Every team needs that “go to guy” on their roster. It’s what helps them seal away wins and close out the season strong. 

Kentucky has had many of those types of players on its rosters over the years, from Brandon Knight, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns. This year’s “go to guy” might not be fully discovered yet, but Calipari has a good feeling Bam Adebayo might slide into that role by the season’s end.

“By the end of the year, he will be that guy,” the Kentucky coach said. “That is my prediction.”

In his Auburn pregame press conference highlighted by KyForward’s Keith Taylor, Calipari praised the strides that Adebayo has been making since the start of Camp Cal during the holiday break.

Already being pegged as one of the hardest workers on the team, which is an essential trait of a “go to guy,” Adebayo could be added to that list of Kentucky front runners.

“He is really good,” Calipari said. “He bounces (and) he stays in the stance. He can guard every position. He is getting fouled like crazy when he catches the ball. Like fouled. The last game was worst than this game, this past game. But, you know – and he is keeping his cool. He never changes anything.”

To read more of Taylor’s breakdown of the press conference, click here.