LEXINGTON, Ky. _ With his program's dependence on one-and-done players, Kentucky coach John Calipari does not often talk about freshmen hitting the metaphorical wall deep in a season. But he did Friday when asked about guard Ashton Hagans.
"Ashton the last three games has not played well," Calipari said. "As a matter of fact, he's not played well at all."
When asked why Hagans had not played well, Calipari said, "He's a freshman. (He) hit a little bit of a wall."
UK needs the pre-wall Hagans against Tennessee, Calipari said. The Vols' point guard, junior Jordan Bone, ranks 11th in the country in assists (6.5 per game) and 15th in assist-to-turnover ratio.
"So this is a game where we're going to need him to get back where he was 10 days ago, 12 days ago. Where everybody was talking about him being the best on-ball defender in the country. A difference-maker. A creator."
Calipari suggested that playing against inspired opponents every game makes the metaphorical wall more formidable.
"You kind of get numb to it," he said. "And all of a sudden, you're not playing with the energy, the focus you need to play with. He's had a heck of a year. Just had a bad week and a half."
