Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari is taking a page from Alabama football legend Nick Saban.
Saban famously talked about the media being “rat poison” to his players for hyping them up. Well, Calipari is now using the same language to describe the media saying Kentucky has an easy path through the tournament.
Calipari told the media, “The poison being we have an easy road. If they drink the poison, we’ll be done on Thursday.”
John Calipari says it’s “poison” for his players to hear they’ve got an easy path to the #FinalFour. Sound familiar? Even during March Madness we’re all just living in Saban’s World pic.twitter.com/QpWJEGcgkG
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) March 21, 2018
I didn’t think you had to advise anyone to not drink poison, but John Calipari was there today with the reminder. pic.twitter.com/HrxADXlDcu
— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) March 22, 2018
Calipari: “My challenge is making sure these kids don’t drink that poison – that poison being we have an easy road. … If they drink that poison, we’ll be done Thursday. If they don’t drink the poison, it’ll be a dogfight…”
— Fletcher Page (@FletcherPage) March 21, 2018
I have to agree with Calipari here. Does anybody remember the last time the media treated Kentucky like they were kings? That would have been in 2015 when they went 36-0 to the Final Four. Do you all remember how that season ended for the Wildcats? It ended with them going home and Wisconsin headed to the national championship game.
It looks like Coach Cal has realized the mistakes of the past, and is hellbent on making sure Kentucky doesn’t repeat them.
Kentucky plays Kansas State tonight at 9:37 EST on CBS. I have a feeling Cal will have his guys ready to roll.