CC - John Calipari
Top five recruiting class every year. Only one national title to show for. Folks down south are getting tired of him. He is losing to Oakland as we speak - if he’s out the first weekend of March Madness (again) I think he will have a very hot seat. Let’s bring him in and restructure Michigan basketball.
Might wanna guard the guy with 9 threes.
Would Louisville ever hire another former Kentucky coach after Cal gets fired tomorrow? That would help Michigan by eliminating competition for other quality coaches.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:09 PM ^
Louisville is a much better job than Michigan so I wouldn't anticipate us going after the same coaches. Unfortunately there's levels to this.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:22 PM ^
UofL and UM are reportedly both after Dusty May, so....
March 21st, 2024 at 10:41 PM ^
I'm glad Calipari lost but KY would have to pay him $33 million to leave. That's a lot of bourbon.
That's a lot of KY's jelly.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:22 PM ^
Too soon!!!
I'm still saying that about Dante DiVencenzo!
March 21st, 2024 at 10:26 PM ^
Did you watch? The kid (Jack Gohlke) that hit 10 3’s hit most of if not all on contested shots give Oakland U their credit they deserve.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:56 PM ^
I was unfortunately not tuned in but I can only imagine this performance is reminiscent of Steph Curry ala Davison? Are we allowed to root for Oakland here? Go Golden Grizz!
I went to OU, so yes, I declare it is allowed!
Admittedly, I did not watch. Just looked at stats. I had UK pretty far in the tourney and bracket is now busted, so I was pissed. Now I have no reason to watch the games.
Came from a Div 2 school and tore up Kentucky and it's NBA prospects.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:40 PM ^
They gave a stat on him in the postgame that he took 355 shots this season and only EIGHT of those were from two!
He never stopped shooting.
I'm not saying I like Coach Cal, but if he wanted to come to Michigan (also not saying that's likely) you absolutely go get him. Not even a question.
Uh yes, it is definitely a question.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:06 PM ^
And the answer to that question is ‘no’.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:41 PM ^
This has to be the only fanbase in the country that would be conflicted over hiring a hall of fame coach, in favor of Niko Medved, because Nike Medved "has good two point efficiency".
If we were talking Cal vs Oats, Few, Musselman, even Shaka ... I'd be indifferent. But Calipari against the completely unimpressive list of perceived candidates we're allegedly looking at? Not even close.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:07 PM ^
Hold up. Prior to UK’s glorious failure tonight, nobody would’ve considered Calipari even an option so your comparison with Medved is a relatively new train of thought that is less than an hour old and one I don’t see a lot of people directly comparing.
I’d also say the guy has zero redeemable personality traits the common fan, outside of UK diehards, enjoy. Would you consider him? Idk, sure? But he has an embarrassment of riches every year and his teams should be Final Four or bust at the very least. You gotta admit that lately, he’s kinda bust. He’s obviously a great recruiter but he puts an NBA G league team in terms of talent on the floor every time they play. Hell, his bench could compete with most mid-major programs but if the proof is in the pudding, his missing the sugar.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:49 PM ^
Like I said above, there's basically a zero percent chance he'd come to Michigan anyway, and I don't even really care for the guy. But given Michigan's situation, the idea that Calipari is someone we'd pass on is ridiculous. We can't even poach a coach from Creighton or Marquette.
He gets in the tournament every single year. If that's the floor, then I'll worry about the ceiling later. He hasn't won a championship in a while? Well, he'll fit right in with the rest of the Big Ten coaches then.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:59 AM ^
We literally fired Juwan less than a week ago how do you know who we cant poach when both the coaches you mentioned are still coaching this year
If you have even one scruple, the answer is No. you don’t need a lot of scruples. Just one is enough to toss the idea out the door.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:54 PM ^
“I’d also say the guy has zero redeemable personality traits the common fan, outside of UK diehards, enjoy.”
-Buddy, let me tell you, die hard UK fans wanted him gone years ago. He has bashed the fan base multiple times when adversity hit, hes blamed players for losses, and has alienated donors along with UK media. I personally was over his antics last year but this guy has really pissed off the fan base the last 5 years especially with the on court performance. No way do you let a guy score 10 3’s with the type of talent on the roster. Yet again, the D shouldn’t be ranked in the 100’s either. No one in Lexington enjoys his antics whatsoever.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:07 AM ^
I have no dog in this fight and I’ll defer to your judgement, good sir. Also, is Ashley Judd nice in person? She seems really nice.
No to even the idea of Calipari. He is the antithesis of everything we hold dear. He is the anti-Beilein. Instead of developing players and culture, he buys young kids and runs them out there to win on sheer talent. No.
Whoa, this guy is a little bit upset.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
CC: THIS GUY HERE
Damn that is a fun analysis if you’re not a Kentucky fan.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:14 PM ^
The guy has struggled to win consistently at KENTUCKY the last ten years....literally the mecca of college basketball. Why would you think he could consistently win here?
He's also 65 years old. I'd rather hire someone in their prime that will at least be here 10-15 years.
Calipari wouldn't be able to run the program his way at Michigan, and it's been at least 24 years since he operated any other way. He would cost a ton of money and inevitably fail.
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:24 AM ^
Calipari is past his sell-by date. 1-5 in the tournament recently. Would you buy old calamari? No? Then avoid Calipari.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:00 PM ^
Coach Cal's philo$ophy for playing ball (off the court) is a terrible match for how Michigan wants to play ball (off the court). It would be a terrible match.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:36 PM ^
Why? All that talent and he loses wary in the tournament more than he should. Not to mention UK basketball is the NIL equivalent of football Bama, Texas, OSU. Not only would Calipari not be able to reproduce the recruiting success at Michigan, but there’s very little indication that he’s an elite coach.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:02 PM ^
Agree, keep him away from UM. Seems like someone that doesn't follow the rules
March 21st, 2024 at 10:12 PM ^
Why talk about Calipari vs talking about Kampe.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:42 PM ^
I know another guy who constantly challenged the NCAA. He just won us a championship in football.
Kentucky fans have some awfully long faces right now..I hope it lasts
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:54 AM ^
Long like horses.
Calipari would never go to a place that would put so many restrictions on his ability to get those top-5 recruiting classes.
Michigan would never hire someone who has such baggage.
I mean, if he shows interest you hear him out, but I don't think he'd be a good fit.
It's the other way around John Calipari would never work for a school that lets it's best players walk. Our basketball program is an absolute joke so let's not act like it's Michigan that's deciding who coaches here next.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:43 PM ^
I shall remind you, and others, that Michigan is a university with a basketball program and not a basketball program with a university.
For those that don't like the culture at Michigan and want the teams to be the highest bidder for recruits and player retention and to allow incoming transfers regardless of academic standards and requirements, I would suggest becoming a fan of another school's teams and save yourself from needless aggravation.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:14 PM ^
Yeah, I always wonder about people demanding we start paying players more or abandon our admissions policies. Forget about whether our system is "better" than other schools' — it's at least one of the things that makes Michigan special. If you want to cheer for a school that bends its standards for any one-and-done player who wants to come there ... there are lots of schools to choose from.
Some of us choose to cheer for Michigan because we believe it stands for something, and we value that. I'm not saying it's "better" or anything like that. It's just ... who we are. If you don't like it, go cheer for Texas A&M or Ohio State.
So if UM hires a new AD changes their approach, will you go root for another school? You are right that their are plenty of others.
Or would you continue to root for the school you have always rooted for?
+1 DFDM. As an alum I care about the school beyond the teams. My degree matters more.
There are over 500k alums. Let's say 50 athletes (5 basketball players/year for 10 years) get preferential/undeserving degrees. Is that really reducing the value of your degree vs the 500k "deserving" grads? I can see on disagreeing on principle, but not in actual perception. I knew someone who was a professor's son (non-athlete), and he didn't know 10th grade math in his sophomore year at UM.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:24 PM ^
lol Is it lonely up there on your pedestal? That is to say that the recently fired HC, who by all means is considered a legend at Michigan and considered himself a “Michigan Man”, intentionally tried to recruit the players you’re saying we don’t want. While it looks like we dodged a bullet with Shannon Jr., fans and alumni would’ve been doing backflips if any of the recent academically-ineligible players actually made it through admissions and suited up in a Michigan jersey.
You make it seem as if the most talented players are only money-hungry idiots who can’t possibly be bothered with academics. Are some only in it for $$ given the current landscape? Of course but if you expect every recruit that is NBA lottery pick-ready after their freshman or sophomore years to stay on as a Graduate-level student athlete, boy have I got a time share in scenic Muncie, Indiana I’d love to cut you in on.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:53 PM ^
Is Duke a basketball program with a university? Is our pedestal above them as well? They seem to find a way to do both.