When Rick Pitino coached Kentucky, UK fans enjoyed the pressing, pressure defense his teams used.
How the grabbing and holding is being done by Louisville, a fact UK must deal with in Friday’s game at U of L.
“The biggest thing is you’ve got to be ready,” UK Coach John Calipari said. “The intensity of the game will be crazy. You better be ready (for Louisville to) grab, hold.”
When asked how he wanted the UK players to react to U of L’s physical play, Calipari said, “Be strong. Be tough with the ball. . . . You’ve got to know, they’re playing. This is not for ‘fun-sies’”
UK players may respond with puzzlement. “Why is he going so hard?” Calipari said of possible questions his players will ask.
The UK coach has an answer ready.
“He wants to win,” Calipari said of the hypothetical Louisville player.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
