Had another great day at our Coaches Retreat and some of what we talked about during the past day got me thinking about expectations. Specifically the expectations that are out there for this team.

So I wanted to let everyone know something: We're not as good as everybody thinks. We can't be!

It's crazy really - we've never played a game together and there are still these predictions that we're a Top 5 team! Believe me, I'm not complaining, I'm just explaining that to do what we want to do, it's going to take some time together. We have to get to know each other both on and off the court. That's where we're at right now. What I'm talking to them about right now is coming together. We want our players to be learning about each other and bonding.

We're going to have to get over the hype that has been created and then we need to create our own happiness. My job as a coach is to get these young men to think in a different way and to think differently from any team in the nation.

It's all part of a process and I am excited where we're at in that process.

But I also hope everyone sees how crazy the expectations are at this point in time - we haven't even started practicing together yet!

***

Upon hearing the news of the passing of NCAA President Myles Brand, Coach Calipari had the following thoughts on Wednesday afternoon. Coach Calipari encourages people to visit NCAA.org to discover more about Myles Brand.

"It's a sad day for all of us in the NCAA. Myles Brand has been in my daily prayers since we all learned of his illness in January. He was a great leader who always had reform in his mind and one who did a valuable job of steering the entire body in a positive direction. The Kentucky basketball family extends our deepest condolences to Myles Brand's family - our thoughts are with them during this difficult time." - John Calipari, University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Coach

. . . A helpful resource on pancreatic cancer, the type of cancer Myles Brand had.

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