Kentucky's Calipari wants more from his upperclassmen

Kentucky's Calipari wants more from his upperclassmen

By Brett Dawson • bdawson@courier-journal.com • January 31, 2011



LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freshmen have grabbed the headlines on John Calipari’s University of Kentucky basketball teams.

But Calipari’s asking the veterans on his second UK squad to seize the moment.

As the 10th-ranked Wildcats (16-4, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) prepare to face Mississippi (13-8, 1-5) Tuesday in Oxford, Miss., Calipari is asking for more production and more leadership from juniors Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins and senior Josh Harrellson.

“These guys are playing about as well as they’ve ever played,” Calipari said. “But we want more. I want more, because I think they’re capable of more. So when you say they haven’t ever been in this role, they haven’t. But it’s time for them to step up.”

The Cats’ top three scorers are freshmen —Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb — but Calipari wants Miller, Liggins and Harrellson to lead the way for their younger teammates.

That starts with teaching them the ins and outs of playing on the road. UK is 1-2 away from Rupp Arena in Southeastern Conference play, and Calipari said he met with his veteran players to stress that conference road games are their time to shine.

“If those freshmen play well, great,” Calipari said. “If they don’t play well, we’re fine. It ain’t gonna be a 30-point game, but at least we’ve got a chance to win anyway, because you (veteran) guys are playing. That’s the message that I’m trying to give them.”

He isn't getting it.