John Calipari took a jab at Dick Vitale during his halftime interview of Kentucky’s game with Missouri.
Calipari knows that the ubiquitous ESPN college basketball analyst is a big believer in rhythm and disagrees with the way the coach handles his substitutions for the Wildcats (Cal has his team broken into two platoons and plays them five guys at a time like a hockey shift).
Cal was asked at halftime by sideline reporter Shannon Spake about the team’s intensity and energy.
“I went back to full platoons. Five on five. Five in, five out. It hasn’t hurt our rhythm. I know Dickie V — who got fired as a coach by the way — talking about rhythm, it hasn’t hurt our rhythm. What it does is it adds energy. And the guys on the bench know when they’re going in, so they’re ready,” Calipari explained of the way he handles his substitutions.
“I got fired! I’m undefeated! I got a better record than him in TV for 36 years! And I’ll disagree with him again! It hurts them offensively. Let them match up the great ones — the Virginias and the Dukes — he won’t play those platoons! I love John, though,” Vitale admitted.
Keep in mind that Kentucky is undefeated this season and was up 44-18 at halftime. I’d say what Cal is doing seems to be working. And the good news is at least Vitale handled this better than the last time he talked about Calipari.
Video via @cjzero
