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Nick Richards took the Path Most Players are not Willing to take…but it paid off

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On November 10, 2016, Nick Richards committed to play basketball at the University of Kentucky. At that time, he was ranked in the top 20 of the ESPN 100 as a five-star recruit, just four years after he started playing basketball.

Today, Richards announced that he would forego his remaining eligibility and stay in the 2020 NBA Draft, whenever it might occur. But, when it does occur and Richards’ name is announced, I can assure you he will get one huge hug from John Calipari and many Kentucky fans across the country will shed a tear because we all know what he’s been through.

The road he took from the day he committed to draft day is not one many players are willing to take.

Nick Richards was discovered by Andre Rickett, a New York City basketball scout, in Jamaica in the summer of 2013. That’s where it began.

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The Jamaican stud visited Lexington on September 30 and committed to play for John Calipari not even two months later. Richards only held offers from two other schools, Arizona and Syracuse.

Many of us first saw Richards play at the 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. He recorded two points, two rebounds, and two blocked shots in 14 minutes of action. A stat-line that would sadly become consistent in his first two years as a Wildcat.

He would go on to play in the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic and would later be selected to the World Team in the 2017 Nike Hoops Summit before beginning his freshman year under John Calipari.

His freshman year was full of disappointment. Yes, nearly that entire roster was, as the Cats never really lived up to their potential, getting bounced in the Sweet 16 by Kansas State, but it was really a painful first year for Richards.

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In 37 games played, Richards totaled 15 minutes per game, averaging only 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot.

Freshman Nick Richards will be remembered more for his poorly-timed blocked shot attempts, missed dunks, dropped balls, and ability to always looked lost on the court.

My dad would always say at least once during games, “someone needs to stop giving Nick Richards buttered popcorn before games.”

Honestly, you would think there was nowhere to go but up. We all thought he would have a breakout sophomore year, at least I did, and that he would be departing Lexington after two years of college play. Boy was we wrong. Things got a lot worse.

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In his sophomore year, Richards saw drops in all of his per-game averages, except blocks. The good thing was Kentucky didn’t really need him because of guys like P.J. Washington and Reid Travis. Could you imagine if both P.J. and Nick made that jump? Kentucky would’ve coasted to a ninth national title.

Instead, Richards sat the bench most of the NCAA Tournament, playing not even a minute in Kentucky’s Elite Eight loss to Auburn, and making for a very disappointing sophomore campaign.

Yes, the “buttered popcorn” joke was uttered by my father many times that year.

I hate to say it, but I, along with many others, had given up on Nick Richards and turned our heads toward E.J. Montgomery. Yes, the one player left to announce his NBA decision.

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We were all looking for him to make that P.J. Washington-like jump from his freshman to sophomore year. Well, that didn’t happen. Instead, the improvement we hoped to see in Nick Richards the previous year came a year later.

Richards’ numbers improved immensely. In 31 games this year, Richards averaged 30 MPG, 14 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and shot 75-percent from the free throw line.

I guess someone finally took the butter off the popcorn.

Sadly, Kentucky’s season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending, as of now, six Kentucky careers early. Who knows if the Cats would’ve been cutting down the nets in Atlanta. But, watching guys improve like Immanuel Quickley and Nick Richards was good enough for me.

As I said above, the path Richards took to staying in the NBA Draft isn’t one many players are willing to take.

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After Richards had the best game of his UK career against Texas Tech, he told the media that it’s okay to not be a one-and-done:

We don’t know when the NBA Draft will take place or when Richards will be drafted. But, when he is, it will be a very special occasion.

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Men's Basketball

Adou Thiero Enters Transfer Portal, Keeps Options Open

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Kentucky’s first domino of the off-season has fallen. Adou Thiero has entered the transfer portal, according to On3’s Jamie Shaw. He has entered his name in the NBA Draft as well, while not ruling out a return to Kentucky, according to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim.

A big hit to Kentucky’s upcoming roster, as Thiero’s upside and growth will be missed. In the 2023-24 season, Thiero averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while missing 7 games due to injury. The 6-8 wing brought physicalness that Kentucky desperately needed this season, and something Calipari has been stressing for this upcoming season. Calipari harped on him numerous times this season, saying “He’s gotten so much better.”

Thiero has jumped in mock drafts all season, and his potential is sky high. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony even had Thiero going 27th in the 2025 NBA Draft. Now, he will get to add to his potential elsewhere.

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Now, Kentucky will look to find a good replacement for him as more things start happening throughout the off-season. Calipari is continuing to meet with players to discuss their future plans throughout the week.

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John Calipari Highlights Changes for Next Season

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John Calipari draws up a play at Kentucky's season opener. Said he made a "tweak".
UK Athletics

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein.

Many Kentucky fans have referred to this quote over the last few days, expressing a desire for a change from John Calipari. However, Calipari will be back on the sidelines for the Kentucky Wildcats next season for his 16th season, confirmed by Mitch Barnhart on Tuesday.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be any changes.

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On Monday, John Calipari went on his season-ending radio show, giving his first comments to fans since Kentucky’s upset loss to Oakland last Thursday. It was easy to see why is a good recruiter, as he said all the right things.

For the better part of an hour, Calipari spoke with humility, answered some direction questions from Tom Leach, and accepted criticism. The main takeaway was that he understands that he has not met the Kentucky standard or his own standard, and changes need to take place.

“We’ve got to evaluate everything,” Calipari said. Here are some changes that have been outlined.

Getting Back to “Grinding”

Kentucky basketball offseason has often consisted of international trips to the Bahamas, or Canada last season, but not this year. Calipari emphasized a desire to get back to what his early Kentucky teams were characterized by, defense and physicality.

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“What about in the summers, instead of the Bahmas or Toronto, we’re grinding,” Calipari proposed. “We’ve got to get back to where we’ve been defensively and with physicality. Your defense steadies you.”

Those trips are good for team bonding and chemistry, but it’s clear that time can be used better for getting into the weight room and instilling defensive principles. Calipari did note that he does not want to take a step back on offense.

Getting Older

Calipari is the coach who made the “one-and-done” approach popular, relying heavily on elite freshmen. However, with college basketball getting older, he has expressed a willingness to get older.

“We’re relying on freshmen too much. In those kinds of games, you better have some vets,” Calipari said of his takeaway from Oakland. “For us, we need to get older.”

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It should be noted that Calipari relied on transfers in 2022 and 2023, albeit most not being the elite transfers, but more supporting pieces (i.e. CJ Fredrick) and developmental players (i.e. Jacob Toppin). That said, two transfers have been the leading scorer for Kentucky in three straight seasons, Oscar Tshiebwe and Antonio Reeves.

Calipari is looking more for a middle ground between young talent and transfers. “I like the combination of both. We just got to get the right transfers.”

Program Changes

When you are winning, you have more freedom, but when you have just one NCAA Tournament win in the last four seasons, you’re not going to have that luxury. This was not publicly said by Calipari, but more oversight will come as a result of his meeting with Barnhart on Tuesday afternoon.

Expect 1-2 staff changes and likely a support staff change. One of the staff changes should be filled with a defensive mind, and the support staff should be (suggestion) filled with someone in a general manager-type role. There will also be some operation changes such as having a more definitive practice schedule, rather than getting a text the day before/of, and some changes with the NIL model.

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Men's Basketball

Mitch Barnhart Speaks On John Calipari Coming Back As Kentucky Basketball Coach, “He Will Return”

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Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart confirms that John Calipari will return as Kentucky Wildcats basketball coach.
Mike Weaver/Special to the Courier Journal

After days of speculation, Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart confirms that John Calipari will be back, coaching his 16th season for the Kentucky Wildcats. The two had a conversation at Barnhart’s farm on Tuesday afternoon.

“As we normally do at the end of every season, Coach Calipari and I have had conversations about the direction of our men’s basketball program and I can confirm that he will return for his 16th season as our head coach,” Barnhart said in a statement.

While there was some fan outcry for a head coaching change, there was no real indication that a change would be made.

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Barnhart was put in a difficult situation. Calipari has not led the Wildcats to the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2019, but he is one of just a few active Hall of Fame coaches. With no clear option as a replacement, Barnhart decided to retain Calipari for another season.

Kentucky Insider has been told that Tuesday’s meeting between the two was “good”, despite some disagreement. As a result of the meeting, there will be some expected changes in the program, specifically some staff changes, and changes in day-to-day operations.

On Monday, Calipari recognized his shortcomings and closed out his show with a commitment to the Kentucky fans:

“That standard of national titles has been here from coach Rupp on. The only thing I am saying to all our fans. I’m going to work… That is a commitment that I give to the fans. I love it. This is what I want. This is it. Let’s come together and let’s do something.”

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Calipari is set to meet with players individually on Wednesday to discuss their stay/go decisions. The process of rebuilding next year’s roster (and staff) begins now.

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