Calipari says No. 4 Kentucky not ready to go

On paper, Kentucky appears to person it each arsenic it prepares for its season-opening matchup against Howard connected Monday.

But John Calipari isn't convinced this squad is acceptable to spell -- astatine slightest not yet.

On Tuesday, Calipari tweeted a video that aimed to temper expectations astir a Kentucky men's hoops squad that boasts Oscar Tshiebwe, the reigning Wooden Award winner, and aggregate standouts who helped the Wildcats gain the No. 4 ranking successful the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll.

Kentucky's nonconference docket includes 4 top-25 teams: Michigan, Gonzaga, Kansas and UCLA.

"We've got the subordinate of the twelvemonth and different first-team all-conference [player]. We've got bully young guys, but fto maine explicate to you and you cognize I'm honorable astir stuff," Calipari said. "We're not wherever we request to beryllium close present and I'm looking astatine November and December saying, 'We could beryllium a small shaky.'"

A connection for #BBN earlier I caput into signifier today: Let's bask this ride! pic.twitter.com/ebvbBEldrL

It's an unusual connection for a caput manager who has struggled to debar contention wrong his fervent instrumentality basal successful caller months. A nonaccomplishment to 15-seed Saint Peter's successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA tourney past play extended the program's Final Four drought to 7 years.

Later, Calipari called Kentucky "a hoops school" and asked the assemblage to money a caller signifier installation for his squad during an accumulation travel to the Bahamas. The comments were interpreted arsenic a changeable astatine Mark Stoops and his emerging Kentucky shot program. Kentucky diversion manager Mitch Barnhart told reporters a caller signifier installation was not a precedence close now.

At Big Blue Madness, Kentucky basketball's midnight madness event, Rupp Arena lacked the vibe the men's hoops programme had enjoyed during its champion years nether Calipari.

Tshiebwe, who was successful a walking footwear that night, said helium volition instrumentality to play successful the team's archetypal crippled adjacent week pursuing a genu procedure. Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace, a brace of five-star recruits, are successful the mix, too. Sahvir Wheeler is expected to beryllium a large contributor again aft dealing with a insignificant genu wounded successful caller weeks. And Jacob Toppin, the member of erstwhile lottery prime Obi Toppin, could person a breakout campaign.

In his video, however, Calipari asked fans to beryllium diligent and "enjoy the ride" arsenic the squad aims to physique momentum entering the SEC season.

"What we're gathering to and what we're doing each day, these guys are giving everything," Calipari said. "I emotion the pieces. I emotion the teammates. But what we person to bash to triumph astatine the highest level is going to instrumentality america a small time. I'm saying this for maine arsenic good arsenic you."