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To say that BJ Boston is in crisis is an understatement. The former top 5 rookie struggled again tonight, hitting 3-9 shots for 6 points in 27 minutes. It was the first game in which Boston failed to score in double digits at Kentucky and at one point in the first half, boos were heard at Rupp after missing a shot. John Calipari ended his post-game presser by asking fans to support Boston and instead direct their frustrations to him.
“We need our fans to absolutely support BJ. I don’t know why someone would be mean to anyone. If you want to be mean, be mean to me. It’s my fault. Don’t be mean to him. I put it in the game. So if you’re angry, be angry with me. Be positive. Everyone left Devin alone. When Devin struggled early on, no one really understood Devin. Our fans left him alone and they let him do his thing and watch where Devin is now. And now I say the same thing.
“Our fans haven’t been bad on BJ. They’ve been pretty good because they’re good people. They are not mean. They are not trolls. It’s not who they are. So now you’ll see it start to come – and you know what? You will have the impression of having played a part in it. “
To be clear, Calipari was also not happy with Boston’s performance tonight, telling reporters he knocked out Boston in the last seven minutes of the game not because of his offense, but because of his defense.
“We can lie to the kids or we can keep it real. If someone is playing better than you and harder than you, they’ll be in there, especially the last 5-8 minutes of the game.. It’s just like that. And he knows it. And I said to him, when I took him out, I said, ‘Dude, be proud of your defense. They just come to you. And he will. He’s a great player.
“I am not giving up any player and I believe in BJ,” Calipari added. “We’ve been working on BJ to play it a certain way but he will come back to what he knows best, those flips. Don’t get dirty. I said to him, ‘Everything that we’re working on, you haven’t done today. And I was expecting him to have a big game today because he’s been so good in training, so good individually. The whole thing, stop in the lane and just a one-two stop, a little float and he’s had a couple of chances and he’s trying to return balls. But he will get it and I believe in him.
Last night on his on-call show Calipari said he has a player in his house, and on tonight’s show Tom Hart confirmed it was Boston. After the game, Calipari once again mentioned how difficult this season has been for the players, who have been denied the best parts of being a Kentucky Wildcat due to the pandemic.
“Do you know how difficult it was? How about they don’t have the chance to play in front of 24,000 players? Do you know how much this team would need? Do you understand that all of this, we haven’t had a team building and things going on and then emotionally – and our fans have been great. They didn’t bury the children. They’ve been pretty positive with them but you can tell it all adds up and so now I don’t want him to put too much pressure. Devin did this early. I had to say, “Come on, man, back off. I believe in you but you cannot be in the state of mind you are in, every basket is life and death. You cannot play ball. “
Olivier Sarr and Davion Mintz both said they know the Boston time is near, praising the freshman’s relentless work ethic.
“We’re just telling him to stay the course,” Sarr said. “It happens. He works hard, harder than anyone else. He’s in the gym. I think for him it’s only a matter of time and I know it’s coming for him. have confidence in him because we see every day what he can do in practice.It’s just a matter of time, honestly.
“Keep doing the same things,” Mintz said of the advice he gives to his young teammate. “BJ is still at the gym. This is the part that people don’t see. We might understand that he’s not doing his best, but he’s still a freshman. He is still growing. But BJ is in the gym all the time and ultimately it pays off. It always pays off. He continues to do the same. Stick with the coaches. He will soon fall on his way. Right now, all he can do right now is be patient with his game.
Hang in there, BJ.
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