Calipari Press Conference Tidbits

[Darrell KSR]

Asked about Isaiah Briscoe, Coach Cal says he's worked out for three teams. Needs to improve on his shooting.

Says he does not know yet what he will do (sounds different from Lee).

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says Alex Poythress' agent called to tell him the player's leg isn't 100 percent healed. Will hold off workouts because of that.

[Darrell KSR]

The best way for Isaiah to improve his shooting? Cal says for him to get in the gym. Compares it to a golf swing of putting in the work.

[Darrell KSR]

Asked what the NBA should like about Jamal Murray, Cal says, "Steph Curry." Said he became a "high-percentage, efficient player." 6'5 and can really shoot it.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says he likes where Tyler Ulis is in the draft. Said what's really helped him is the way Isaiah Thomas has played in the NBA.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal on his "Duke comments": "That post was more in a general sense. It wasn’t geared to one person, one program."

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says the team had a 3.0 GPA again.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal had a recruit's mother say, "All you talk about is the NBA." So "that's when I said, 'What is being said out here?' "

Cal says his recent blog post was to educate how this program operates. "It gave me a chance to say this is who we are."

Cal on those maybe-Duke remarks: "When you throw a rock in a pack of dogs, the one you hit starts yelping. That should've hit about 15."

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says with his returning players and the new guys, "I think we're going to be a pretty good team again."

Says UK got a beast (Bam) that they didn't have last year.

Cal notes that the new guys are going to have to adjust to college, just like every kid that comes in here.

[Darrell KSR]

Offensively, could be ugly early. But "We should be great defensively," Calipari says, adding maybe one of his best. "We'll have to figure out how we play."

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says Charles Matthews is about three weeks away from resuming basketball activity after a minor offseason procedure. "He'll be fine."

[Darrell KSR]

Cal said he listened to Skal when they met on NBA. "There was no question he wanted to go. ... Skal has the skill set to be in that league."

[Darrell KSR]

Calipari on 2015-16: "My only regret is that last game." Says maybe he should've played small ball.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says it is OK if a recruit (Bolden?) wants to walk onto campus in September.

[Darrell KSR]

Says he wanted Skal to stay another year or two and he would've been #1 pick in the NBA Draft. But doesn't blame him for leaving, as he will be a lottery pick with his skill set.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says Mitch being on the Selection Committee won't be an advantage, because he has to leave the room when Kentucky is discussed. (my comment - sorry, Cal, I disagree - still an advantage)

[Darrell KSR]

Cal bragging on Devin Booker as one of the NBA's two best rookies (along with Karl Towns) and "he didn't even start for us."

Also bragging about Willie Cauley-Stein, saying he got a call from their owner raving about Willie.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says UK's incoming signing class will be here this summer.

[Darrell KSR]

Calipari: "You're not filling (Ulis') shoes, but De'Aaron Fox is REALLY good. Malik (Monk) is REALLY good." Fox will have ball more, but Monk will likely score most.

(FWIW, Cal sounds a lot like Briscoe will be back. How he fits in, how the others fit in with him, etc. Not specifically, but it's a definite feel.)

Cal says Isaiah brings toughness, but has to show improvement shooting the ball and being more consistent.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal says new rules are made for non-1st rounders; "unbelievable" that it allows kids to be able to talk to NBA teams. Says decisions should be about the kids, and that's what the new rule is about. Basically gives players no excuse to make a bad NBA Draft decision, unless they/their support staff are "delusional."