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Drafting an ALL Kentucky NBA All-Star Team

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No school can match the Kentucky men’s basketball team’s ability to develop players and put them in the NBA. Kentucky had 31 players on NBA teams on opening day, 6 more than the next school. Since Calipari arrived at Kentucky, NBA All-Star weekend has been well represented with Kentucky Alumni. Now that All-Star Weekend 2019 is over and with the new draft format that the NBA All-Star game is using lets draft two starting 5s to battle it out in an All Kentucky NBA All-Star game!

*Draft order notated in parenthesis

Team AD

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Captain-Anthony Davis (1): Although there is plenty of drama surrounding Davis right now and the Pelicans are outside the playoff hunt AD is putting up MVP numbers with 28.1 pts, 12.9 reb, 4.2 ast with a 30.5 player efficiency rating, ranking only behind James Harden.

Devin Booker (3): Booker has become one of the premier shooters in the NBA, even winning the 3-Point Contest last year. Booker dropped 70 points in a game to tie for the 10th most points in a single game. Booker is on track to become one of the leagues best shooting guards.

Demarcus Cousins (5): Coming off a torn Achilles in Mid-January there still questions on how impactful he can be. However, when fully healthy there is no doubt that Boogie is a top-five center in the NBA

Jamal Murray (7): The Denver Nuggets are one of the most pleasant surprises in the NBA this year, sitting in second place in the Western Conference. Murray has played an integral part in the Nugget’s run this year averaging 18.3 pts, 4.2 reb, and 5.0 ast.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9): Shai was drafted with the 11th pick in last years draft. He has hit a rookie wall but is still considered a top 10 rookie this year as an efficient point guard in the Clippers offense.

Team KAT

Captain-Karl-Anthony Towns (2): KAT has been one of the best young bigs since entering the league in 2015. Although not great defensively, KAT is average 23.1 pts, 12.0 reb, 3.2 ast and with an eighth-best player efficiency rating (25.6).

John Wall (4) INJURY REPLACEMENT-De’aaron Fox: John Wall was having another all-star year with 20.7pts and 8.7 as-before tearing his Achilles. To replace him, De’Aaron Fox who could end up being the second best player from the 2017 NBA draft. Currently averaging 17.2 pts and 7.2 ast, the Kings are flirting with a playoff berth.

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Julius Randle (6): In his first season with the Pelicans, Randle is performing at a much higher level that he did with the Lakers, averaging 20.2 pts, 9.1 reb, and 3.0 ast.

Eric Bledsoe (8): Part of the Milwaukee Bucks, with an NBA best record 43-14. Eric Bledsoe has made a resurgence as a great supporting player for Giannis Antekentumpo and the Bucks, averaging 15.8 pts, 4.5 reb, and 5.4 ast.

Willie Cauley-Stein (10): De’Aaron Fox’s teammate on the Sacramento Kings is averaging 12.7 pts and 8.5 reb to help Fox put the Kings to fight for a playoff spot for the first time since 2006.

Prediction

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No one team would dominate, but Anthony Davis would clearly be the best player on the floor. Team AD is equipped with more perimeter shooters, whereas Team KAT is better defensively and more athletic. In a typical with no offense until the final 6 minutes, I am taking Team AD with the best player on the floor and the best shooters. What’s your take?

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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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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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