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Calipari defiant amid Kentucky's worst start in 35 years: 'I'm not buying it'

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Kentucky's 64-63 home loss to Notre Dame on Saturday clinched the school's worst start in 35 years.

The Wildcats are now 1-4 for the first time since the 1984-85 campaign. Kentucky bounced back to reach the Sweet 16 that season, and head coach John Calipari hopes his players' early struggles can help them rebound in a similar fashion.

"I told them, 'Adversity is going to make you tougher. It's what it is,'" Calipari said postgame, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello. "This comes at you, especially at Kentucky. Losing games in a row here is like a natural disaster. And you know what? I'm not buying it. I don't listen to it; I never have.

"Whether we're winning games or losing games, my focus is on how do I help these guys get better? And some of them, you gotta dig your heels in or someone else plays. Dig your heels in or someone else plays. And every year, it's kind of like this."

Kentucky has lost four straight contests following its 81-45 season-opening win over Morehead State. But the Wildcats did show some life in the second half against Notre Dame.

Their defense limited the Fighting Irish to just 16 points as they trimmed a 24-point first-half deficit to a single point. Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr led the rally with 22 points on 11-of-16 shooting, though he missed the potential game-winning basket at the buzzer.

"There's hope now. If that's who we are, those 20 minutes, there's hope," Calipari said. "All right, now we've got to play 40. If some guys shouldn't be starting, they won't start.

"We picked up and pressed, and we became the aggressor. That's what happened. Do we have to play the whole game? Yeah, let's get in great shape, and let's do it. We're not taking chances, but we're picking up and making them play. Getting into their legs a little bit. Maybe that's who we are."

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