Kentucky lost 75-70 at No. 18 in Missouri.
The Wildcats were without Columbia without Terrence Clarke, Jacob Toppin and assistant coach Joel Justus. That finally forced John Calipari at one point to play Cam’Ron Fletcher, his first minute of 2021. The depth is even further strained after Olivier Sarr was left with more than five minutes left.
After the game, Coach Cal said the three did not join the rest of the team so Justus could work out the other two players, especially the bumped Clarke who had traveled with the team to all of their previous games.
‘Joel stayed for that reason and I want to see the kid (Clarke) practice tomorrow and Friday to see if there is a chance he can play against Tennessee. He does not have to be here. What basketball, if you’re looking at a man, do we need a cheerleader? He does not have to be here. He needs to get ready to try and play that game on Saturday. If he can not practice without limping on Thursday and Friday, he will not play on Saturday, and we will just keep him outside and see where this thing goes. It comes at a point where you are away for five, six weeks, meaning you are just not capable. The game is too much for you to play. But that’s why we left him at home. ‘
First, do we believe that is why they stayed at home? And what exactly does the last part of his response mean? If Clarke can not play on Saturday, will he not play again? Calipari’s answer leaves the listener with more questions than answers.
UPDATE (22:04 nm)
Shortly after pressing the “publish” button, John Calipari presented it to the UK Sports Network’s listening audience. Make it what you want it to be.
Calipari on the British Radio Network postgame offers more about Terrence Clarke: if you walk around after 5 weeks and the MRIs and scans show that nothing is wrong, you can not play.
– Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) February 4, 2021
The whole quote:
‘After five weeks, are you still lame? And there is nothing wrong, there is no MRI – there is nothing. But players know what their pain is and what their pain threshold is, so if he walks around, I’m not going to play him. ”