John Calipari makes joke about SEC scheduling, addresses defensive scheme vs. Alabama

Kentucky picked up a 66-55 victory on the road against Alabama on Saturday. Following the game, Kentucky head coach John Calipari addressed his team’s defense against Alabama, as well as joking about the way SEC schedules games with the frequency the Wildcats and Crimson Tide meet.

Kentucky’s defense held Alabama to 28.1 percent shooting from the field, including a 10 percent mark from beyond the arc. The Crimson Tide also made 66.7 percent of their free throws. Part of Kentucky’s game plan entering the game was taking away the three ball and open layups, and Calipari was pleased overall with the execution of that.

“We were really talking about we’re going to make them make tough twos,” Calipari said. “Let’s get out on them and make them make tough twos. We don’t want to open up our stance and give them layups. But we did some. A couple guys just can’t keep retreading and open, and a guy goes and shoots a layup. They got a couple of those. But all in all, we kept them from being able to do that. And they missed some open threes. It wasn’t their night to make threes.”

The win propels Kentucky to 19-4 on the season and 8-2 against SEC opponents. Alabama now sits at 14-9 and 4-6 in the SEC.

Calipari joked about how often Kentucky and Alabama play each other

Kentucky and Alabama will face off again in two weeks, on Saturday, Feb. 19. Calipari took a moment to joke about the frequency Kentucky Alabama meet, and he appeared shocked when a reporter said that the two teams will face off three times next season.

“Did we play these guys twice last year? And we play them twice again this year,” Calipari said. “What is that? We play them twice? Do we play them twice next year?”

When Calipari was told that Kentucky and Alabama will play three times next season, he was shocked.

“Three? Wow,” he responded.

Kentucky is playing good basketball right now and has risen in the polls in recent weeks. But right now, Calipari’s only focus is preparing Kentucky to be ready for the grind that will come once March hits.

“So my goal is March, it’s always been March,” he added. “How do you advance, how do you be able to play six games. Two games each weekend, how can you get your team to be consistent enough to where you don’t have any drop off when you play. And that’s how my whole mindset is all the time. It’s not just playing one game, and that’s exciting and all, this is where we are.

“But what’s great about how we’re playing is, everybody that calls me says, ‘I love the way you’re playing. Fun to watch, they pass to each other, your offense is the best I’ve seen.’ They’re going nuts about how we’re playing. And then the other thing they’re saying is they fight. They’re not afraid to compete.