By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Kentucky freshman forward Jarred Vanderbilt is coming back sooner than expected. Much sooner.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said Thursday Vanderbilt returned to practice earlier this week without a walking boot on his foot, a welcomed sight for Calipari and his staff. Vanderbilt suffered a foot injury during the first week of practice earlier this month and wasn’t expected to return until January.
“He was out of a boot, and I was like, ‘Stop practice.’ … I didn’t stop practice.” Calipari said. “I just walked off the court and went over and said, ‘What are you doing?’ And so, now it will be a process to see where exactly is he. Is he going to be able to play or are we going to have to wait? But, you know, I guess they did the MRI and all that stuff and everything looked good, so we’ll see.”
Jermarl Baker, a freshman guard, is expected to have another scope on his knee Friday. Calipari said Baker’s knee didn’t heal properly from a previous surgery, leading to more issues.
“They’re gonna probably take another look in there to see what it is,” Calipari said.
Going into Friday night’s exhibition opener against Thomas More, Calipari said he only has “eight guys that we’re playing.” Injuries and inexperience have Calipari engaged in a different way with his team during preseason workouts.
“Seven of those guys may play a little bit more, maybe not,” the Kentucky coach said. “Probably six will play a little bit more than the other two. But, we’re just a ways away from being a good basketball team. We’re learning and they’re not fighting me — they just don’t know. I want to know from you in here that like me – so that’s a few of you – if you’ve watched me coach, this year.
“I have got to be doubly hard in practice. Like, even tougher. Not mean and nasty, cuss, but I just raised the bar and the expectation I have of what they’re able to do, and if they don’t do it we run. We’re conditioning like crazy right now.”
Despite the team’s inexperience, Calipari said the Wildcats haven’t lacked in determination.
“I think right now, this group, where we are is go hard in practice, hold them accountable and then accept where they are in the games right now,” Calipari said. “This is where we are.”
Calipari said his son Brad has benefitted the most during the first two weeks of practice.
“Brad’s (Calipari) on the court 24/7,” he said. “He’s scrimmaging every scrimmage, he’s on the court and he’s getting better. Now, is he like the guys I saw last night in Charlotte? Is he Malik Monk? Jamal (Murray)? Michael (Kidd-Gilchrist)? Trey (Lyles)? No. But, he personally is becoming his best version, and as a father, I’m ecstatic about that.”
Fill up Rupp
Calipari wants Big Blue Nation to show up in big numbers when Kentucky hosts Morehead State in a fund-raiser/exhibition game against Morehead State in the Kentucky Cares Classic set for 7 p.m. Monday at Rupp Arena.
Net proceeds from the contest will benefit those affected by hurricanes, in Florida and Puerto Rico and recent wildfires in California. The proceeds will be distributed by Team Rubicon, a non-government 501(c)(3) organization.
“For anybody out there, let’s do what we do in Kentucky,”Calipari said. “Let’s fill this building … You’ve gotta be in that building to watch this game. You get to see Preston (Spradlin) back home coaching his team. In-state Morehead, who we all have ties to. And then we’ll hopefully have fun. I’ll probably be miserable after the game and watch the tape like I did the scrimmage and just start sweating.
“My wife thought I was sick. ‘Are you sick? Like what’s going on with you?’ I watched the tape of the scrimmage and I started sweating. Like, oh my gosh, how much work do I have to do?”
Spradlin, a former graduate assistant and assistant director of basketball operations under Calipari, is anxious to coach against his former boss at Rupp and also support a worthy cause.
“It’s obviously a great opportunity for us,” he said. “I really appreciated Coach (John Calipari) reaching out and thinking of us to be a part of this. To partner for a great cause, it’s one of those situations where everybody wins. Coach has got eight new players; I have 10. It’s obviously my first full season and an opportunity for our kids. We have six – five in-state kids. Five Kentucky kids on our roster, and so they dream of playing in that building and it’s obviously a great atmosphere.
“A good opportunity for them to do that. Obviously, charity is going to be the big winner. Team Rubicon is the charity we’re going with, which is really neat. It’s an opportunity to use our sport, to use our game to really give back. It’s special.”
Spradlin is in his second season as coach of the Eagles.
Next game: Thomas More at Kentucky, 7 p.m., Friday. TV/Radio: SEC Network, 98.1 FM, WBUL.
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today. Reach him at keith.taylor@kentuckytoday.com or twitter @keithtaylor21.