SOURCE: Cal is getting back to old Cal

We are still four months away from meaningful Kentucky basketball games but already this offseason has been a roller coaster. But not a modern breathtaking one you might find at Disney World. This roller coaster has been more like the ones found at a neglected amusement park, rickety, unkempt, and comprised of more rust than metal. But as the late JT would have told Big Blue Nation through the lulls of roster uncertainty, “Cal’s got this.”

Right now, JT’s classic phrase appears to be holding true. With several late but quality additions to fill out what was essentially a seven-man squad just a few weeks ago, Calipari is walking around with his head held a little higher than usual.

If his half-hour press conference wasn’t evidence enough that Cal likes his team, KSR founder Matt Jones shared intel from an inside source that the program is in the midst of a paradigm shift back toward the gold standard.

According to the source, “Cal is getting back to old Cal.”

While that isn’t exactly inside rife with specificity, it is at least an acknowledgment that Calipari hasn’t quite been himself over the last few seasons, and getting back to his old self would be a huge positive.

One of the initiators of the shift has been the presence of the new assistant coach, John Welch. According to Jones’ source, “Welch has been huge. He is analytical and Cal trusts him.”

Analytics, especially with regard to shot selection, is not exactly something Kentucky has embraced in terms of basketball’s evolution. It will be very interesting how Welch’s approach will play out on the court.

Cal has his type of players back too

On top of Welch’s presence, Jones’ source claims one of the reasons for Cal’s newfound bravado is his players. This is not just the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, it is full of guys who some might say, “Got that dog in them.”

According to the source, “DJ [Wagner] and [Justin] Edwards are dudes like we used to get. They are crazy good and are dogs. You are [going to] like how Adou looks too. [Antonio] Reeves and Reed [Sheppard] are [going to] make shots…[This season] will be all about [how good the frontcourt is] because our 1-3 are [going to] be real.”

As exciting as it is to introduce a basketball mind like John Welch, this report on the type of basketball skill and attitude this team will bring is even more encouraging.

The Canadian GLOBL games are just around the corner just in time for what appears to be the most thrilling part of Kentucky’s off-season roller coaster.

Also from same person:

“DJ and Edwards are dudes like we used to get. They are crazy good and are dogs. You are gonna like how Adou looks too. Reeves and Reed are gonna make shots…will be all about the Bigs because our 1-3 is gonna be real”

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) July 1, 2023