Calipari Talks About Louisville

UK Head Coach John Calipari talking about getting ready for Rick Pitino.

On if the freshmen are ready for this intense of a rivalry game ...
"I don't know. We had a day yesterday where we didn't beat them up because we just played a game the day before. We have a practice today where we are going to try to go fairly hard, but they have no idea. We are playing a ranked team. They are well coached, they make 3's, they create havoc, you know they maybe a top 15 team. The more tape I watch, the more impressed I am of them. Guys are just doing what they do for them. The big guys are banging and blocking, they take charges and flops; they get up in you. They play."

On what he remembers from last year's game with Louisville ...
"I can't really remember, but I knew everybody made it out to be the biggest game of the century, which I just try not to do. I say for us it's the next game. I have to have my guys ready for every game. Every game we play is someone's super bowl. The next game will be someone's super bowl. Every game we play in the league is someone's super bowl. Every game we played is in a sold out arena, and it's the biggest game on their schedule. We can't make one game more important than any other, but in this state, we understand and the players will understand when the game starts. The guys that don't understand it will feel it. You will feel it."

On his impressions of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino ...
"I think he is doing a great job. Again, everybody thought he lost all of those guys, and they weren't going to be that good, and shoot, they are better. Typically what (Coach Pitino) does is he gets his team, he figures them out, they play to their strengths, and that's what they are doing. They are playing to their strengths. They do it very well, and they are doing it as well as anybody in the country. They play to win."

On how he will approach this game with his team ...
"This game will be approached like every other game. And I say it's the next game on our schedule. If we win, it's a huge game. But, it's really just the next game on our schedule. The preparation on how we have gone after it in practice, it's all going to be the same. We never change that depending on our opponent. My biggest thing is that you have to be ready. The intensity of the game is going to be crazy. You better be ready to play with holds, and pushes, and shoves. It's going to be a physical game. You better be able to finish around the rim, because if you think you are going to be able to go up, and nobody is going to go after it, and nobody is going to hit your body, (you're mistaken). If you are going to rebound, you better get on a body because that body is going to be on you."

On Louisville's perimeter shooting, and how that affects the way UK will play defense ...
"No, we won't change. What I will tell you is that if they make 17 contested shots, we are going to lose. Now, that's unless they shoot 70. In all likelihood, they are going to shoot 30 3's. They are shooting them whether you are on them or not. They are shooting 30 3's. If they make them, it's been a great start, who's next? I mean, when you are playing these types of teams that will shoot that many, some of it's that you are doing the best you can, but they are hitting tear-drop's off the lights and going in. They are capable of it."

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