Connect with us

All Sports

“I just told them after the game, I’m not cracking”

Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)

 

The last week of Kentucky basketball has been one of the worst stretches and without a doubt, the worst week of the John Calipari era.

 

For the first time since Calipari arrived in Lexington, the Wildcats dropped three consecutive games, leading most to feel the wheels have completely fallen off. However, Calipari still believes in this team and that they care about what is happening.

 

“We let go of the rope,” said Calipari. “I just told them after, I’m not cracking. We’ve been through this and I’ve coached 30 years. All I keep thinking about is how I can get these guys to play two halves like they did the first half.”

 

The Wildcats played well enough in the first half to take a 30-26 lead into the locker room but things quickly went downhill in the final twenty minutes.

 

The Aggies stormed in front and never looked back in the second half, leading by as much as 23 with 5:56 to play. Kentucky made a late run to cut the deficit to eight but it was too late, as the Aggies handed the Wildcats a third straight SEC loss, 85-74.



Despite a third straight loss, Calipari believes this team can turn things around. When asked why he believes that, he replied with the following message.

 

“Because I’ve done this 30 years. If I were a two-year coach, I’d probably be panicked right now.”

 

What does this mean moving forward? It means Kentucky has work to do if it doesn’t want to be nervous on Selection Sunday, which is four weeks away. The Wildcats will fall so far out of the polls that they likely will not return before seasons end.

 

The clouds will not break anytime soon, as the Wildcats face Auburn on the Plains Wednesday night and then return to Rupp Arena to square off with the surging Alabama Crimson Tide, who drilled Tennessee 78-50 on Saturday.

 

So, I will ask this. Do you believe Coach Cal or is this team finished?

More in All Sports