When asked Monday about Kentucky’s highly rated defense refuting the perception that he’s more a recruiter of talent than a wily tactician, Kentucky coach John Calipari used Phil Jackson as an example of good coaching: Uniting star players in a collective effort.

Coincidentally or not, the standard would apply to Calipari, who has recruited three straight classes of prospects to Kentucky rated No. 1 in the nation.

"To get a mediocre group to come together and be a good team, there's a bunch of coaches (who can do that)," Calipari said. "To get all-stars, like Phil Jackson, to play the triangle offense and defend together and communicate together and have a 'Breakfast Club' together, that's the challenge."