LEXINGTON, Ky. _ Treat the losses to Utah and Ohio State as victories. Consider the victory over Louisville a defeat.
John Calipari's reaction to recent games in the non-conference portion of Kentucky's schedule might have sounded puzzling. His up-is-down and down-is-up reaction brought to mind a line from the introduction to the classic television show "The Twilight Zone":
"It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge."
A teleconference called Thursday to promote the beginning of Southeastern Conference play included Calipari being asked to explain his seeming denial of reality. In terms of basketball coaching, it seemed fear and knowledge were at play: fear that UK players might over-react to victory and defeat. And, of course, the knowledge that over-reaction is one of the defining qualities of Kentucky basketball.
"I coach at this place called Kentucky," Calipari said, "where everything is life and death."
The UK coach said he wanted his players to put victory and defeat in perspective. There's a higher priority in the big picture.
"Trying to get players to worry about getting better," he said. "This isn't college football (where) if you lose three, four, five games early, you're done. ...
"It's about how do you get your team playing their best (and) in the right frame of mind in March."
Kentucky will take a 9-3 record into its opening SEC game Saturday against Missouri.
Calipari extended his urging to not over-react to UK fans. Or as he put it, "Try to get fans to think differently."
By this, Calipari seemed to mean the fans should not assume a Kentucky victory, but to actively participate in the effort to win. For example, he saluted the fans for encouraging UK players down the stretch of the overtime victory/defeat against Louisville.
"We may need that in the last five minutes of every game," Calipari said. "No one sits down. Forget the score. Stand up and get these guys thinking about finishing the game."
Coaches counseling against over-reaction extends far and wide, more than one SEC coach said.
"It's the hardest thing we deal with ...," South Carolina coach Frank Martin said. "Young people tend to stay emotionally tied to a positive or negative experience for too long."
Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse suggested the search for a "happy medium" can extend beyond teenage players.
"Coaches, too," he said. "To make sure we're showing that consideration."
Mississippi State coach Ben Howland said that the wisdom of keeping victory and defeat in perspective is universal.
"In every season for every player at every level," he said. Instead of over-reacting, the best players and coaches become motivated to learn and improve.
"When you win, you've got to continue to understand how you did that," Howland said. "And to continue to work hard and to earn it."
After beating archrival Louisville, UK faces new challenges. Additional opportunities to put victory and defeat in perspective await Kentucky.
In explaining the challenges the SEC schedule will present, Calipari likened this season to 2014-15. UK rolled through the non-conference portion of the schedule undefeated. The average margin of victory was 27.5 points.
The SEC opener saw Kentucky beat Ole Miss in overtime, a victory helped by the Rebels' leading scorer, Stefan Moody, having to leave the game because of muscle cramps. UK needed two overtimes to win its second league game (70-64 at Texas A&M).
"I knew the schedule would be hard," Calipari said. "And, you know, you lose some games you think you can win. You win some games you think you can lose. ...
"We're moving in the right direction. We're just not close to where we need to be right now."
