John Calipari opens up on Kentucky's focus level

Kentucky‘s season has not gone the way head coach John Calipari or any of its players would have hoped for at the beginning of the season. While there were flashes of brilliance many times throughout the season, the Wildcats never had the consistency or focus to sustain the success.

Calipari said the team has not been good at focusing in part because they are not used to having somebody step up and take charge.

“This is all new to them,” Calipari said. “You got a lot of guys that this is the first time they’re witnessing or being in a position where one of you got to step up. Last game, not only did we miss the free throws, no one stepped up. Somebody go make three straight baskets. We missed five straight shots. That’s important.”

Kentucky, which is the sixth seed in the East Region, opens the NCAA Tournament against Providence.

“We got the guys,” Calipari said. “I sent them a text today. That went why we’re capable of doing this and I went through every player and what they add and what they’ve been able to do. All of them including the walk ons. All that we’ve been through, there have been personal attacks. They went through a ton. Who’s more prepared than us going through the mental toughness that you need to overcome some of this stuff?”

John Calipari said Kentucky staff is going to do ‘everything we can’ to get his team ready

Kentucky has time to right the ship and make this season a memorable one with a strong NCAA Tournament.

One way Calipari is getting the team ready is by naming forwards Jacob Toppin and Lance Ware as captains for the rest of the season. He doesn’t normally name captains but he said he did it because he believes those two guys will be able to hold the rest of the roster accountable.

“We’re going to do everything we can to prepare ’em,” Calipari said. “I named captains. It’s a different way of doing things. You’re more of a cheerleader. If you have to really get on a guy, take them out. Just take them out. At times this year, we were down to two and the rent was due and we didn’t have many guys. So you’re begging guys and you’re being aggressive with guys to get them over the hump. Not now. Do what you’re supposed to do. Get it done. You know what’s expected. Go get it done.”