their first three games of the season and defeated the Wildcats in the last meeting between the two teams. Penn State, which had lost twice previously to the second-ranked Wildcats, came away with a stunning 73-68 upset over the Wildcats 11 years ago at Rupp¿Arena.
Calipari expects a similar encounter this time and is impressed with the Nittany Lions, who have gone about their business on the court while an embarassing scandal has rocked the school’s football program during the past two weeks.
“They do a good job at running their offense,” he said. “As a matter of fact, they run some stuff similar to what we are doing. They do a nice little job of throwing stuff at you and they bring some (pressure) at you.”
The Kentucky coach added that his team can’t afford a slow start similar to the one it endured in the first half against Kansas Tuesday night. The Wildcats struggled in the opening half, but used a strong second half to defeat the Jayhawks, 75-65 at Madison Square Garden in the State Farm Champions Classic.
“We need to really perform to be able to do this (beat Penn State),” he said. “I had no idea how we would play against Kansas. I was right in what I thought (the way we would play) and we came out the same way (against) Marist. We need to understand that every opponent is a worthy opponent, especially because they are playing out of their minds.”
Despite the early transitional period, the Wildcats have opened with two straight victories and hit the century mark in the win over Marist a week ago at Rupp¿Arena. Calipari wanted the first two games to be “easy,” but, “walked off the floor after the Kansas game and said this will be another grind.”
“A lot ot times, you try to analyze and put players in the best position to succeed as well as get minutes for everyone to play,” he said. “You need to have guys (ready to play), because you never know what is going to happen throughout the season.
“Last year we didn’t have this much (talent), but we do know, so we have to get the guys on the floor to get minutes.”
Calipari admitted Thursday that his team has “made strides offensively,” but added that his team needs to improve in several areas to be successful.
“We do break down to block shots and do those things, (but) we did get outrebounded (Tuesday),” he said. “We had a couple of turnovers early in the second half, but we didn’t have really any after that.”
