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I wasn’t going to address Calipari to Kentucky, until I read this

by Alex Bozich in Commentary | March 31st, 2009

Greg Doyel is a columnist for CBS Sportsline. He is, putting it bluntly, a sensationalist. He either loves something or he absolutely loathes it. So it was no surprise when someone called the following passage in his latest piece to my attention:

College basketball as you know it? It’s over. That sport doesn’t exist anymore, because that sport had a semblance of parity. One year North Carolina is the dominant program. One year it’s UConn. One year it’s Duke or UCLA or Florida. Maybe those teams don’t win the national title the year they’re dominant, or maybe they do. Either way, every year there is a team that, on paper, is the dominant program in college basketball. And every year it’s a different team.

Until now. Until John Calipari merges with Kentucky.

Don’t get me wrong. I think Calipari will be great at Kentucky. Do I think he’ll win a title? It’s probably a good bet. Multiple titles? Not out of the realm of possibility, either.

What I don’t believe is that college basketball as we currently know it is over because John Calipari is reportedly the new coach at UK. Maybe I missed something, but Roy Williams is still loading up at North Carolina, Rick Pitino is still in charge at Louisville, Tom Izzo is still getting to the Final Four in East Lansing and Tom Crean is just getting started in Bloomington.

Sure, it’s a scary thought when you combine a top-notch recruiter like Calipari with the facilities, fanbase and tradition that exist in Lexington. If Calipari keeps his nose out of the dirt and wins big, it’s a match made in heaven. The hunger to win for a rabid fanbase that hasn’t been to a Final Four since 1998 will be satisfied.

But there’s also the other side of the coin: awful graduation rates, a possible lack of discipline, a vacated Final Four appearance at UMass and of course, William Wesley. So before we go anointing a dynasty in Lexington, let’s let this all play out … shall we, Mr. Doyel?

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  • stephen
    i don't see how calipari being at kentucky will make him more or less likely to win a championship. the guy got top 5 recruiting classes every year he was at memphis and couldn't get it done. when he gets top 5 recruiting classes at uk, he still doesn't have the tools as a coach to go far into the tournament. calipari is an excellent recruiter, he's not a terrific coach. every year (except last year with d. rose) calipari loses to a less talented team in the NCAA tourney, why is that? he doesn't teach fundamentals, their offense works well in cUSA but often faulters against teams that actually play good defense. I think this will show up more as he coaches in a tougher conference.

    I am so glad the hoosiers didn't entertain the idea of bringing him to bloomington. But i do look forward to the UK-IU games being premiere matuchups in the near future. we've both fallen a ways since our last big meeting in '94.
  • Hoosier_Hound
    That's exactly what I was thinking. He was already getting the best recruits possible at Memphis, there's really no room for improvement. What did improve, by loads, was the schedule he'll have to face. He did try to schedule up some at Memphis, but it's still just Memphis in the CUSA. At Kentucky he'll face IU and UL every year, and UNC and/or KU a lot of years in the non-conference. Then he's in the SEC which, while not the greatest conference, is significantly better than CUSA, especially the coaches.

    Now I don't think he'll fail by any means. I expect Kentucky to perform at just about the same level as Memphis has recently. The overall record won't be as gaudy because he'll have to suffer in conference losses now, but Kentucky will be a power under him. A national championship isn't out of the question.

    Go Hoosiers! Kick his ass Tom!
  • This is a good article. Many of my UK fans that I know believe this. I see Calipari being tough at UK. But there are so many good players out there and so many good coaches that not one program is going to dominate like UCLA did back in the wooden days. Why haven't we seen another undefeated team because it is so hard to do. Uk will be good in the near future and will win championships again but dominate the sport that won't happen.
  • What a perfect hire for Kentucky. Calipari fits perfectly into the win at all cost motto that reigns at UK. The schools lack of regard for most rules will suit Calipari perfectly. Sure Cal has avoided major investigation thus far, but would anybody be surprised if something comes up. That's the difference between us and them. We are just as rabid about basketball, but we have to win the right way and with respect. Kentucky doesn't care. Just win, even if you have to bend a few rules and recruit guys that may or may not beat their girlfriends. Allegedly. This rivalry will continue as it always has, the good (crimson) vs. the bad and the ugly (blue).
  • RockChalk
    There's this guy named Bill Self who might have something to say in this mix.
  • hoosier07
    well said alex
  • this to me just makes things right again! i love IUs hire in crean... he seems stooped in tradition, working hard, and doing things the right way... coach cal just reminds me of a used car salesman in the same reguard that pitino did.. i look forward to the rivalry being between 2 good teams !!
  • GFDave
    Calipari was getting the top recruits at Memphis, so I don't see how his teams at UK can be appreciably more talented.

    But it really only matters to me to the extent that the IU/pUKe rivalry has the potential to be really spicey for the forseeable future. God, I hate them.
  • Kelin Blab
    Did I miss something....Calipari has never won a championship right? But this is GREAT....set the KY expectations even HIGHER now and watch by 2011 see they don't start calling for Cal's head. I love it.....and they will!
  • Hardwood83
    Well said- could expectations BE any higher? Nothing short of multiple NC's in the first few years will meet them. I look forward to the crushed dreams and grinding disappointment for UK. I would have preferred they not get Calipari, but it isn't the end of the world either.
  • Kelin Blab
    Does KY come to bloomington next year?
  • Ryan_Dallas
    I don't really know why, but I get that feeling that Calipari is dirty. Maybe it's because he dresses like he's got the slicked back hair and nice suits. I don't know. But what I do know for sure is him being at Kentucky isn't good for those of us who hate Kentucky. I know every Hoosier despises them. But growing up on the Ohio River, literally 5 minutes from the other side, you really get tired of the UK lovers and UK. If he really is dirty, it 's the worst type of dirty...because he's smart. Not like Kelvin Sampson, making phone calls and things like that. The type of stuff that's really bad but no one ever finds out about. Again, I'm just totally making this up, but I just get that feeling about the guy. Now he's going to have the best resources and a long line of wealthy horse trainers and farmers ready to help him with whatever he needs. Could hurt some midwest recruiting also.
  • uIUt
  • CutterInChicago
    Good post there.
  • cooper
    I don't completely agree with the article but I do believe he'll field a top 10 program consistently and win a couple of titles. He will dominate the SEC like CUSA (though thats not saying much) The man is a recruiting machine, and as far as Camby that was him and an agent, not a recruiting violation. I'm not sure why he gets such a bad rep, no one says anything about UNC which gets all great recruits. I assume its because Memphis is not a great school and its easy to get in to, but thats not because of Calipari, the school has always been easy to get into.
  • IUTX
    Wes
  • tetkalee
    Lexington news station is saying that t-shirts are being printed that read "Envy our Past, Fear our Future"

    didn't IU print off some similar comment on our calendars last year when Crean came to town?

    what a ripoff!

    can anyone tell me what is said on our calendars about our past and future?
  • LC
    ours said "Passion for the past, excitement for the future" Not quite as cocky as their's, but the same general idea.
  • tetkalee
    still...get original UK
  • plane1972
    Calipari has not proven he can coach without horses. He is an amazing recruiter (or Worldwide Wes is), but he gets outcoached (see Mike Anderson in the Sweet 16). We will see what he is made of when he faces a real conference schedule against the likes of Billy Donovan, Bruce Pearl, Trent Johnson and Anthony Grant. He also doesn't have a special talent in Derrick Rose running is dribble-drive motion offense either (see the late season move to Tyreke Evans).

    I venture to say that is the real reason he had such a difficult time deciding on this job. He wasn't sure he could match up with proven Xs and Os guys listed above. He won't win on shear talent alone. Just think of the pressure he will have if he has failed to deliver a title within the next 5 years.
  • cooper
    The SEC doesn't recruit well, see one McD's All American next year. They are football schools except for UK. Kids want two things from their school in my opinion to go to the NBA and be "the man" on campus. Calipari has a rep for getting players to the NVA and UK is the only school in SEC where that can happen. I live in FL and can tell you every UF fan would rather the football team win 1 title than the bball team win ever. Its probably the same at the other schools too. He will have so much more talent than the other schools it will be ridiculous. Donovan was an idiot not to take the job
  • Chris
    Is that a dildo on the table in front of Calipari??
  • Jack
    The SEC is about to get much better with Cal, Grant, and a new UGa coach that I believe will be quite good. Miss St has a good program, Florida will be back up, and Ark is going to improve with Pelphrey I believe.
  • I understand Calipari has always been a great recruiter, and a national recruiter at that for a long time. But, where I think this could really affect IU is that there's no doubt being at UK Calipari will put much more focus on recruiting Indiana than he ever did at UMass or Memphis.

    That's what makes me a little nervous, especially coming off the heels of the last 10 years or so where we saw Oden, Conley, May, McRoberts, Garnder, Zeller, James and more leaving the state. Even getting a handful of the guys that have left could have dramatically changed the recent past.

    I've said before, I'm not a fan that thinks we need all Indiana players, but we do need the best of the best staying, and that hasn't happened for a long time, and is only getting tougher with Patino and Cal in our backyard.

    With all that said. I'm very happy and excited with Crean leading the charge, if it wasn't a challenge, then it wouldn't be as much fun!
  • Disco_Briscoe
    I'm waiting to see what goes on with Kentucky and Memphis recruits...could make the next few months pretty interesting.
  • Taskmaster75
    I would sacrifice my left arm for Demarcus Cousins, but they are as good as gone to Kentucky.
  • Hoopshopper
    Calipari's hire at Kentucky naturally thrusts his "rivalry" with Rick Pitino into the spotlight, but the adverse effects are surely to hit hard in Bloomington. The recruiting territory is getting awfully crowded, and regardless of how the IU program spins it, there has to be some sense of urgency. With Indianapolis geographically closer to Lexington than Memphis, it is only natural that Calipari will be scouring the circle city for top-notch talent. Can IU and Tom Crean keep the top talent in state? Rick Pitino and Thad Matta have both shown that they can convince players to head out of state, so it does beg questioning.
  • MillaRed
    A few things to note here.....

    Memphis was a great place to go for a lot of athletes that really didn't want to be a student. Maybe Kentucky has a higher standard? Not sure.

    National championships? Hold your horses people. I say a few possible Sweet 16s in the next 5 years but that's putting the cart WAY before the horse.

    With Crean in place we are no longer in trouble recruiting in the state. He recruits system players that want to go to class and the rest of the country can have the leftovers.

    May, Oden, Conley etc? May left because Knight left. Who would have wanted to play for Mike Davis in the latter years? Sampson was a ticking time bomb. We now have the foundation for the strong recruits in Indianapolis and Gary to take IU seriously. I don't anticipate Calipari being a major problem in this area.

    Does the University of Kentucky have any pride whatsoever? I too grew up on the other side of the river and remember quite vividly what the locals can be like when watching their team. If an all out fist fight wasn't on the verge of happening the F bombs were dropping like flies. None of this surprises me at all.
  • preston1
    What is going to happen to the scholarship players at and coming to Kentucky next year? Better be careful at how you use them. You know he had trouble at Mass. too
  • Fife Dog
    The last time an Italian was hired to lead a bunch of rowdy inbreds to the promise land it was Ceaser and the Romans and how did that work out?
  • Isn't Patino Italian? Pretty sure that worked out ok for Kentucky :)

    Hopefully this ends up much worse for them.
  • MemphisHoosier
    take this from someone who has seen this stuff first hand. cal is as dirty and smart as they come. he knows how to not get caught and how to get his players the things they want. i got so sick and tired of seeing these guys roll around town in their new cars. In memphis cal didn't have the media attention he will at kentucky and if he tries the same things with his friends of the program like mr. west he will be caught a lot quicker than he thinks.
  • Scott W
    Yes, finally someone addressed Calipari ties to William Wesley
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