Kentucky coach John Calipari is still learning about his team.
He will know more following the Wildcats’ season opener against Morehead State tonight at Rupp Arena. It will be Calipari’s first official game as coach at Kentucky. Calipari said the contest will offer a chance to see what his team can do against a more-evenly matched opponent.
“The most important thing for me – and it always has been – is that in November and December, I must learn about my team. Now we want to win every game we play, if you know me and how I am. But the most important thing is to learn.”
Calipari said his team’s exhibition games against Campbellsville and Clarion will be nothing compared to Morehead State
You cannot learn against “Popcorn State.” What you learn against “Popcorn State” is that you’re better than “Popcorn State” – that’s all you learn,” he said. “Now you play Morehead State, who is well-coached and the shooters shoot; the post-up players post-up; they have roles to execute and offense is executed. So when you go zone, they have good stuff. On out-of-bounds plays they have good stuff.”
Calipari realizes the in-state encounter against the Eagles will be a risk, but said despite the outcome, it will be a learning experience for the players and coaches.
“We’re going to learn about our team. No question we’re going to learn about our team because (MSU) is an NCAA tournament team and that’s what you want,” he said. “The only way you can learn is against teams you risk losing games to. It’s the only way. Our first two games we could be 0-2 and me feeling wonderful that I’ve learned enough to know what I’ve got to do. They’ve exploited our weaknesses and we move on and we get ready. It’s not football. This isn’t football. You lose your first two and you’re out of the race for the national title. That’s not what this is.”
The past two seasons, Kentucky has lost to Garner-Webb and VMI early in the year. Calipari said he’s aware of the team's past experiences.
“This is a different team,” he said. “This is totally a different deal. We’re going in with an attitude of let’s play our best. Let’s play and do what we do and whatever comes out let’s learn from it. I do not want these kids feeling that they have to win. No, you have to prepare to win and let it go. We’re going to create our own happiness. If I see a great effort and an experienced team beats us because we couldn’t do X, Y, Z, we’ll learn and move on.”
Calipari said he’s excited to be the coach at Kentucky and is looking forward to the season.
“Every game I walk out, every morning I wake up I’m absolutely excited and just humbled,” he said. “I’m the coach at Kentucky. When I walk out there, you know what’s a big game for me is the next game. It’s a huge game because it’s the next game. Hopefully I’m going to walk in that arena excited every time I walk in.”