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The annual Kentucky Basketball Pro Day, designed to give NBA organizations a sneak peek at the current Wildcats roster, took place last night at Memorial Coliseum.
Usually representatives from all NBA teams are in attendance, but this year due to the coronavirus all received video feeds while anxious basketball fans were able to check out the action on the SEC network. The mega screen at one end of the basketball court featured the faces of NBA officials watching the action unfold in what was a 90-minute workout.
It was the first chance for Wildcat fans to see behind the curtain and watch this year’s squad. The Calipari era turned that into an event that other college programs simply cannot match and the anticipation is always running through the rafters. Even with the challenges of a pandemic, Coach Cal found a way to make it work and give his team a first glimpse of what it was like to play on a national stage on national television.
Wearing them UK built differently gear we got to watch as Calipari reminded us of the things he instills in each new team that he has to build from scratch. “Everyone must eat… You must fight and compete…. I hold them accountable at a higher level. “ These are the lessons each new group of cats should learn throughout the year.
So what have we learned about this edition of the Kentucky Wildcats?
First of all, we learned that Olivier Sarr is the real deal.
The Wake Forest transfer is a big 7ft that can move effortlessly across the ground. During the training session we saw him move inside and flash outside. Sarr has good hands, a good touch of paint and can empty the sweater from the outside. He gives Kentucky a big, seasoned man in the middle who has experience and knows what to do with the ball.
Second, we have seen that Brandon Boston Jr. going to give the team a great guard who can shake things up.
It went almost unnoticed, but maybe it was the photo of the night. While Bruiser Flint explained to commentators that “Coach Cal isn’t afraid to change” and that’s one of the strengths that makes him such a great coach, the split screen showed the Cats at work as Boston rolled down the right side of the lane and destroyed the rim with a dunk. It happened so fast you wished there was a replay to watch back.
The replay took place, but this time in the 4v4 game, as Boston again descended to the right side of the lane at lightning speed, sailed over the rim and repeated the mighty dunk as the previous. And it all happened without the game-day dollar bill that he puts inside his shoe. After the way he moved and scored, Kentucky fans should be delighted to see him play with the dollar hidden in the basketball shoe.
Third, we were reminded that like many teams at this time of year, they are young and have a lot to learn.
As Cal stopped training to explain the need to play big, he pointed out the size of the ground team, then summed it up by telling them: ‘you play like you’re 6 ‘3’ ‘– every ball that goes up, you put your hands up, you go to the rim and catch it – and you catch the ball with both hands. “
In essence, John Calipari is the teacher again with a group of young men who must learn to think big and play big.
So while it wasn’t the usual professional day at Lexington, it was a powerful start to the season where we can watch a team that is Built differently. For fans waiting for Big Blue Madness, this premiere of Team Kentucky’s latest release was enough to get the madness started.
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