Courtside with the Kentucky Wildcats

While lamenting the poor defense against Sam Houston State, UK Coach John Calipari noted the improved offense in Thursday’s game.

“We didn’t take any bad shots,” he said.

Calipari said he did talk to point guards John Wall and Eric Bledsoe about their 12 turnovers. “Nine of them there was no need,” the UK coach said. “They were trying to make a hard play rather than an easy play.”

But otherwise, Calipari expressed satisfaction with the improved post-up game.

Other than reducing turnovers, he’d also like more conservative play at crunch time. “What we don’t know is when we’re up 20,” he said. “Shoot it quick? Why shoot it quick?”

Watching tape of Kentucky’s victory over Sam Houston State confirmed John Calipari’s post-game comments about poor defense. The Bearkats made  18 three-point baskets, a record for a UK opponent in Rupp Arena.

In the last two games, Kentucky has given up 33 three-point baskets.

“No sense of urgency defensively,” Calipari said the game tape revealed. “We didni’t talk defensively. Absolutely no communication on the court. We stopped playing as much as any team I’ve ever coached. The transition defense may be (even) worse.”

Good transition defense begins with taking good shots and not turning over the ball, the UK coach said. The Cats had 23 turnovers against Sam Houston State.

In the half-court set, Calipari said he wanted the Cats to challenge three-point shooters and make them put the ball on the floor. But UK did not necessarily want to invite drives to the basket, which could cause foul trouble for the big men.

Rider, 2-1, presents a three-point threat. In winning at Mississippi State on Nov. 13, Rider made 10 of 16 three-point shots. In a victory over Lehigh, Rider set a school record with 16 three-point baskets.

As Kentucky works to make improvement, Calipari advised fans how to watch the games. “Do what I do,” he said. “Hold onto your seat and hold your eyes shut.”

Although Kentucky clearly needs better defense after giving up 33 three-point baskets in the last two games, Coach John Calipari did not plan a tough practice for Friday.

He’s more concerned about his team being rested and ready to play Rider on Saturday afternoon, which will be UK’s second game within 36 hours.

Calipari said UK would watch tape and work some on transition defense in Friday’s practice.

After noting that he basically played only five players against Sam Houston State on Thursday, Calipari said, “My concern is just to be fresh for the game (against Rider).”

Such concerns will vanish come semester break. Calipari talked about three-a-day workouts  in that period. UK will be much better team in January, he said.

Consensus top 10 prospect Tobias Harris just announced that he signed with Tennessee.

Harris, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Glen Head, N.Y., had narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Maryland, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Harris signing on the last day of the week-long November period meant that Kentucky had one signee: wing Stacey Poole, Jr., from Jacksonville, Fla.

Kentucky is involved with several highly-rated prospects in the high school class of 2010. Those prospects, which include forward Terrance Jones and C.J. Leslie, plus guards Josh Selby, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb, are expected to sign in the spring.

Harris is rated in the top 10 of the 2010 class by ESPNU (No. 7), Rivals.com (No. 5) and Scout.com (No. 2 power forward).

Rivals. com called Harris the “best scoring four-man in the class.”

Earlier this year, Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com likened Harris to former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony. Each was a 6-8 forward with a knack for scoring, the analyst said.

An injury kept freshman Jon Hood on the bench for Kentucky’s first two games,  UK Coach John Calipari said on Wednesday.

Hood missed about three days of practice, Calipari said. He did not say what the injury was.

Hood

Sophomore Darnell Dodson, who on first impression seems to be Kentucky’s most reliable perimeter shooter, came into the Miami (Ohio) game with 6:50 left in the first half.

When asked about that belated entry, UK Coach John Calipari said that he was not happy with Dodson.

“I was so mad at him earlier in the week,” Calipari said. “I said things I haven’t said here. I said words I haven’t used here.”

Calipari did not say why Dodson drew his ire.

Calipari also noted that Darius Miller’s improved play contributed to the decision not to play Dodson early. Miller had two points and UK trailed 36-18 when Dodson entered the game.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari said on Wednesday that his team could use drill work to improve fundamentals and scrimmage play to improve their sense of rhythm.

Given that choice, Calipari said he would emphasis scrimmaging.

“We need a better rhythm,” he said. “Our rhythm stinks.”

Calipari described the Cats’ sense of pace as “We race up, that means shoot it fast.”

Wrong, the UK coach said.

With his freshman-oriented team, Calipari said he figures he will spend an hour a day showing the players video tape of how the game should be played. He said he spent about 10 minutes per day in such activity with his older, more experienced Memphis teams.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari became shot doctor with wing Darius Miller. By prescribing Miller shoot while rising straight up, the player got better results against Miami (Ohio).

Miller made four shots against Miami after going scoreless in the opener against Morehead State. The adjustment to stop fading back on the shot made the difference, player and coach said.

“I was shooting kind of short when I was fading  back,” Miller said.

The UK player acknowledged that his confidence suffered a bit while he struggled to shoot better.

Calipari said he saw two weeks ago that Miller’s shoulders were pulling back as he shot.

“I told him, ‘Don’t change your shot,’ ” the UK coach said. ” ‘Don’t throw your shoulder back.’ When you do that, there’s only one way to shoot it: flat.”

Earlier, Miller said he was trying to find his niche in UK’s new dribble-drive offense. On Wednesday, he said he would not initiate offense, but would be ready to take passes and score.

“I just have to be ready to finish plays,” he said. “John (Wall) and Eric (Bledsoe) do a great job creating.”

Sports Illustrated magazine’s annual college basketball issues hits newsstands this week.

A news release sent yesterday revealed that Kentucky will be No. 5 in its top 25 ranking.

UK big man Patrick Patterson graces the cover. It’s one of six regional covers.

Besides the team preview (which focuses on freshman point guard John Wall), Sports Illustrated also had a three-page story on the relationship between UK Coach John Calipari and Louisville Coach Rick Pitino.

Miami (Ohio) tied a record for a Kentucky opponent by making 15 three-point shots in the game Monday night.

The Redhawks made 15 of 26 three-point shots.

Georgia made 15 of 30 three-point shots against Kentucky in the 1998-99 season.

Kentucky won both games. No Georgia player matched Nick Winbush’s eight-of-10 three-point shooting against UK on Monday night.

Two opponents last season made 14 three-point shots against Kentucky. V.M.I. made 14 of 31 and Mississippi State made 14 of 27. UK lost both of those games.

For Georgia, D.A. Layne made five of 11 and Jumaine Jones made four of nine on Jan. 26, 1999.