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Chris Livingston Emerging as “That Guy”, John Calipari Says He Was Listening to “Too Many Voices”

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2 years ago

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Livingston came to Kentucky this season as a five-star freshman and McDonald’s All-American. Typically, a player of that caliber is given some room for error from John Calipari, but not Livingston.

Through the first 21 games of the season, Livingston was plagued with inconsistency and was relegated to playing an average of just sixteen minutes per game. In that span, his play did not make a case for more playing time either, averaging just 5.3 points on 2.7 rebounds on 39.7 percent shooting.

However, given injuries to CJ Fredrick, Cason Wallace, and Sahvir Wheeler over the past few weeks, Livingston has been given more minutes and has made the best of his opportunity. This culminated in his first collegiate double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds – outrebounded Oscar Tshiebwe – in a win over No. 10 Tennessee.

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After the game, Rick Barnes jokingly said, “I am not sure what Calipari was thinking earlier in the year.” Fortunately, Calipari did give some insight and some context to Livington’s struggles. “Cares, like too much. Was listening to too many voices,” he said after the game.

Overcoming those challenges has helped Livingston develop as a player, and he recognizes that. “I’d be lying if I said I was just happy-go-lucky the whole time,” Livingston said when reflecting on his season struggles. “I waited my turn, trusted the process.”

At 6-foot-6, 220-pounds, Livingston has had the physical tools, but is now starting to put the rest of his game together. Arguably the biggest piece of that was building his confidence. “Building confidence. He was doing it in practice, but then you have to have a demonstrated performance in the game,” Calipari said.

Over the last six games, he has been demonstrating what he is capable of on the basketball court, almost doubling his production with 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 56.7 percent shooting. Playing the best basketball of the season, “He’s now that guy,” Calipari said.

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No one is more proud of Livingston than his mother Julia and Grandpa Joe, who were in tears after his performance against Tennessee.

“I’ve always known he had this in him,” Julia told Kyle Tucker of The Athletic. “I’ve just been waiting for this moment. It’s surreal because I think back to when he was playing for the Tiny Tots as a 6-year-old. To think how far he’s come and that he’s here doing this, it’s just amazing. I’ve been in tears, thanking God for the opportunity, because I knew it was coming.”

If you attend a game, you may hear a ‘Boyeeeeeee!’ from Grandpa Joe, something he has cheered on Livingston with since he was little. “That way, instead of telling him what to do and making him nervous, I just yell, ‘Boyeeeeeee!’ to give him encouragement and let him know we’re there.”

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Players Say They Think About Winning National Championship “Every Second”

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3 days ago

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November 18, 2024

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Kentucky basketball players celebrate after their big over Duke.
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The expectations at Kentucky are the highest of any school in the country, and there is good reason why. The winningest college program ever. Eight national titles, under five different coaches. Seventeen Final Four appearances. You get it, a lot of success.

Fans want the players to have those same expectations. Despite not having the elite talent or preseason hype of great Kentucky teams past, this year’s team still has their eyes set on doing something “people will remember forever”, winning a national championship.

Asked on social media, if hanging banner #9 was all the players thought about “every second”, Ansley Almonor had a response.

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“We do.”

It takes a lot to win a national championship, including some luck, but this team is certainly going to be loved for their desire to live out their dream of playing at Kentucky and their unselfishness. Those two things can take them a long way this season .

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart Seemingly Takes Shot at John Calipari, “Anybody Can Recruit”

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5 days ago

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November 16, 2024

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Mitch Barnhart sitting next to basketball coach John Calipari.
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John Calipari and Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart had their differences over fifteen years, but success can hide a lot of things. Not that they hated each other, but they each had vastly different personalities. As that success weaned towards the end of Calipari’s tenure, those issues started to be noticed publically.

If you need evidence of that, despite their efforts to dispute it, there is the infamous press conference where Barnhart talked about “entitled” coaches, shortly after Calipari publicly called for a new practice facility. Then, there were multiple times when Calipari expressed that the administration was not on the same page and that he was facing “headwinds”.

That said, Calipari is now at Arkansas, but those differences and some disdain remain. During an interview on the Kentucky Football pregame show, Barnhart seemingly took a shot at Calipari when asked about Mark Pope’s recruiting philosophy and prioritizing fit.

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“I tell people all the time, ‘Anybody can recruit, not everybody can evaluate,’” Barnhart said. “You can recruit. You can be phenomenal at bringing people to your program. But if it does not fit you, it’s really not helpful.”

Of course, Calipari is one of the best, if not the best, recruiters in college basketball history. At times, he prioritized talent and athleticism over fit.

Quite the coincidence.

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Men's Basketball

ESPN’s Jay Williams Gives Message to Kentucky Fans, “You’re Not Going to Like It…”

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6 days ago

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November 15, 2024

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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams gives a message to Kentucky fans after the Wildcats win over Duke. "You won't like it."
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Back in April, opposing fanbases like Duke, told Kentucky fans to “cope with Pope” following the hire of Mark Pope and the corresponding initial shock. On Tuesday, those same fanbases had to watch as Mark Pope outcoached Jon Scheyer and Duke in the final minutes of the Champion’s Classic to get his first marque win in just his third game at Kentucky.

Of course, shortly after the game, Duke fans began to rationalize the loss by highlighting their team’s youth. While true, it sounded like an echo chamber of what Kentucky fans said for years under John Calipari. One notable example was former Blue Devil Jay Williams.

At halftime, while Duke was leading 46-37, Williams called this year’s Duke team the most talented since the 2001 team that he was a part of at halftime. To his credit, he complimented Kentucky on the comeback victory, specifically on their offense and maturity, but then 36 hours later he posted a message to Kentucky fans on social media.

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“Let me put you on to something,” Williams started. “Whether you like it or not, networks are going to sell Cooper Flagg. He’s going to be the number one pick in the draft. You’re going to talk about whether he won the or whether he lost the game, regardless of the outcome.”

“You’re not going to like it. There should be more kudos to Mark Pope and Kentucky,” Williams continued. “Regardless of whether you won the game or not, they’re still going to sell Cooper Flagg because he is selling the sport. Sorry.”

William’s statement is true. That said, it comes off as ‘sour grapes’ about losing. Cooper Flagg is a great talent and will likely be the first pick in the NBA Draft, but most Kentucky fans would say they would much rather have the win than the marketing.

Futhermore, Kentucky and its ‘brand’ has raised the level of multiple players and coaches, and will continue to do so. A deeper impact than Cooper Flagg will have on Duke in just one season.

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