Calipari confirms departure from Kentucky
Via video posted to his X profile. Still no confirmation of his move to Arkansas, but it's probably just a matter of time.
https://twitter.com/UKCoachCalipari/status/1777761913964843518?t=nsTbYuLRPijqvKWAhYHb1Q&s=19
I still find this crazy.
But there we people on "the edge of internet" stating this as such and that Michigan may be a candidate for him. At the time, I was thought there is no way he'd leave Kentucky for Michigan, but perhaps we were wrong on this.
Based on age and trajectory, I am much more excited about Dusty May at Michigan versus Calipari. Calipari has had a good run. My guess is he will have a few good years at Arkansas, the program will decline and he will jump ship with a lot of money his bank account.
I actually thought Arkansas already hired him. Probably just people trying to get ahead of the story. He's going to have a hard time competing now that everybody pays players. Plus the young, one and done, teams never create any continuity.
It was stated yesterday by Matt Norlander that Cal was interested in both Michigan in OSU and reached out
I guess I could see Calipari sort of beating the posse out of town and reaching out to both UM and OSU because they were available Big 2 jobs but I'm comfortable saying UM was never going to seriously consider him as HC and OSU wasn't all that likely either. The way he runs programs simply wasn't going to work at UM from a logistical or perception standpoint, and while I'm sure UM has money Cal seemingly despises being second fiddle to another sport and he'd never be the biggest game in town with football. That means he'd be fighting for resources, relatively speaking, between basketball and football and he already has gotten into numerous fights with Stoops at UK in situations where he's had the high ground.
Lot of money in Ark. Whether they are bb fans in another story. It's fb country out thataway.
Arkansas has Big Chicken money. That reminds me, Brian mentioned that Oklahoma State doesn’t have NIL resources, or something like that. And, yes, while T. Boone Pickens died in 2019, his foundation gave OSU $120M last year. I’m pretty sure if they want to funnel that through football and/or basketball NIL, they’ll find a way.
I dunno. The Nolan Richardson days weren't all that long ago. The fact that they're taking a gamble on Calipari is probably an indication that they think they can recapture that glory.
I actually felt the opposite. I totally could have seen Cal being interested in Michigan, I just couldn’t see it being reciprocated. Cal was/is losing a lot of goodwill at Kentucky the last few years. I totally understood him seeing the writing on the wall and looking for a soft landing.
BUT I thought (hoped) Michigan would see the results the past few years and stay away. Kentucky gets insane talent that Calipari simply would not have access to at Michigan and the results the past 5 years have been pretty middling with only 1 tournament win. The record looks decent on the surface but factor in the talent on hand and also the tourney losses being ugly and it’s pretty disappointing.
He’s no doubt one of the best coaches of this generation but I don’t see the fit with Michigan and it honestly seems like the game is starting to pass him by a bit.
I agree, I don't see a perfect fit with Michigan, but if what the poster said above is true (in that Cal reached out to us), I'm not sure Dusty May is a better hire compared to Cal in the short term.
Idk. I’d definitely rather have a young, up and coming coach that built a program from nothing than a 65 year old that underperformed with the insane talent on hand at Kentucky with 1 tournament win in 5 years and opening round losses to a 13 and 15 seed.
Given a choice between a young up-and-comer with promising early results and an older guy with a track record who is nearing the twilight of his career, Warde seems to prefer the former.
And so do I. Warde made the right choice, no doubt. Calipari has accomplished very little the last 5 years relative to the talent level of players he's had. His best days are definitely behind him.
If his name was out there you better believe his team put it out there. Same with Brian Kelly. He wanted the Michigan job for sure.
Norlander said he was most interested in OSU
In handcuffs?
Imagine if that squeaky clean dude woulda ever bought a recruit a Big Mac, fries, and a coke. HOF career over.
....or some coke.
NIL was the best and worst thing to ever happen to him as a coach. On the one hand, he gets to leave a collegiate job without vacating an entire season(s); on the other hand, he no longer has a huge advantage in recruiting now that everyone's doing it.
Yep. We'll see if he soon decides to retire "pulling a Saban". "The game just ain't the same anymore, man". Translation: "I can't cheat anymore to pull elite players. This sucks. F this I'm out"
I know people just think of him as an elite recruiter, but there was a point in time where he was also considered a great Xs and Os coach, particularly on the defensive side. Dude took three different schools (including UMass) to the Final Four.
Now granted he is on the tail end of his career, but I think he could surprise people with what he could do with slightly less talent, but more continuity (i.e. 4*s but not one-and-dones).
Maybe he was a good X's & O's coach back in the day. But that day has long gone out the window. Kentucky barely even runs an offense and just tries to out athlete everyone, all the time.
Woo Pig Sooie!!!!!
The "Arkansas" brand in basketball does not really compare to the "Kentucky" brand.
I bet he has some success, but his 5 star freshmen 1 and done method probably has to change.
During one of his last post-game interviews he seemed to highlight his players who got drafted as a major accomplishment for the program, but also seemed to indicate that their young lineups were susceptible to older teams in March. Reading the tea leaves here, but I feel like he and Kentucky felt stuck in a slightly outdated system that worked at one point in time, but maybe didn't work so well, now, with all the changes to the game.
It’s a crazy new world in major college sports.
That video of him being harassed ,while walking his dog (and maybe grandchild) is crazy ! Harass em, hound em , stick 76 microphones in their face during his job as a basketball coach . Not while he’s trying to live a normal life .
So…. How long will Ryan Day stay fired after losing to Michigan in November?
Good topic for mgoblog Podcast
We should totally do a new post when Arkansas releases their press release confirming Cal's confirmation.
I’m always grateful for what Brian and Co. have created here at mgo. Being also a UK fan, rupp rafters forums is the complete 180 of the fans here. They’re irrational, hypocritical and just downright awful. People wishing ill will to a coach that delivered a national championship, multiple final fours and great NBA players, because of what he’s done lately or cause of political views (yes, insanity), is downright embarrassing. I think it was time for both parties to move on but the crap some of these fans are spewing nasty. Makes me sad and ashamed to the state of affairs and their entitlement
Live in Arkansas and while when football is good, it reigns supreme basketball is not far behind especially with their recent “success” and footballs lack of it. Rumor down here is Tyson is donating 6-10 million a year for NIL to get Coach Cal. No verifiable sources, strictly rumor but that could very well be how they landed him.
Guards Dillingham and Sheppard will be lottery picks. Kentucky is in for a major slide. You can't win with just all American HS freshmen when you are playing against 23 year olds. It will be interesting who goes and who stays at UConn, who have shown the new blueprint on how to win in college.
The transfer portal and NIL have ruined the team building strategy that most b10 teams currently use. I wouldn't be surprised if Dusty May and his aggressive recruiting staff do well, at least in the b10.
John Thompson dodged Greg Kampe. John Calipari didn’t and paid the price.
Maybe John will run into Greg on the links this summer and Greg will apologize. I hope not.