How John Calipari is keeping Kentucky loose ahead of 1st Round game vs. Providence

This time last year, John Calipari talked repeatedly about how he was trying to keep his team loose ahead of the first-round game vs. Saint Peter’s. That obviously didn’t work, and as Kentucky faces another first-round game — and potentially, another first-round loss — Calipari is doubling down on his mission. So far, his players say it’s working.

“Yesterday, a moment that really stuck out to me was, on the bus after team dinner we were all having really a good time on the bus joking around with each other,” Junior forward and team captain Lance Ware said. “Super loose, high energy. Kind of just ready and trying to embrace the moment.”

“A moment that kind of stood out to me before practice he kind of just showed not like big impactful clips, but just moments of past teams,” senior guard CJ Fredrick said. “They were just having so much fun and smiling and having joy. That was a moment that stood out to me. It was just kind of telling us, this is supposed to be a fun time. Smile, have fun, and do what you guys love to do.”

“He’s done a great job,” senior center Oscar Tshiebwe said. “He’s done a great job of bringing us together. He just talked about, especially with freshmen, meeting with them, helping them to know that this, the journey we’re about to go through is not easy. I see good things from Coach and I really appreciate everything he’s doing for these kids.”

“Just letting us know the things that are important at the moment, letting us know what we’ve got to focus on,” freshman forward Chris Livingston said of Calipari’s advice. “Not looking ahead in the tournament, being loose, taking it game by game. Really just focusing on our corner of the bracket and not looking anywhere else, just focusing on ourselves. I think he’s done a great job of just getting our mindset on one game at a time.”

Calipari also brought up last night’s dinner, specifically, how his players were talking to one another instead of listening to music or looking at their phones.

“Excited to be here,” Cal said to start his press conference. “My team is excited to be here. Last night’s dinner was more chatter at the table for the players than I’ve heard in a long time. I don’t know if that means they’re a little nervous, but they were no headphones, and they were doing stuff together, which made me feel really good. I slept better last night because of that.”

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Calipari wants players to enjoy full NCAA Tournament experience

Going into last year’s game vs. Saint Peter’s, only a few guys on Kentucky’s roster had NCAA Tournament experience, which Calipari said probably contributed to their nerves (along with Oscar’s premonition?). Now, several players have experience in the tournament, but not the warm and fuzzy kind. To make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, Calipari and veteran leaders like Ware, Toppin, and Fredrick are doing their best to keep things light going into tomorrow.

“I remember last year, we were a little tense,” Toppin said. “Before the game, a lot of guys were tense, kind of too serious, and not living in the moment. They were too worried about the outcome. And right now, I don’t think any of us is too worried about the outcome. Right now, we’re just worried about fighting each possession and playing, winning basketball for 40 minutes.”

“Every coach in this tournament has butterflies,” Calipari said. “Whether they lost last year or they won the whole tournament or they’re in the Final Four, they have butterflies. Their teams have butterflies. That’s part of what this is.

“I want this team to fully experience the NCAA tournament. Not deal with, well, what if and they’re saying this and that. No. My job is to shield them from all that stuff and make sure this is an experience that you go through that you’re fortunate to be in this and really enjoy the experience. Don’t listen to all the outside voices and — it doesn’t matter. You play the games.”

Tomorrow night will tell the story, Calipari and the team seem to be in a good place right now. Thursday’s open practice was full of smiles, laughter, and even some dancing from Oscar Tshiebwe.

“I feel like together as a whole we’re in a great mindset ready for this game,” Toppin said. “We’ve prepared. We’ve had two great practices. We’re going to have another great practice today. We’re just all in the right mindset of staying connected, fighting through adversity if it comes, staying humble and just living in the moment.”

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