Rick Barnes makes friendly dig about John Calipari not utilizing Chris Livingston early in season: 'I'm not sure what Cal was thinking'

Kentucky knocked off Tennessee 66-54 on Saturday to secure a massively important win for its NCAA Tournament resume. And John Calipari earned a friendly dig from Tennessee coach Rick Barnes in the process.

One of the real stars of Saturday’s showdown was Kentucky’s Chris Livingston, who provided 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for the Wildcats in the win.

“I think he made some good plays and I thought he was back cutting and moving,” Barnes said after the game. “He gets a double-double, I’m not sure what Cal was thinking earlier in the year. I mean 12 and 10’s a pretty good night.”

Barnes’ playful poke at Calipari’s lineup decisions was just that, as the Tennessee coach was more than respectful of the Kentucky team that beat his by double-digits.

And sometimes players just get lost in the shuffle a bit as the season wears on, thus Barnes’ friendly dig.

“I mean you could say the same thing about me and Jahmai Mashack,” Barnes pointed out. “Guys get out there, for whatever reason they get settled in, they find a role, they find their niche, so you see guys continue to grow with it. The season is a long year and you go back to where we started, I mean, roles have changed on our team.”

Kentucky has certainly had an up and down season and has been one of the teams for the last few weeks that has flirted with different sides of the NCAA Tournament as wins and losses come in.

Most will have the Wildcats firmly in the field after Saturday’s win, so Livingston’s contributions were huge in that right.

Friendly dig aside, Barnes tipped his cap to a tremendous performance by Livingston.

“I’m sure Cal’s had to deal with injury, the bug and all that,” Barnes said. “What it does it gives someone a chance to go in and see what they can do and slowly but surely they can find a niche, and I think he has. He impacts the game, that’s the one thing for certain.”