‘Think like kings’: Cal focuses on mindset, foundation

FAYETTEVILLE -- John Calipari's first University of Arkansas basketball team began taking shape with summer practices the last eight weeks.

"This summer was so big for us setting the tone," Calipari, who was announced as the Razorbacks' coach on April 10, said Monday during a news conference at Walton Arena. "Setting the tone on how we're going to work. Why we're doing what we're doing.

"Because it's the foundation for the culture that we're going to have."

Calipari said a focus of practice has been developing the players' individual skills initially rather than doing team drills or scrimmaging.

"I believe that individual development comes before you start talking systems and how your team's going to play, and we did none of that system, teamwork, plays," he said.