It had to happen. Now, finally, John Calipari, Kentucky can move on ...
All breakups are not bad breakups. It’s news that might not have made you feel better as a teenager, but as an adult, most people can see the wisdom. Expect this Monday to contain plenty of “It’s not you, it’s me (but it’s really you)” from John Calipari and Kentucky. If the average marriage today does indeed last a bit over 6 years, it’s really remarkable that Calipari and Kentucky managed to double that and add a little bit more before parting. But Arkansas and a truck full of chicken money came calling, and a beautiful relationship turned sour finally ended.
But here’s the thing: This split is a good thing. For both sides.
Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation will get dragged across the coals a bit today. How dare they not revere and admire Calipari and make him feel more welcome, etc., etc. Those sentiments really can only be delivered by someone who hasn’t experienced the Calipari of the past 4 seasons. Since college basketball shut down in March 2020, Kentucky has won 1 NCAA Tournament game and 1 SEC Tournament game. No conference titles. no Sweet 16s and 2 embarrassing first-round NCAA folds.
It’s the kind of run that got Billy Gillispie run out of town in 2 seasons and made Tubby Smith’s final years a bit quicker and less comfortable than he might have wished.
Two things can be true. Kentucky’s passionate fan base can be a bit over the top. And Calipari failed to produce the kind of production that his position (and massive salary) demanded.
For Kentucky, it’s a fresh start. Hire a coach who is again willing to kiss babies and answer difficult questions. Find a guy who is a little less prone to turn everything into an NBA G-League commercial. For that matter, hire a coach who actually produces young assistants who become coaches. Part of the reason that Calipari is difficult to replace is that he has absolutely zero coaching tree. Not even a twig. There’s no Tubby Smith to hire as there was in the days of Rick Pitino. (Speaking of, BBN, would you like to see him return?)
Kentucky can’t be motivated by fear. There’s no shortage of coaches with more than 2 postseason wins over the past 4 years. The UK job admittedly isn’t for just anybody (ahem, Gillispie), but it’s for plenty of coaches ready to make a splash. Will recruiting take a step back? Probably. But a leap forward in on-court strategy and player development can easily offset that.
Who should Kentucky get to replace John Calipari?
Our @cjogara says there’s 1 current SEC coach who should be at the top of the Wildcats’ list: pic.twitter.com/MNGM7gM8bj
— Saturday Down South (@SatDownSouth) April 8, 2024
Calipari probably isn’t going to be considered blameless, either. We’re talking about a guy who was turning down massive NBA offers and is now taking a (rumored) pay cut to move within the Southeastern Conference. About the time that Calipari became the poster boy for March beatings from Saint Peter’s and Oakland, his image definitely took a hit. When the game moved on from one-and-done, it’s entirely possible it left Calipari behind. Or not.
For Calipari, it’s also a fresh start. Time to prove that you can win a meaningful basketball game again. Time to prove that doing things you way isn’t just a point of diminishing returns. If the man can recruit good players at UMass and Memphis, he can recruit them at Arkansas. It’s time to get back to coaching them, developing them, and maybe building slightly less mercenary relationships.
Frankly, it’s a chance to get rid of some dead weight in the support staff. Early reports suggested that Calipari intends to hire his son, Brad. That seems unwise. Just like Kentucky needs a young, hungry coach, Calipari needs to find a few who can work under him and help him avoid becoming a dinosaur.
He’s a Hall of Fame coach who has already taken 3 schools to the Final Four. If he has a rebuild left in his system, it’s time to fire it up. For a coach who loves to work from the Me/Us vs. the World, back-to-the-wall angle, it’s another chance.
So for Kentucky and Calipari, cue up Boyz II Men singing “End of the Road.” Sway rhythmically, maybe even shed a few tears. And then move on. You’ve both got work to do. But today, you’ve got the freedom to start doing it.
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Win/win for both fan bases. Cal was checked out here. Had isolated himself from the athletics department and the local media. Basically, still married but sleeping in different beds. Now, UK doesn’t have to pay $30m to fire him and can start fresh with someone, and we will certainly be swinging for the fences.
And Arky gets a new life breathed into them as well. I’ll tell ya – have fun getting all the NBA players you will be getting – it is fun. We are over it – we would rather have a shot at a title.
Be careful what you wish for. Change can be good…but not always.
True- but this was an inevitable parting of ways… Cal just decided to be preemptive with this move. And it is a good move for him. But what poster said is true- no relationship with the local media, boosters, etc… Anyone that dared to question any part of Cal’s strategy/coaching/recruiting was shunned. I hope he’s humble enough to bring a fresh outlook to Fayetteville. And Kentucky can now use that buyout money they saved to bring in somebody who is more focused on the program than just touting how many Wildcats are on NBA rosters. The thing is that is not a mutually exclusive goal, but Cal was having an ever more difficult time understanding that.
Cal knew he really want not wanted at Kentucky, so he took an easy exit & by doing so saved UK $33 Million. At his age he’s not changing anything about his recruiting and coaching but as the article states “All breakups are not bad”. Many times a fresh-start creates a new energy for both parties. It is surprising to me that Cal did not want most of his Buyout(which shows how bad he wanted out of Kentucky). Any AD who signs any coach to a “lifetime-contract” like Cals should see a psychologist immediately. Note: lesson for all SEC AD’s out there=Do not ever do it. Congrats Kentucky, so mow move on.
Who is KY’s number one target?
Mark Few from Gonzaga would be on my short list.
Jon Gruden will undoubtedly be mentioned.
As
Sick as it would make me .. the uk AD needs to call the Florida icon .. Billy D! I think he might be ready to be done in the nba. No gator fan in the world would want see coach Donavon on the opposite side at his court in the o dome , but uk and Billy have a long relationship going back many years . I know they have tried to get him
To Lexington before … it might be the time .
Totally understand that point. And Billy D would be welcomed with open arms in Lexington. For a guy that turned the job down twice already, he somehow managed to not burn the bridges leading into Lexington… Classy guy and admired by college basketball fans.
I think Billy D had made it clear that he doesn’t want the UK job. Unless he is totally sick of the NBA, I don’t see him taking it.
Donovan would be great, as far as I’m concerned, if he’s interested.
Sounds like Billy Donovan rumors heating up…
I respect Coach Cal for this – he could have remained at UK and coasted knowing he’d receive a big buyout
I agree…it was classy to save us the buyout. He said we would leave if and when the fans no longer wanted him. No complaints.
Funny how media talking about a splash hire for Arkansas, but absolutely nothing out of the fanbase. Arkansas job a lot like Memphis job for Cal.
We’re here…..still in shock I guess. Arkansas job like the Memphis job? Learn some history.
Calipari might have you guys back to where Nolan Richardson had you a few years back. If and when your assistant coaches start leaving in droves, he will probably be near the end of his tenure there. In the meantime you should have some really good years.
Let’s see Memphis has 2 national runner-ups, Arky has a title and 1 runner up. Arky is 7 titles behind UK, Memphis is 8 behind. Final 4’s 6, Memphis 3, Elite 8’s 8, Memphis 6. So when you compare where Cal has been and now going to be at Arkansas…..UK 8 National Titles, 17 Final 4’s, 38 Elite 8’s, yeah Arkansas and Memphis are very similar. I understand Arkansas ranks 43rd in math scores in the nation but this isn’t even 3rd grade level stuff.
Most importantly, if you think Cal is going to Arkansas to embrace its basketball tradition you are in for a rude awakening! Cal going to Arkansas to continue everything Calipari and players 1st mentality all the way across the board.
This will sound odd but Cal seemed to change after he was suggesting that Rupp arena name should be changed. I think he was surprised that people didn’t jump in and want change it to Calipari Arena. With Cal’s level of narcissism it wouldn’t surprise me. He then proceeded to “coach” to a 9-16 record that seemed like he intentionally run into the ground.
You gotta wonder how bad Cal wanted out of KY, evidently extremely bad.
And the vast number of fans wanted him out of Ky as well.
I understand that, and believe you’re 100% correct. But you’d think he would be a little picky about his next stop, or at least chose a little more wisely.
Arkansas has a good basketball history.
Cal never changed a game plan regardless of the issues of it being the wrong one. Most High School coaches would have shifted to a different defensive strategy after getting burned by so many easy open 3 pointers in the first half of the Oakland game. South Carolina did it in the second half against Iowa and it shut down Clark.That is good coaching.
I would prefer a second tier coach not on everyone’s list such as Shaka Smart. I know he bombed at Texas, but he was a bit too young to be in that hostile fan environment. He has excelled at Marquette.
I think it is a win for UK, it is to be seen if it is a win for Arkansas. Calipari has to show he can win in today’s college basketball world. His past few years puts that in doubt.
When Calipari took part in taking a knee during the National Anthem many KY fans were done with Coach Cal. He should have been fired on the spot
Nobody walks away from a $30 million buyout. AD must have a dirty card he could have played to void the contract.
He had to get fired to get that buyout. He didn’t walk away from anything that he had coming to him. He got a nice contract from Arkansas. He will be fine.