John Calipari addresses if this Kentucky team can play smaller lineups

Kentucky head coach John Calipari has a unique squad this season. Thus, many expect the 64-year-old head coach to employ unique strategies.

One of those unique strategies has been fully displayed this week at GLOBL JAM. With 7-footers Ugonna Onyenso and Aaron Bradshaw out due to injuries, UK has been forced to utilize a small-ball lineup. The new look fits Kentucky well.

John Calipari wants to do both

The Cats are 2-0 at the Toronto-based event, defeating Team Germany and Team Canada. After UK’s win on Thursday, Calipari addressed the idea of using an undersized lineup in the future.

“I don’t know if you have to with Adou [Thiero] playing the way he’s playing. I mean, Adou is 6-foot-7. The question is, we got two 7-footers, and they’re both good. They’re both different,” Calipari said.

Calipari couldn’t be more spot-on. Onyenso is a shot-blocking machine, who is limited outside the paint. Bradshaw is an energetic, new-school center, who can knock down a 3-pointer if necessary. Both would provide Kentucky with much-needed rebounding.

Despite Kentucky winning both games at GLOBL JAM, the Cats were out-rebounded in both contests. Even in a blowout loss, Canada snagged 14 more rebounds than Kentucky. Then again, Kentucky won.

Finding balance

Thus, the question arises: when does rebounding become more important than scoring, and how can Kentucky find a balance between the two? Calipari believes it will simply take time.

“It is July, and I had 10 practice days. So, we create space, which is what I’ve done in the past. That’s the dribble drive. That’s positionless,” Calipari said. “We haven’t even started doing the five-out offense yet because I didn’t have enough time.”

What Kentucky has done has been more than enough. On Thursday, UK stunned an impressive Team Canada squad in a 93-69 blowout. In the win, the Cats shot 35-72 (48%) from the field and 11-30 (36%) from beyond the arc.

For reference, Kentucky scored 93 or more points just four times last season and failed to do so once in conference play. That was with an offense installed. There’s no telling what this team is capable of. Calipari is happy with what he’s seen.

“Robert [Dillingham], DJ [Wagner], Justin [Edwards] — we got good perimeter guys right now. They’re all basketball players,” Calipari said. “These kids have really responded. It’s a really smart team.”

Kentucky will have a chance to show off its smarts once again as it continues to fight an uphill battle without its big men. The Cats will take on Team Africa at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.