LEXINGTON, Ky. _ When it comes to assessing his play, the start to Kentucky's season has shown that Nate Sestina is unsparing.
He found his defense, especially away from the basket, inadequate in the stunning loss to Evansville last week. "Couldn't really guard anybody," he said.
Nor was he defensive or evasive about his defense in Kentucky's follow-up victory (escape?) against Utah Valley on Monday.
"I made it a point in practice not to get blown by," he said. "I don't know what it was. I kept getting blown by. And that's on me. It's not on the coaches. It's not on my teammates. It's a personal thing that I have to do."
Sestina spoke matter-of-factly. His tone suggested a devotion to realistic truth. There was no self-pity. He did not beat himself up. Nor did he cite mitigating circumstances (UK Coach John Calipari said EJ Montgomery being sidelined meant too many minutes for Sestina and Nick Richards).
According to his father, Sestina has long refused to shift blame or responsibility.
"He has always been that way," Don Sestina said Wednesday. "He's always been his, like, worst critic. In the past, we haven't even had to open our mouths because he does a lot of self-evaluation, and will work hard toward improving any inadequacies."
