Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Paul Finebaum Says Kentucky “Must” Make the Sweet 16, Talks What an Early Exit Would Mean for the Program

Published

on

© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Make no question about it, there is a lot of pressure on John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats heading into this postseason. After a 9-16 season in 2021 and a first-round upset last season, Wildcat fans are growing impatient with the lack of NCAA Tournament success and the national media can feel the unrest.

SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum spoke on this earlier this week, explaining that Kentucky needs to r. “I don’t think there’s a specific end date for Kentucky… this isn’t you have to get to the championship game, you have to get to the Final Four but you better look good in the tournament,” Finebaum said.

“You better not lose in the first or second round. You have to get out of that first weekend. For Kentucky Basketball the fact that I’m saying get to the Sweet 16 is the absolute must thing, it just shows you far this program has fallen, if they’re out of this thing by the end of the weekend, it’s a bad sign.”

Advertisement

This season was considered a “revenge-like” season for the Wildcats, bringing back some key returnees and adding two five-star freshmen and some talented transfers. Given the mixture of talent and experience, Kentucky was ranked fourth in the preseason rankings. Just a few weeks in, it was clear that something was off, which led to the culmination of a loss to a very bad South Carolina team at home.

Since then, Kentucky regrouped and found something, battling their way to a 6 seed in the tournament, despite injuries. Yet, as we learned last season the tournament is the beacon for success at Kentucky making this one of the most important postseasons in UK basketball history and the John Calipari era.

“Looking good” is a reasonable request, but this team has been plagued with inconsistencies and it has been hard to get a true read on them. As John Calipari said after the SEC Tournament loss to Vanderbilt, “We’ve shown who we are. We can beat anybody. But I hate to tell you, we can get beat by anybody.”

One thing is for sure, Kentucky has shown they play better with their backs against the wall and they are taking that mantra into the NCAA Tournament. When Jacob Toppin was asked if he was “pissed off” about what happened last season, he provided a fiery response.

Advertisement

“Yeah 100 percent, we have a chip on our shoulder. The guys that were here last year, we’ve engraved that into the newer guys. Everyone’s in a great mindset to show what we can do tomorrow.”

This is a very strong statement by Finebaum, someone who has been critical of Kentucky in the past. However, his quote may reveal some truth.

To say Kentucky has fallen off as a program is just not true, but to say we must get to a Sweet 16, there may be some truth in there. There’s a lot of pressure on Kentucky this weekend that’s for sure. They will have to come out loose and play like they have nothing to lose.

Advertisement

Men's Basketball

Adou Thiero Enters Transfer Portal, Keeps Options Open

Published

on

© 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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

John Calipari Highlights Changes for Next Season

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

“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.”

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

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

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.”

Advertisement

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.

Continue Reading

Trending