John Calipari to Arkansas

[heitclone]

The biggest thing with this move is just how big a mess Kentucky is, they have all the resources in the world but in the nil/portal era the only thing keeping them relevant is the name on their jersey. Arkansas has had much more success this decade, so have Tennessee and Alabama, probably Auburn as well. Kentucky is at best the 4th best program in their own conference. The ship was starting to sink, the rat jumped off.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Gotta love it.

 

[bosco]

The real question is what will the EPA do about the slime trail from Lexington to Fayetteville?

 

[FallOf81]

This thing with "all the resources and money" argument is like putting a dozen super models together in a house and expecting them to get along ... do the chores, etc. Unless you've got one hell of a leader watching the house, it will all go to crap. Me first. I'm prettier. I want more attention and money.

 

[CapnCy]

The biggest thing with this move is just how big a mess Kentucky is, they have all the resources in the world but in the nil/portal era the only thing keeping them relevant is the name on their jersey. Arkansas has had much more success this decade, so have Tennessee and Alabama, probably Auburn as well. Kentucky is at best the 4th best program in their own conference. The ship was starting to sink, the rat jumped off.

That's what i was going to say as well. 5 years ago (well, for many years actually) they were essentially on top of the pile based on their history, ability to basically get one and done rosters, and (let's be honest) they were likely doing some "NIL" stuff before it was legal.

I know it seemed the locals were getting restless as the program was flailing and wonder if this wasn't him getting off the sinking ship before getting fired next year.

I was in Kentucky once at a conference meeting at the hotel attached to the arena and saw a game day...nuts at that time in terms of the atmosphere of the "inside tailgating", lots of folks that looked the part of "rich" etc

 

[Halincandenza]

Crazy fans drive him out. That’s crazy. Also insane Arkansas wanted to pay that much to get him.

 

[FerShizzle]

Kentucky get Scott Drew, Baylor gets Jerome Tang, Kansas State gets sad

This would be amazing. Rid the conference of one dirt-ball and consolidate the only remaining trash coach with the trashiest school.

 

[Messi]

Mark Pope is like plan H for kentucky but id imagine, being an alum, he would take that job in a heartbeat and for cheap

 

[Drew0311]

This would be amazing. Rid the conference of one dirt-ball and consolidate the only remaining trash coach with the trashiest school.

Drew isn't a dirtball. Sorry he just is not. He actually has been coaching at Baylor for a very long time and has had very little problems with his teams.

 

[ISU_Guy]

Other than money and maybe a big "FU" to kentucky for whatever reason, I really don't understand this move.
I figured he would do the typical Big East move and then retire if anything. .

 

[FerShizzle]

Drew isn't a dirtball. Sorry he just is not. He actually has been coaching at Baylor for a very long time and has had very little problems with his teams.

*an unlikeable slime-ball

 

[FerShizzle]

Drew isn't a dirtball. Sorry he just is not. He actually has been coaching at Baylor for a very long time and has had very little problems with his teams.

i can agree he has good sportsmanship and runs a clean program. the way he conducts himself on the sideline is too much to stomach for 20+ years from an outside observer.

 

[Messi]

i can agree he has good sportsmanship and runs a clean program. the way he conducts himself on the sideline is too much to stomach for 20+ years from an outside observer.

you'll just have to skip over CWs chapter about scott drew in his book

 

[Bader]

I bet Will Wade ends up at Kentucky

 

[jsb]

i can agree he has good sportsmanship and runs a clean program. the way he conducts himself on the sideline is too much to stomach for 20+ years from an outside observer.

What does he do? He doesn’t seem any worse than anyone else.

 

[NYCYFan]

I see that a bunch of Kentucky fans don't want Nate Oats. Uh, if not him then who? Some of them actually mentioned Hurley as if there's a chance in hell that happens. I know that there are high standards in The Commonwealth but I can't imagine doing much better than Oats. This guy built a powerhouse in Alabama....in BASKETBALL.

 

[Saul_T]

The biggest thing with this move is just how big a mess Kentucky is, they have all the resources in the world but in the nil/portal era the only thing keeping them relevant is the name on their jersey. Arkansas has had much more success this decade, so have Tennessee and Alabama, probably Auburn as well. Kentucky is at best the 4th best program in their own conference. The ship was starting to sink, the rat jumped off.

IMO this is all on Cal. His resistance to grow and adapt to modern recruiting and his distain for NIL would certainly turn off some of today's best athletes. The transfer portal and NIL has "aged" the college game. IMO recruiting is still the lifeblood of success but now there are more avenues for recruiting other than just high school seniors and Cal just didn't seem interested in changing with the times.

 

[Cydkar]

you'll just have to skip over CWs chapter about scott drew in his book

He's adding a Caitlin Clark chapter as we speak.

 

[Drew0311]

IMO this is all on Cal. His resistance to grow and adapt to modern recruiting and his distain for NIL would certainly turn off some of today's best athletes. The transfer portal and NIL has "aged" the college game. IMO recruiting is still the lifeblood of success but now there are more avenues for recruiting other than just high school seniors and Cal just didn't seem interested in changing with the times.

Cal is kind of stuck on this thing where he see's himself as a savior for some of these kids and he is there to help them. Ummm you only recruit 5 star kids that will be in the NBA in one year. If you really want to be a savior and pitch yourself as that. Go coach Junior college ball. No guys that will be on your team for 5 months and then move on

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Other than money and maybe a big "FU" to kentucky for whatever reason, I really don't understand this move.
I figured he would do the typical Big East move and then retire if anything. .

I don't see it as a big "FU" to Kentucky, I see a coach that was tired of the fan base and the university and a university and a fan base tired of the coach. The guy has won a lot of games, but I am sure he was tired of the getting second guessed, they have been disappointing in the tournament the past few years, and he would like to coach in a place that was happy to get a coach that could win them games.
Sometimes you need a fresh start, and he will get that Arkansas.