On the eve of Kentucky’s first NCAA Tournament game against Hampton, John Calipari weighed in with few a choice quotes from Louisville.
Calipari was asked about playing 90 minutes from Lexington:
“It’s all the same. This is a different deal. Everybody is in the same boat. Everybody is 0- 0. We were in the final game last year. We had ten losses. It doesn’t matter how many losses you have. Everybody is 0-0. I told the team, whatever happens, they made history. Whatever happens. I didn’t tell them, if you lose tomorrow, you make history again. So every game you play, it’s a one-game tournament. Not best of five, best of seven. It’s why all I talk about is us being at our best. If that’s not good enough, I’ll deal with it.”
“The kids that I recruited know what I’m saying. It’s no secret. I think other coaches know when I walk in and say, this isn’t for everybody. You’re everybody’s Super Bowl. If you do something stupid, they do a 30 for 30 movie on it. This ain’t for everybody. If you’re here to run around and drink and smoke and go nutty, you don’t come here. You come here to get better.”
He also talked (again) about how it’s his job to get guys ready for the NBA, where they can make up to $100 million.
“Back in the day, an NBA contract was worth $125,000. Now, a kid goes in the top five pick, he’s going to make $25 million. His next contract, if he gets a big deal, will be another 80. He made $100 million. There is things at stake for these kids and their families. I accept that. My job is to help them be the best version of themselves. Now, they have gotten the point that, if they don’t do this together, they’re hurting each other, and they know that. I want every one of these kids to achieve.”
Photo: USA Today Sports
