During Julius Randle’s recruitment, John Calipari focused on his weaknesses and challenged him to want to battle against high-level competition every day.

“No other coach said that,” the sculpted 6-foot-9 Randle said.

Randle will be joined in the Kentucky frontcourt by Dakari Johnson, the top-ranked center; Marcus Lee, the second-ranked center; and James Young, a Michigan native who is the third-ranked small forward.

Randle and Johnson noted they picked Kentucky to get pushed not only in the SEC, but in practice also.

“It’s going to be a war,” Johnson said.