Everything UK’s John Calipari said after Kentucky closed 2023 with a win vs. Illinois State

The Kentucky men’s basketball team closed 2023 in style Friday night at Rupp Arena.

Playing just their fifth game in the month of December, the Wildcats secured a four-game winning streak with a 96-70 win against Illinois State. This marked UK’s final game before SEC play begins Jan. 6 at Florida.

No. 8-ranked Kentucky (10-2) got a game-high 27 points from former Illinois State standout Antonio Reeves, who has now scored 57 points in his last two games for the Wildcats.

While Kentucky struggled on the glass — the Redbirds had 24 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Wildcats overall 45-40 — UK continued to flash the ball movement skills that should set John Calipari’s team up for a deep run in March Madness.

UK had 23 assists against just six turnovers Friday night, and four different players scored in double figures for UK: Reeves was joined by Rob Dillingham (16 points), D.J. Wagner (14) and Reed Sheppard (11).

UK shot 57% from the field and 44% from 3-point range in another offensive masterclass to overwhelm the visitors from the Missouri Valley Conference.

Here’s everything Calipari said following UK’s final win of 2023:

Opening statement: A lot of good, but 24 offensive rebounds (allowed), you’re not going to win games in our league (doing that).

And, again, every coach that watched the game, because no one else played tonight, they are going to say we are just shooting it and running four guys at the rim. They’re not going to block out. I just told Ugo and Aaron, if you don’t rebound, I can’t really play you. One of you had one and the other had two. Both of you had a chance for five more rebounds each. He didn’t come up with any of them. And that’s not being mean, I’m just keeping it real.

I thought Jordan went in and mixed it up and did some good stuff. His first real opportunity to play, really proud of him. And again, 23 assists, six turnovers. But we gave up 24 offensive rebounds.

Now, we reverted back to where we were, which is looking at the ball as it is shot, they drive us under the basket and tip it out. It was — give them credit for what they did.

Question about what Calipari is concerned about with his UK team entering SEC play.

Well, right now it is rebounding. You have to be kidding me, 24 offensive rebounds and all they did was bum rush us. There was no x’ing, there was no screening the guy to get free. It was just you and that man and they blocked us out. We didn’t go get any balls.

We got a few but not like they did. So that will concern me, but we have got time. What is that?

Question about what Calipari is happy about with his UK team entering SEC play.

Yeah, the way we are playing. We have got a good team. I mean, we pass the ball, we shoot the ball. We have a couple of guys that are trying to be play makers when they are finishers. I have to keep on them about it. ‘You are a finisher. Don’t try to make that play. Give it up, you get it back, and you make a play, make a basket.’

So we have got a couple of those. But it is — you know, without Adou it shows. He gives you a toughness. But I thought Jordan did some of that today. I tried to play Justin at some 4. I don’t know how many games I will be able to do that.

Question about how Kentucky can improve its rebounding.

Keep doing it. And then, basically, keeping it real with guys. If you are not going to rebound, I am not going to play you. I don’t care who you are. How about Ugonna blocking shots? So now you have got to get some rebounds. And part of that is accepting being blocked out. You get blocked out and you just stop. And then you try to tip it over the guy. No, he blocks you and you move and...

We are going to work on it. We have got some time. They have got an individual work day tomorrow, they have a day off on Sunday, and then we have a bunch of two-a-day’s to get us in the right frame of mind. It is going to be a hard game down there. It is always a hard game. It is sold out already, sold out weeks ago. They are good. They have got size, their big kid’s good, their guards play good. Florida is good.

Question about the impact of Tre Mitchell this season.

Yeah. I think Tre is so skilled as a basketball player, his size. And all I keep coming back to for him personally, for him to bust through personally, more motor. Now, you saw what I did. Four was killing us, so I said you are back to five, you play him, you two bigs can’t, you are getting screened, you are grabbing. Well, you are not going to play. You can come to my house, stay overnight, I will make you breakfast in the morning. You are just not going to play.

And that’s why I went to him and went to Justin and Jordan at four. And then I gave Aaron and Ugonna a couple of more chances. They are going to be fine. This is a great lesson. You don’t fight, this is what happens. Wait until you get in our league and you don’t fight.

Question about Kentucky’s defensive improvements.

Well, we had some breakdowns. But I will be honest with you, they are a good offensive team when they are in that half-court turning down ball screens. And, you know, they do some good stuff. And I thought Reed did some good stuff. But part of defense is rebounding. We gave up 24 offensive rebounds. Some of you can look back. I can’t remember one of my teams in 15 years giving up 24 offensive rebounds. I can’t — I can’t remember. And, so, you know, was it that way when we played North Carolina? When we played Miami? No. So we reverted.

You know, I talk to you guys all the time about dominant habits. It is obvious they still have the dominant habit when the shot is taken by the other team, they chase the ball instead of go hit the man and block out.

Question about Antonio Reeves over the last two games.

He has been great. Do you know who was in the gym last night...? He had 1,400 shots in yesterday, 400 of them came after dinner. He was in there by himself. But the Noah machine charts every shot. Face recognition, you shoot it, it is — I told the guys, who do you think was in there? The guy that made all the shots. There is no secret to this. Well, I was playing video games and I made all kinds of shots. No, it doesn’t work.

So trying to get these guys to understand that you have got to go. I thought we attacked the rim today good. So Antonio didn’t just shoot it, he got to the rim when we needed it and so did D.J. They got to the rim. Robert did what he does. He had one pass. It is only one, though. So he tried to — Antonio had no one on him, he tried to throw it to three guys on a look-away and it went out of bounds. But he only had one. I can deal with one. I just can’t deal with five.

Question about Justin Edwards staying in Lexington over holiday break to practice and his progression this season.

Unbelievable where he is going with this. He is trying to figure it out on the run. And it is hard at Kentucky trying to figure it out on the run. And we’re trying to do everything we can to help him to define how he should be playing. But he did some good stuff today. He did.

Now, he started the half, he gave up two 3’s. It is hard. You have got to — you know, I can’t allow that. You can’t give up two 3’s because you went under a screen and you didn’t follow a scout.

But in transition, open shots, attacking the basket, you just watch. He just needs some more time. It is like Jordan. Jordan did good today, he just needs more time.

Question about Antonio Reeves becoming an efficient scorer.

How about he was guarding their best player? Last year he would guard their worst player and we hoped he had black socks on that guy because now he is our best perimeter defender.

So...

But, you know, you — when you have — here is what I keep saying. You have choices now. You start rotating them in and somebody’s having a tough day. We can still win, so don’t worry. Before they had to ride them and if they went 1-for-14 — you know, you rode them. Now it is not on you, it is on us. Go play your best, go play harder than them, go have a ball.

And if you have got it rolling, you play. If someone else has it rolling, they will play. But, again, the balance, you know, you are starting to talk six and seven guys in double figures. Not many teams say that.

Question about Calipari’s relationship with Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and Barnes being nominated for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

He is so deserving. And I remember him when he had a ponytail and hair was down his back. He did. He drove around in a Volkswagen Beetle. And he had a toss back in the back seat that he would go camp to camp and that was his station, teaching that. We both stayed at Pitt in the training room because it was not an overnight camp but we had to be there, so we didn’t have money for a hotel.

We stayed in the training room together, like on the tables. And Tim Grgurich’s wife brought us lasagna and we put it on that thing that heats up the bag that kept it warm, we had left it.

So, no, he and I go way back and we’ve been brothers for a long time. I love him. Well-deserved. You know, he’s good at what he does, cares about kids, faith-based what he does and how he handles himself. So I’m happy for him.

Closing statement: Let me say, the McGuires are here, Molly and Michael and their son. They are in town. They called for tickets. You know I’m saying yes to that. He was the coal miner who got there so he could be with his son. So the McGuires are here. I’m going to see them in the back.

But this was a good game. Guys have got two days, an individual work day, and then they have got a day off, and then we are on it. It’s like, Let’s go.

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