College GameDay crew vehemently defends John Calipari, labels calls for firing as ‘absurd’
By Ethan Stone
Published:
John Calipari is under some scrutiny after Kentucky fell to 14-seed Oakland in the Round of 64. The Wildcats were the highest rated team to fall in the Round of 64 and have not reached the Sweet Sixteen since 2019.
That’s left a sour taste in the mouths of Big Blue Nation. Several Kentucky fans have called for Calipari and Kentucky to part ways, and reports are that a decision has not been made in either direction earlier Saturday. The fans’ quip is this: Calipari has seen plenty of success at Kentucky, but not in recent years.
Kentucky sports bettors would probably tell you they’d put their money on Cal being out after the Wildcats’ latest first-round exit. But many in the national media are vehemently against that outcome.
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The College GameDay crew raced to defend Calipari Saturday morning. Jay Bilas and Seth Greenberg called the idea of firing Calipari “absurd” and Rece Davis insisted that only 2 people on the planet could coach Kentucky: Cal and Rick Pitino.
Check out their full comments below:
ESPN analysts strongly defended John Calipari against the idea of him being fired by Kentucky. Seth Greenberg and Jay Bilas even called the suggestion “absurd.”
“There are only two people on the planet that can coach Kentucky; it’s Calipari and (Rick) Pitino.” – Rece Davis.
H/T… pic.twitter.com/L4xN9MtgxE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 23, 2024
What’s Next for Coach Calipari?
At a lot of schools around the country, talk to fire John Calipari would sound crazy. I’m not quite sure it sounds crazy for the University of Kentucky, though.
Folks, we’re talking about a school that has won 8 national titles and 3 since the tournament expanded to 64 in 1985. Accepting mediocrity from a school with that much history for the sake of the “glory days” is how powerhouse Indiana becomes modern Indiana.
There’s no doubting Calipari is an icon of the game and he’ll always have his 2012 title and multiple final fours at Kentucky to show for it. But there was simply no reason for Kentucky to have the talent that this 2024 team had and still falter as it did as early as it did.
What do you think? Should UK move on, or should John Calipari get another chance?
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
