INDIANAPOLIS — Kentucky and Saint Peter’s come into their first-round game of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday from opposite ends of the preparatory spectrum.
UK Coach John Calipari spoke of seeking a “free-and-loose” approach as best for his players.
“I’m not that guy: we’re going to show you,” he said at Wednesday’s news conference. “We don’t do that.”
“Anytime you get your team (to where) they’re not in that free-and-loose mode, the physiology is close to fear,” he said. “Or it’s anger or revenge and all that stuff. It’s fine when it’s going good. The minute it goes south, that same feeling turns to fear.”
Meanwhile, Saint Peter’s players spoke of playing with a metaphorical chip on their shoulders against Kentucky.
“We got something to prove,” guard Doug Edert said.
Backcourt teammate Matthew Lee echoed the sentiment. He said the objective is “to prove yourself right as much as prove other people wrong.”
Saint Peter’s Coach Shaheen Holloway said the chip on his players’ collective shoulders is ever present.
“That’s how we play,” he said. “That’s how we are. . . . A lot of my guys think they should be playing for Kentucky.”
Holloway accepts the perception that the Peacocks’ we’ll-show-you attitude is a reflection of their coach. Because he was a 5-foot-10 point guard, he said he was told what he couldn’t do. His reaction was ‘oh, yeah?,’ he said.
Of course, playing for Kentucky can mean any double dribble is subject to scrutiny.
Calipari sought to ease the burden by meeting with each player individually on Monday. He said he asked each player to explain his role. The idea seemed to be to let players know that they didn’t need to reinvent themselves in the unforgiving win-or-go-home NCAA Tournament.
The three players who participated in the news conference were asked how they defined their roles.
“My role has been consistent all year: to make shots,” Kellan Grady said, “and to help us (defensively).”
When asked about his 1-for-8 shooting (0-for-5 from three) in Kentucky’s loss to Tennessee last Saturday, Grady said, “I played like crap. I own that. I didn’t shoot well, and just didn’t have a good game.”
That said, Grady added, “I don’t think one game is definitive of the player I am. . . . The best thing I can do is put that in the rear-view mirror, obviously learn from it . . . and be more shot-ready.”
Sahvir Wheeler said he took comfort in having a familiar role.
“It’s stayed the same no matter where I’ve played the game of basketball,” he said.
That is play with pace, be disruptive on defense, find open teammates for shots, be an extension of the coaches and “play with a passion (and) with a smile on my face.”
Oscar Tshiebwe said his role was to play with energy.
Calipari suggested that the NCAA Tournament could be something of a needed reset for Kentucky. He called the loss to Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference Tournament a “Godsend” in helping in UK’s refocusing.
“The injuries to our two guards — because we survived it — we thought now they’re coming back and we’re OK,” the UK coach said. “We’re not where we were when we were going hard.”
As he’s done going into some other NCAA Tournaments, Calipari spoke of a “tweak.” This time playing with pace seemed to be the goal.
Grady dismissed the importance of seeding. UK is a No. 2 seed, Saint Peter’s a No. 15. Since 1985, 15-seeds have a record of 9-135 against 2-seeds. However, 15-seed Oral Roberts beat 2-seed Ohio State last year.
“Saint Peter’s is a very good team,” Grady said. “We can’t take seeding for granted and think this is going to be an easy task.”
However, it begins THE task for Kentucky.
“Everything I talk about is March,” Calipari said. “We don’t think of conference championships. We don’t talk of conference tournaments. Everything is to prepare us for this moment. . . .
“I think we’re ready. But we’ll see.”
Thursday
No. 2 seed Kentucky vs. No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s
What: NCAA Tournament round-of-64 East Regional game
When: 7:10 p.m.
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Records: Kentucky 26-7, Saint Peter’s 19-11
Series: First meeting
