04/24/24
March 30, 2009
Kentucky job on Calipari's mind: Calipari met with Kentucky officials on Sunday at an undisclosed location, at which time he was given an outline of length of deal and contract dollars to succeed Billy Gillispie, the source said.
posted by gfinsf to basketball at 10:13 AM - 6 comments
On the "face" of this I think this would make Kentucky look desperate to catch up to UNC, Duke, UCONN, MSU and other programs at any cost.
I don't think there's any "face" about it anymore. They are desperate to catch up.
posted by jmd82 at 11:10 AM on March 30, 2009
When Pitino went to Kentucky, he referred to it as the "Holy Roman Empire" of basketball.
That's the way people thought about UK back then. But not any longer. It doesn't have the luster it used to.
Part of the "face" that a college is concerned about nowadays includes how they conduct their coaching search.
Everyone has seen how ridiculous North Carolina looked for hiring Matt Doherty because they thought that only a UNC alum was good enough for their program and they were shocked that Roy Williams turned them down. How dare he?
Other schools that have looked foolish for having inflated opinions of their own place in the universe include Notre Dame and Michigan (the football programs). They were stunned to find out that top tier coaches were not willing to drop everything and run to them when they came calling.
If they're smart, Kentucky doesn't want to be put in that category any more than they already are. So having calm, deliberate, adult conversations in a professional manner (ie, not like they hired Gillispie) with a coach like Calipari is not a bad thing.
Among other things, Cal going to UK sets up the ultimate midday duel in the sun between him and Pitino. Those two have been following each other around all their careers - they might as well formalize their cordial but competitive relationship at center stage in the Bluegrass State.
Pitino has pushed for UK to take a hard look at Ford and Pelphrey (there's that alumnus thing again). Maybe that will happen.
UK had better do something intelligent whatever it is, because there are some good coaches out there and also some not so shabby opportunities. Kentucky is not the only program in the country. You have to like what Coach Anderson has done at Missouri. He could stay there and become a legend with that program. If he left, Mizzou is already at the point where it would be considered a great opportunity for someone else.
posted by beaverboard at 11:50 AM on March 30, 2009
I hope he goes, and Xavier Henry and some of his other recruits that chose Memphis over KU have a change of heart!
(Homer post over)
posted by brainofdtrain at 01:05 AM on April 01, 2009
Xavier Henry still needs to be released by Memphis before he can follow Cal.
Thats a rule the NCAA needs to change.
posted by WolfpackMD at 01:38 PM on April 01, 2009
Johnson, the athletic director, from this ESPN article:
Johnson said each recruit has a clause freeing him to go elsewhere if Calipari left for any reason, so they will try to re-recruit those players too.
posted by bperk at 04:19 PM on April 01, 2009
Kentucky fires Gillispie because he wasn't the proper "face" for their program (and he lost too many games). Now they are thinking about Calipari. Sure he wins and wins alot, but at what cost? Would Kentucky hire a person that recruits student?/atheltes that leave after 1 or 2 years just to win? On the "face" of this I think this would make Kentucky look desperate to catch up to UNC, Duke, UCONN, MSU and other programs at any cost. Kentucky, even to me as a non-fan of them is a special program. I think this hire would cheapen them even if they did win more games.