John Calipari’s sleeping habits have changed.
The challenge of coaching the Wildcats has always been stressful, but the amount of stress can vary, depending on the makeup of Calipari’s squad. Unlike last year when the Kentucky coach had a good handle on his team, this year has been completely different.
“It wakes you up early in the morning,” Calipari said Friday. “It really gets you to go to bed early. I try to go to bed at 9 o’clock and my wife is going nuts, ‘You can’t go to bed at 9 o’clock.’ I said, ‘I’m going to fall asleep in that chair or the bed.’ It tires you out, but it also wakes you up.”
Despite the team’s inconsistencies this season, especially on the road, Kentucky is in a three-way tie with South Carolina and LSU for the lead in the current Southeastern Conference standings.
The Wildcats (18-6, 8-3 SEC) and the Gamecocks (21-3, 8-3) battle in a high-stakes showdown Saturday in Columbia, where the winner can gain more breathing room in the upper echelon of the league standings.
Although Kentucky swept the Gamecocks a year ago and have won eight of the past 10 games between the two conference rivals, the Wildcats have struggled in Columbia, dropping a 68-62 setback in 2011 and a 72-67 loss in 2014.
“This is a great test for us,” Calipari said. “They don’t lose many games there and they’re playing well.”
Of Kentucky’s six losses, five have been true road games, including three (Auburn, Tennessee and LSU) in the conference.
The last time Kentucky ventured away from home, the Wildcats blew a 21-point lead in an 84-77 loss at Tennessee on Feb. 2. The seven-point setback came three days following a 90-84 loss at Kansas.
“Tennessee was a quick turn (around) and I believe Auburn was a quick turn, where we didn’t have much time (to prepare),” Calipari said. “This we have a little more time. I’d like to see how we respond.”
Calipari said Kentucky’s youth and inexperience played a big role in the meltdown in Knoxville.
“Normally the team will give up especially when you have a 20-point lead, but we don’t have that mentality,” Calipari said. “We’re beginning to get that mentality, but three weeks ago absolutely did not. We were just playing. Like, next play. Not realizing and it’s part of what we’ve had to do as coaches is get them to understand that.”
Since then, Kentucky has blown out Florida and Georgia at home and appears to be gaining more confidence going into the final stretch of the regular season. Despite the recent uptick, Calipari is still teaching his team the importance of putting teams away when opportunity knocks.
“We have to embrace that these kids have way more to learn and we’re not a dominating team,” Calipari said. “Games are going to come down to the wire. We’re trying to still understand how this team has to play. We’re still trying to figure it out both offensively and defensively.”
Until then, Calipari won’t be resting easy.
Scouting South Carolina
The Gamecocks are perfect at home this season (13-0) and are led in scoring by forward Michael Carrera (14.2 points per game). Starters Sindarius Thornwell (13.2 ppg) and Mindaugus Kacinas (10.3 ppg) also average double figures.
Calipari said South Carolina is “really guarding, physical and rebounding.”
“Frank (Martin) is doing a great job,” he said. “What’s fun to see as a coach, when you’re thrust into a situation and you’re building a program, he’s doing it the way you do it. The problem with this modern era of Twitter and Facebook and social media, people think it is supposed to within a half of a year – it changes. Well, it doesn’t. What he did – what are they 21-3? Think about that. It makes me smile. He’s a great guy. I mean, he’s the salt of the earth kind of guy, but he is also a terrific coach. They’ve taken on his personality.”
Murray OK
Calipari said leading scorer Jamal Murray missed practice Thursday after bumping knees with another player in Kentucky’s win over Georgia Tuesday. Calipari added that Murray is expected to play against the Gamecocks.
Quoting Calipari
“There are some setbacks, but (the players are) not machines. These kids are not computers and they have bad games. You have to accept every once in a while that they throw a dud out there. It’s not what I want, but it happens.”
Game tracker: Kentucky at South Carolina, noon, Saturday. TV/Radio: ESPN, 98.1 FM WBUL
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports writer who covers University of Kentucky athletics for KyForward.com