Following Kentucky’s loss to Missouri, John Calipari made some comments about Terrence Clarke and his injury status.
Clarke has been sidelined with an ankle injury since late December and what was thought to be a few games has turned into five to six weeks.
If you read the transcript of Calipari’s postgame press conference or the UK postgame radio show, a lot of people interpreted that the UK coach was throwing the freshman guard under the bus.
“Joel stayed for that reason, and I wanna see the kid (Clarke) practice tomorrow and Friday to see if there’s any chance he can play against Tennessee,” Calipari said after the game. “He didn’t need to be here. In basketball, when you’re looking at a guy, what, we needed a cheerleader? He didn’t need to be here. He needs to get ready to try to play that game Saturday. If he can’t practice without limping Thursday and Friday, he won’t play Saturday, and we just keep him out and see where this thing goes. It comes to a point where you’re out five, six weeks means you’re just not capable. The game’s too much for you to play at all. But that’s why we left him at home.”
Calipari said the following on the radio postgame.
“After five weeks, you’re still limping? And there’s nothing wrong, there’s no MRI – there’s nothing there. But players know their pain and what their pain threshold is, so if he’s limping around, I’m not going to play him.”
Calipari thought he was perfectly clear with his statement but after a reaction from media and fans regarding his comments, the UK coach cleaned up his statement with a social media post.
