Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari took the podium Monday to speak to the media in what he called a “summer recap” of the hard work the team has put in over the past few months.
“This summer was really important for us to set the tone,” Calipari said. “I entered without a team, without a team, without a schedule. Now we’re talking about how to get a new team and get them thinking together.”
The Head Hog said that while the team focused more on specific plays and game plans in the fall, the last few months have been entirely focused on individual development.
“At the end of the year, my hope is that they’ll say, ‘I’ve never been a better basketball player,” Calipari said. This is the best my mindset has ever been; This is the best I’ve ever been as a teammate, I have the best heart I’ve ever had.’”
Part of that individual development appears to be implementing entirely different roles on the team for key attacking players Zvonimir Ivisic and Trevon Brazile.
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Calipari goes back in time for great men
The modern game of basketball seems to be entirely focused on versatility, especially when it comes to attacking players. Freshman point guard Boogie Fland mentioned this specifically in the players’ press conference portion and said he thinks one day the idea of positions will be eliminated entirely.
“If you look at the NBA, there are a lot of threes being shot,” Fland said. “There are a lot of great all-rounders putting them on the floor, like [Nikola] Jokic. As for the title of ‘point guard’, there will come a point where there will be no more titles. You’re either a hooper or you’re not.
Likewise, big men who can stretch the ball and create became popular, both in the professional ranks and, later, in college football. Certainly, when you look at the scouting reports on Brazile and Ivisic, they both consider their offensive versatility to be one of their biggest strengths.
Last season, Brazile shot 35.3% from behind the arc, and Ivisic was slightly better at 37.5%. Both were used in “big” roles by their respective coaches. Judging by Calipari’s comments on Monday, it appears he will move both players to new roles.
“I will not let [Zvonimir Ivisic] shoot any three,” Calipari said. “Big Z, 7-foot-1, he wants to shoot — no, no, no. You’re not shooting threes, so now he has to shoot twos. You know why? A jumping elbow, when you miss that, it’s kind of embarrassing.
“A three when you’re 7 feet tall and out there? Oh man, he almost did it. No, you’re shooting for two and that means you’re either going to get in the gym and improve or you’re going to be embarrassed the whole time. And you know what? He’s getting better.”
Calipari just wants his players to be more effective — even though it’s cool to see a seven-footer making money from three. It’s clear that the Head Hog wants to see their big men in a more prototypical role, focusing on blocking shots and finishing inside-out on post-ups and pick and rolls.
That’s a role Ivisic showed some elite potential in last season at Kentucky, and will look to develop this year in Fayetteville.
It appears Calipari has given the same advice to Brazile, who is taking it in stride and trusting his new coach’s advice.
“He’d rather see me shoot a mid-range shot because I’ll probably hit more than a three,” Brazile said. “His resume speaks for itself, so I just try to do what he says. This summer, I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress in not shooting threes and just being what he calls an ‘attack dog.’”
For Arkansas fans, the prospect of a fully bought-in Brazil will be a joy to watch – and a headache for opponents to game-plan. With Brazil’s elite wingspan and athleticism, his ceiling as a shot blocker has been on full display throughout his college career thus far.
It appears that rather than being an overkill like the role former Arkansas coach Eric Musselman placed him in last season, the Cal coach wants Brazile to use his strengths as more of a runner focused on blocking shots and operating outside. of choice. and rolls. He’s reminiscent of an iconic player from Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky who went No. 1 overall and became an elite player at the next level — Anthony Davis.
“What [Calipari] I did at Kentucky with guys like DeMarcus Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis,” Brazile said.
Brazile’s teammates attested to his elite athleticism, with junior forward Adou Thiero telling the story of a summer practice where he left everyone stunned after a dead end.
“[Boogie] throws the lob and I think, ‘Who’s grabbing that,’ Adou said. “I just saw TB up there, with his hands on the top of the table. The ball passed through his fingertips. He picked up a piece with his little finger and ring finger. Then we all stopped and looked at each other.
Calipari talks guard play, ‘Attack Dogs’
In addition to the bigs, Coach Cal gave an idea of what his backcourt looks like for next season – a group he said he’s excited about.
“We have some point guards, probably three or four guys,” Calipari said.
Of the top rotation pieces, this list definitely includes Johnell Davis, Boogie Fland, and DJ Wagner – and possibly Karter Knox as well, despite his roster as a power forward. Calipari addressed the progress of this group so far this offseason.
“Nelly lives in that gym,” Calipari said. “He trains two, three times a day. He can really shoot. What I love is making him uncomfortable, because when he’s uncomfortable, he’s uncomfortable and you can see that. I can tell him, ‘This is what you need to overcome. We need to get you comfortable with being uncomfortable because now you could be an attack dog.’”
The Head Hog also said his trio of freshmen are adapting well to the college game, although shot selection is something they are still working on.
“Boogie (Fland) is better than I thought,” Calipari said. “Karter (Knox) and Billy (Richmond), both of them I’m trying to say, ‘Karter, you’re not opting for pitches. No, it won’t happen. And every time he drives and gets to the edge, I stop training. That’s what I’m talking about, why doesn’t he do it anymore? Because he’s uncomfortable. It’s easier to shoot shots, I don’t need you to shoot shots.”
