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Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs. Florida A&M: How to Watch and Things to Look For

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UK Athletics

Following a disappointing loss to UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic, the frustration of the Big Blue Nation feels like it is at an all-time high during the John Calipari era. However, the Kentucky Wildcats will look to get back on track against one of the worst teams in college basketball, the Florida A&M Rattlers.

Whether you are looking at KenPom, Bart Torvik, or NET Rankings, the Rattlers are ranked as one of the bottom ten teams in the country. Sitting at just 2-7, both of the team’s wins have come against non-D1 opponents.

Wednesday’s game will just be the second time the two teams have met and the first since meeting in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The matchup will also be the second game of the Unity Series, a five-year partnership with the Southwestern Athletic Conference to play an annual game between Kentucky and one of the SWAC member institutions.

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In what should be Kentucky’s easiest game of the season, let’s look at some things to watch for.

Experiment with lineups

Through ten games this season, a ‘big three’ have separated themselves for Kentucky: Oscar Tshiebwe, Cason Wallace, and Sahvir Wheeler.

In the month of December, Tshiebwe-Wallace-Wheeler have accounted for more than 56% of Kentucky’s points scored, with an average of 36.7 points per game. The rest of the team? While obviously making up the rest of the points, are shooting just 38%

With that said, Kentucky’s offense has been far from consistent and a large part of this is due to lineups. While a team’s best players will and should score the most points, Kentucky has depth and needs some players to step up and contribute consistently.

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In a game like this, the Wildcats need to use it to find lineups that work. After UCLA, one move that could prove beneficial, especially with spacing, is to play Chris Livingston at power forward along with three guards. On his call-in show on Monday, Cal suggested that he may do that.

Get Fredrick, Reeves, and Toppin a confidence boost

At the beginning of the season, with injuries keeping Oscar Tshiebwe out and Sahvir Wheeler limited, Kentucky’s offense ran through CJ Fredrick, Antonio Reeves, and Jacob Toppin.

Through two games (albeit against lower competition), the trio did not disappoint as they combined for an average of nearly 50 points per game (48.5). As of late, that has been far from the case. In December, they are averaging just 17.7 points per game on a putrid 32.2 percent shooting from the field.

With Tshiebwe and Wheeler back to full strength, it was inevitable that their production would decrease, but their drop in efficiency is what is concerning. Without these three playing at a high level, this team will not reach its full potential.

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Appearing to be shaken, Wednesday night’s game should give the opportunity to give each player plenty of run to gain some much-needed confidence as Kentucky nears closer to SEC play.

Give the fanbase some hope

As mentioned in the introduction of this article, fan morale may currently be at it’s worst in the Calipari Era.

Burn me at the stake for this, but this isn’t all on Cal. Yes, he is the head coach and deserves part of the blame and his offensive philosophy needs to change in a big way. However, I think this is the release of years of pent-up frustration from a fanbase that wants something desperately to cheer for.

  • 2018: Lost in the Elite Eight in OT to an Auburn team that UK had beaten twice. Two Auburn players went for 20+.
  • 2019: COVID stopped a Final-Four caliber team, won SEC by 3 games.
  • 2020: Worst season in UK history; Missed tournament, weird year in college basketball (Duke also missed, UNC and Kansas out first weekend)
  • 2021: Team plagued with injuries at their peak; Worst loss in postseason history; Shaedon Sharpe saga.

With that said, the Big Blue Nation wants to support this team and have a successful season, but they need something to look forward to. Florida A&M may not be a quality opponent, but a decisive blowout win could provide a stepping stone.

Kentucky Basketball vs. Florida A&M

Time/Date: 7:00 pm ET on Wednesday, December 21st, 2022.
Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
TV Channel: SEC Network
Announcers: Tom Hart, Dane Bradshaw
Online Stream: WatchESPNESPN+, SEC Network+ or ESPN app
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the UK radio network call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: SEC Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | FAMU
Team SheetsUK | FAMU
Stats To Know: UK | FAMU

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Odds: The betting line for the game has yet to be announced. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Kentucky an 99% chance of winning, and Bart Torvik guarantees a Kentucky win at 100%.

PredictionsBart Torvik picked the Bruins to win 80-49.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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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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Men's Basketball

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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