Media notes, round 1: Calipari on road losses

The usual media session today yielded about 14 minutes of John Calipari talking about road losses and Florida, and about 35 seconds of a sweaty Terrence Jones. Here’s a roundup. Check back in around 5 p.m. for round 2 (players will be available later):

With UK having lost six road games in conference play, all by slim margins and at the end of games, it’s been difficult to tell how much of that can be attributed to luck and random variation and how much is something larger.

“We’ve been poor in close games and I don’t think it’s been luck,” Calipari said. “I think you create opportunities.”

Calipari said his previous teams have all played well on the road. They had the required mindset.

“They felt the challenge of the road and wanted to ruin people’s weekends and had a different mentality,” Calipari said. “They [this team] feel more comfortable at home, more confident at home.”

Calipari is still trying to cultivate that mindset with his current group. He noted that every road game has come down to about the final minute, and that UK isn’t making the plays it needs to make. In fact, UK’s players are shunning the late-game burden.

“Each of you are expecting the other to do something,” Calipari said. “You’re hoping someone does something, just so it’s not you. Can’t play that way.”

The close losses are becoming something like a mental roadblock, something that can be changed on pulling out a win. Calipari is still waiting for it to happen.

“Demonstrated performance is how you build confidence and we haven’t done it,” Calipari said. “I’m just waiting for us to make that play, that shot, that tip in. Now, Darius made an unbelievable three. There are signs that we’re doing it. We’re just all not doing it.”

Calipari noted his players are still looking to get that edge that allows them to prevail in close games. A will to win, as he often calls it. There’s still too much excuse-making, and he said he wishes his players were a “little rougher.”

“Well here’s what it is,” Calipari said. “You have to try harder than the other guy’s harder. ‘I’m trying.’ He’s trying way harder than you’re trying. ‘Well, what’s wrong with that?’ You can’t win that way.”

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