John Calipari had every Kentucky player sign a board this week to show they're all locked in

Kentucky’s home loss to Tennessee last weekend stung. The Wildcats gave up 103 points against UT, the third consecutive game at Rupp Arena allowing at least 94 points. While Kentucky’s offense still looked in sync — as it has for most of the season — the defense appeared to somehow be getting worse. Points were coming way too easily to the opponent.

A day after falling to the Volunteers, head coach John Calipari brought all of his players into his office. He had a message to relay: either buy into the gameplan right here and right now, or get ready to never see the floor again.

From the starters to the walk-ons, every single player signed the board. Kentucky responded emphatically just a couple of days later. The Wildcats smacked Vanderbilt in Nashville on Tuesday, winning by 32 points while clicking on all cylinders. The defense was improved (Vandy shot just 35.5 percent overall), energy levels were noticeably higher (24 more fastbreak points), and 50/50 balls went in the road team’s favor (12 more second-chance points) after none did against Tennessee.

Message received.

“This week before the game we signed a board in Cal’s room like if you’re all in with the team. Everybody signed it so now we gotta hold each other accountable,” Freshman Jordan Burks said on Friday. “You signed the board that you’re all in. So if you’re the only one that’s not all in, you’re not with us. All of us was locked in and together.”

“Cal put on the board — not a contract, but it was basically saying you are gonna do your job,” Fellow freshman Aaron Bradshaw added. “And everybody has a job on this team. There’s playmakers, there’s play finishers, play starters, and if you’re one of those guys, you have to do it. Do your job.”

Being able to “do our job” goes beyond just playing basketball, too. It requires dedication to the little things. Communicating better is one of them. Being connected as one collective unit and holding each other accountable are in the same vein. The effort has to be there at all times.

“It’s all about talking, communicating,” Bradshaw, who mentioned that the entire team has been talking more on and off the court as of late, said. “Because you can say something, but then you don’t do it. I could say left left left left, and don’t move to the left side. It’s all about communicating and putting the effort in. So I feel like if guards and bigs communicate and put a little bit more effort in, we can stop anybody.“

Did it help that Calipari implemented this “accountability board” right before Kentucky took on the worst team in the SEC? Sure. Vanderbilt has just six wins on the season. UK was expected to cruise. But Calipari is playing the long game to get the most out of this group come tournament time. So far, his players are buying into the message behind the board.

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