Cal: I’m a better coach

In response to a reporter’s question, Kentucky Coach John Calipari said he’s a better coach than when he guided Massachusetts to the 1996 Final Four.

“Hopefully, I’m more experienced,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ve mellowed. . . . I’m much grayer, I’m going to tell you that.”

Calipari noted the difference that experience can make.

“The longer you’re in it, there is not a whole lot that you’re going to see that you haven’t seen somewhere,” he said. “But I tell you, the reason we had success at UMass, we had terrific players. The reason we had success at Memphis, we had terrific players. The reason we’re having success here, it’s not because they hired me. It’s because (of) this group of players.”