KAEO: John Calipari

[natwam2547]

Northwest Arkansas is a beautiful place... I have some family there and visited for a wedding. Definitely a nice area.

Can confirm. My wife's cousin graduated from there 2 years ago and she got a bunch of her family to get 2 houses down there to celebrate and then take the 3 hour ride north to KC for a few days. I had 0 expectations but was blown away by how nice the campus is and the area itself in general. I bet you can say that about a lot of the SEC schools (I've only been to Gainesville and Nashville to compare), but Arkansas really impressed me.

[LS71]

^ Is the vitriol from Kentucky fans? They seem to be an entitled ‘what have you done for me lately’ bunch.

[Sheck]

Pitino's name is coming up as a candidate to replace Calipari at Kentucky. LOL.

[TruBluMaroon]

^ Like they do 30 years ago

[PintOGuinness]

Pitino's name is coming up as a candidate to replace Calipari at Kentucky. LOL.

So are Hurley and Oats

[TruBluMaroon]

Pitino's name is coming up as a candidate to replace Calipari at Kentucky. LOL.

So are Hurley and Oats

That’s the same Oats that was teaching high school Algebra eleven (11) years ago

[Mike0473]

Pitino's name is coming up as a candidate to replace Calipari at Kentucky. LOL.

So are Hurley and Oats

Is Kentucky a better job than Uconn?

[Mike0473]

5 year deal to become the next head coach of Arkansas, wow, did not see that coming. A lot less stressful than Kentucky.

Does John Calipari now make more than all current MAC coaches and assistants combined?

[69MG]

How would this be as Cal's parting gift to KY? First, most of his #1 recruiting class follows him to Arkansas. It's possible, but who knows. He sends KY's freshman backup center, Aaron Bradshaw, to UMass. Bradshaw played behind Tre last year and got about 14 minutes a game. He just entered the Transfer Portal. Not great stats, but I think he would do very well at UMass. And, he's from NJ so the northeast won't bother him. From his UK bio:

HIGH SCHOOL
Ranked as high as No. 2 overall by Rivals and 247Sports … McDonald’s All-American … 2023 Iverson Classic selection … NJ.com First-Team All-State … Logged 12.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as a senior at Camden … Averaged 8.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game as a junior while helping Camden to the NJSIAA Group 2 state championship … Played for NJ Scholars on the EYBL circuit, averaging 12.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks … Tallied three double-doubles during Peach Jam prior to senior season.

[PintOGuinness]

Pitino's name is coming up as a candidate to replace Calipari at Kentucky. LOL.

So are Hurley and Oats

Is Kentucky a better job than Uconn?

I guess it depends on what your definition of 'better' is. Obviously both Kentucky and UConn are marquee jobs with a steep tradition of winning and tons of fan and alumni support. But Kent fans and alums are wayy over the top and I would think that would be a turn-off for any top tier coach.

Flip side, UConn is not currently in a power conference(mainly because of football) And joining the ACC might not solve this problem for them, esp if the ACC football first schools(Miami, Clemson, Fla St, Va Tech) all bolt for either the B10 or SEC.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

So the players meeting at Cal's house was canceled - could we have a Kelsey situation???

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

^ Is the vitriol from Kentucky fans? They seem to be an entitled ‘what have you done for me lately’ bunch.

If I understand it correctly the fans are pissed because Cal gets a top 5 recruiting class each year and rarely goes into the portal so the fans are pissed that team is so young and unexperienced and in their minds he would be better off using the portal and possibly make deeper runs in the tourney rather than getting 5 1 and dones each year and getting bounced in the 1st or 2nd round.

[inthescoop]

Kentucky fans gonna realize real quick how good they had it with Calipari. The #2 recruiting class in the country for next season, and they're still not happy about it.

The truth is Calipari preaches to the players that he can make them successful NBA players and that is why they commit to him and Kentucky. That is his pride and joy. On the other hand, the fans pride in winning, that is their number one concern.

All in all, Calipari is still doing a hell of a job, but Kentucky fans are a bit spoiled now, and want to chase a national championship which has obviously been Calipari's weak spot.

I never expected him to choose Arkansas out of all places since he turned down much better jobs in the past, but the time is right, and here we are..

[TruBluMaroon]

Pitino's name is coming up as a candidate to replace Calipari at Kentucky. LOL.

So are Hurley and Oats

Is Kentucky a better job than Uconn?

I know someone who worked with DH in a past school and from what I have been told, DH is a very simple, basic guy who I don’t think would be all that into the periphery stuff that would be required and expected at UK…so the UConn job is a better job for Hurley.

[Mike0473]

^ Is the vitriol from Kentucky fans? They seem to be an entitled ‘what have you done for me lately’ bunch.

If I understand it correctly the fans are pissed because Cal gets a top 5 recruiting class each year and rarely goes into the portal so the fans are pissed that team is so young and unexperienced and in their minds he would be better off using the portal and possibly make deeper runs in the tourney rather than getting 5 1 and dones each year and getting bounced in the 1st or 2nd round.

They don't know how good they have it. Calipari is a powerhouse. No doubt Arkansas will quickly become a powerhouse. I have a friend that is a huge Duke fan, and he is unhappy as well despite having a great program to support. I think many of these fan bases look at how Uconn has racked up the championships and wonder why they haven't had the same success. I feel their pain, but KY is crazy to let Cal go. Just nuts.