range shooting strokes to match.
Taller by three inches than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,
whom Calipari once famously said has “kind of an old
man’s game” — some of which can be seen in Sestina’s ap-
proach.
Not quite as smooth as Trey Lyles, who besides that tried
only 29 treys at Kentucky in 2014-15. And sleeker by a long
shot than Josh Harrellson, who shot 29 3s in three seasons.
Never mind all that.
Calipari could be forgiven for coming up dry thinking
of an easy comparison to Sestina, especially on the spot --
Sestina himself had to think for a moment before declaring
the energy and inside-out play of Kevin Love as the model
for his game -- but that doesn’t mean Calipari doesn’t have
ideas of how to use him.
“To be honest, he’s like a stretch 4,” Cal said. “He shoots
it, good with the ball. ... He can play some 5, but if you play
him at 5, you’re going to stretch the court with him as a 5
and probably post somebody else.”
Sestina is happy to give Kentucky that aspect.
“Being able to stretch the fl oor out helps us, but it also
helps me and my confi dence going in,” Sestina said. “But it
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helps the team’s confi dence, because if you see a couple
shots go in, and you get your teammates hyped up, then it’s
kind of a runaway train.”
To do that, though, Sestina has had to work himself into
better shape, especially coming off knee surgery and a foot
injury and preparing for a different style of play.
“At Bucknell, I really struggled moving laterally,” he said.
“Getting here and really focusing on the small things, like
balance and core, has really helped me out. I think that
changing how I feel and changing how my body looks and
works has really translated on the court. I move a lot better,
I’m lighter, I’m able to run up and down, I’m in a lot better
shape and I don’t really get as tired as much.”
That gives Sestina the fl exibility to help Kentucky out on
the fl oor, along with his ability to score inside.
“However I can contribute to the team and however my
role is set up and whatever the coaches need me to do,
I’m gonna do that,” Sestina said. “That’s how I’m gonna
develop as a player and as a person, and I’m totally bought
into whatever they need me to do.”
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22 | UK Basketball Preview 2019/2020