Kentucky players have not forgotten that last season began with a humbling 118-84 loss to Duke. Hence Ashton Hagans' declaration of the motto "No Smile November" going into this season.
"Tuesday night you'll see it," he said of UK's game against Michigan State to begin the 2019-20 season. "That's the main focus. We're going out with a chip on our shoulder."
Hagans acknowledged his surprise at how Duke routed Kentucky. "I was shocked a little bit," he said.
As for playing Michigan State, Hagans said, "This year is just trying to flip that around."
Both coaches, John Calipari of UK and Tom Izzo of Michigan State, said that early-season games can bring surprises. Both spoke of an anything-can-happen atmosphere in Madison Square Garden.
"You don't know walking into these games because they're so early," Calipari said.
Added Izzo: "Early in the season, nothing is a surprise. You kind of wish you had a game under your belt. To at least know something."
Izzo dismissed the notion of each team's preseason exhibition games being revealing.
"We both play exhibition games against nobody," he said. "And then you get there, and it's wham-wham-wham. Sometimes kids handle it. Sometimes kids don't."
To explain the 34-point loss to begin last season, Calipari credited Duke. "They deserved to win by 50, the way they played," he said. "Their guys played better than my guys."
It happens, especially early. "I can't predict what goes on," Calipari said.
Whatever happens against Michigan State, UK associate coach Kenny Payne put the opener in the context of a learning experience. If Kentucky wins? "Great," he said. Then the routine turns to learning from mistakes.
And if UK gets smashed again? "We're not devastated by that," Payne said. "Last time I checked, you don't win a championship in November."
