John Calipari discusses the mindset that allows Kentucky to contend with anybody

Kentucky has not had an ideal season. The Wildcats have the talent to play with anyone but the consistency has not shown itself throughout the campaign.

Head coach John Calipari discussed the up-and-down play after the team lost to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament.

“They play better when they have nothing to lose,” Calipari said. “I call it stinking thinking. You can’t worry about how you’re playing, missing a shot, you just lock into the team, do what the team needs you to do. When we play that way, we’re as good as anybody in the country. When we start thinking too much, I miss a shot, I miss a free throw, I struggle playing, we got to get through that.”

Kentucky enters the NCAA Tournament with a 21-11 record and 12-6 mark in SEC play. The team has failed to win more than four games in a row the entire season.

The Wildcats have also struggled against their highest-profile opponents, although they have played only one ranked team since the start of February. It was Tennessee, who they beat.

“We’ve shown who we are,” Calipari said. “We can beat anybody. I hate to tell you we can compete with anybody, too, if we’re not fighting, playing desperate. Refuse to lose, just do what you got to do.”

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Start times for Kentucky, other teams in East Region

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Texas Southern/Fairleigh Dickinson — March 17, 6:50 p.m., TNT

No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic — March 17, 9:20 p.m., TNT

No. 5 Duke vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts — March 16, 7:10 p.m., CBS

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Louisiana — March 16, 9:40 p.m., CBS

No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence — March 17, 7:10 p.m., CBS

No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 14 Montana State — March 17, 9:40 p.m., CBS

No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 USC — March 17, 12:15 p.m., CBS

No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Vermont — March 17, 2:45 p.m., CBS

All Times Eastern