John Calipari 'kind of liking' where Kentucky is at this point of the season

It was a complete team effort for the Wildcats as No. 14 Kentucky staved off No. 9 North Carolina for a late 87-83 statement win in the 2023 CBS Sports Classic.

Four players scored in double figures as the Wildcats leaned on freshmen Rob Dillingham and DJ Wagner for scoring — but after the game, head coach John Calipari made sure to rave about the one guy that played the least for Kentucky on Saturday.

“How about Ugonna [Onyenso]? He just started practicing. He got the flu and could not travel with us,” Calipari revealed. “He flew in this morning, went to the shootaround, had to do what? Went in the bathroom. I can’t play him. He said, ‘I’m going to be fine.’ He helped us. Aaron [Bradshaw] gets a fourth foul, I’ve got to play him. I’m happy about him.”

Onyenso made his season debut for Kentucky after injuring his foot in the offseason. He finished his season-opener with nine minutes played and finished the game with one point, assist and rebound each. Still, the 7-foot sophomore provided a body down low while UK’s other 7-footer Bradshaw — who eventually fouled out — was forced to sit.

While he wasn’t a massive contributor, Calipari believes Saturday was the perfect start for Onyenso’s 2023-24 season.

“The plays he makes, DJ [Wagner] makes, Antonio [Reeves] makes, the rebounds, the stuff that he was doing, the free throw miss — but they balled,” Calipari continued.

“I’m telling you, that is a veteran team that came in with one idea — they were going to be physical with us. That’s what they did. You know what, we held our own. This is a group of young talented basketball players that are still learning. We’re not near where we should be or where we will be, but I’m kind of liking where we are at this stage of the season. But now it’s time to say, ‘Okay, let’s go.'”

Despite a bad loss against UNC Wilmington to begin December, Kentucky is going to enter SEC play with two strong wins over top 10 opponents in Miami and North Carolina. Two more games this month against Louisville and Illinois State will round out the 2023 calendar year for the Wildcats before beginning 2024 with their SEC opener on the road against Florida.

To Big Blue Nation, the Florida game might as well be a year away because everyone in the Commonwealth will be watching Kentucky head to Louisville to take on their in-state rivals. Tip-off is scheduled for this Thursday at 6 p.m. ET and will be aired live on ESPN.