John Calipari understands Kentucky is going to need a miracle to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament this season.

With Kentucky scheduled to play Mississippi State in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday, Calipari is prepared to do whatever it takes to win:

“There will be no pitchers left,” Calipari said during a teleconference Wednesday, via Jerry Tipton of Kentucky.com. “I’m using every pitcher I can. The knuckle-baller. The curve-baller. The fast (ball) pitcher. The middle reliever. The last-pitch (closer).”

If Kentucky hopes to have any chance of making the NCAA Tournament, they'll need to win the entire SEC Tournament. That starts with the game against Mississippi State.

Kentucky currently holds a dismal 9-15 record this college basketball season and an 8-9 record against teams in the SEC. Even though the main goal is to give themselves an opportunity to punch their ticket to The Big Dance, Calipari realizes just how big Thursday's matchup with Mississippi State is. So much so, he is considering the idea of playing freshman Terrence Clarke:

“I won’t change the rotation of what we’re doing,” Calipari said. “But there may be a point I say, let’s give him a shot. Let’s see how he’s doing.”

Clarke has been sidelined since Dec. 26 with a leg injury and is beginning to ramp up his work on the court. Despite the unlikely odds of Kentucky being able to sneak into the NCAA Tournament this season, Calipari is willing to unload everything he can to advance in the SEC Tournament.