Tough defense earns playing time from Calipari

When Kentucky freshman Stacey Poole took a turn applying single-minded defense on Notre Dame shooter Ben Hansbrough, he earned a promotion. His three-pointer in the same game, the only shot he's made this season, was purely coincidental when Coach John Calipari said Poole would be the second perimeter player off the bench.

Then UK played Indiana, a game that saw Poole nearly match his season's total of four shots by launching three times in seven frantic minutes. Not so coincidentally, he never got off the bench in the next game as the Cats beat Mississippi Valley State last weekend.

"I was just hyped up to play," Poole said of the quick-draw act that earned him a return to the bench.

A wiser Poole noted Tuesday that Calipari did not make an issue of the itchy trigger finger against Indiana. Another play drew the UK coach's attention as a teachable moment.

"I was on the backside and I didn't come help," Poole said. "That's what he was really mad about. It wasn't really the shots I took, but the one play I didn't help my other teammates."

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