Calipari agitated by Labissiere questions

Calipari said he didn’t have the official word, but that he expected the outcome to be positive. “And he is gonna play this year – so well”, Calipari said.

The University of Kentucky basketball hosted its annual preseason media day Wednesday.

“No one’s attempted to do it, and if they did it, they were forced to do it. They tried to get kids to stay and kids left anyway, so they were forced in this situation”. However, this spot on the court could also go to Marcus Lee or Isaac Humphries while either Poythress or Skal Labissiere rests.

“(Labissiere) is fine”, Calipari snapped. He told The Courier-Journal in April: “I’ll be able to play right away”.

When asked about the eligibility of Labissiere, Calipari was evasive, but said he feels good things will turn out OK. Labissiere certainly brings that and has bulked up to 220 pounds.

The 6-foot-11 Labissiere, a former five-star recruit and potential No. 1 National Basketball Association draft pick, came to live with Hamilton in 2010 after an natural disaster destroyed his native Haiti. Though their absences delay the chemistry Calipari had hoped to develop with this newest group, what matters to Calipari most is having everyone available and executing by springtime. “Your questions will be, ‘Coach, you’re not even playing anything like you did in November.’ Yeah, we’re trying to figure it out on the run”.

“We’re not going to look like the same team in March, ” Calipari said.