Change Will Hopefully be Good for Both John Calipari and Kentucky

I received on a Southwest flight Sunday afternoon in Louisville to fulfill my daughter and grandchildren for a nationwide parks journey in Utah considering Monday’s largest tales can be the NCAA Event title sport, photo voltaic eclipse and finish of the Caitlin Clark period.

Was I ever unsuitable?

By the point my airplane landed and I turned my cellphone again on it was blowing up with John Calipari to Arkansas rumors. By the point I received out of the airport, received a rental automobile and received to my resort, my cellphone was past blowing up with the Calipari information.

My response — good for him and good for Kentucky.

Calipari has spent 15 years at Kentucky. He received a nationwide title in 2012. He additionally went to the nationwide title sport in 2014 and received to the Closing 4 in 2011 and 2015 — the 12 months UK was 38-0 earlier than shedding to Wisconsin.

Calipari will end his tenure at Kentucky with a file of 410-123. He’s the second-winningest coach in program historical past behind solely Adolph Rupp.

His downside is that he did a lot so quickly that he raised the expectation stage even larger at Kentucky and has not been capable of meet that customary. Kentucky has not been to the Closing 4 within the final 9 years. Since going to the Elite Eight in 2019, UK has only one NCAA Event win.

In 2020, the NCAA tourney was cancelled by COVID. In 2021, UK went 9-6 — its worst win share since 1926-27 —and didn’t make the NCAA. In 2022, No. 2 seed UK misplaced to fifteen seed Saint Peter’s within the first spherical. In 2023, UK misplaced to six seed Kansas State within the second spherical. This 12 months UK was a No. 3 seed and misplaced to No. 14 Oakland within the first spherical.

Calipari is a Naismith Memorial Corridor of Famer with 855 profession victories and 6 Closing Fours with three totally different packages. These are unimaginable numbers.

Nonetheless, he wants a recent begin and so do Kentucky followers. Certain, many followers had been vital of Calipari the previous few years however while you make $9 million per 12 months and proclaim you’ve groups “constructed for March” after which don’t ship, followers can be upset. Calipari additionally typically talked all the way down to followers.

However Calipari was additionally an ideal fundraiser when pure disasters impacted Kentucky or different locations. Calipari and his gamers helped increase wanted cash for a lot of causes.

Final season UK was additionally probably the most thrilling groups within the nation if not probably the most thrilling on offense. The issue was Kentucky performed porous protection.

It’s no secret Calipari and athletics director Mitch Barnhart should not shut buddies. The BBN Tonight interview with the 2 of them was awkward and much from honest.

However Calipari leaving for Arkansas was a greater exit for UK than firing him and owing him $33 million.

Now Calipari can be much more rejuvenated to point out he could make a Closing 4 once more. He’ll principally have limitless NIL cash from big-time donors at Arkansas and he’ll take recruits
Jayden Quintance, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond, Boogie Fland and Somto Cyril  with him to Arkansas. My guess is that Travis Perry of Lyon County will keep dedicated to Kentucky.

Early studies are that Calipari will make between $7.5 and $8 million yearly on his new five-year contract. Possibly that’s not fairly as a lot as he was making at UK however it’s greater than sufficient.

Kentucky can be beginning over — however that might have been the case regardless of when Calipari left. The excellent news is that with the correct coach, a roster will be restocked so much faster right now due to the switch portal.

Nonetheless, Barnhart higher get this rent proper — no Billy Gillispie — and that will not be as simple as some need it to be. Nonetheless, UK is 2-8 in its final 10 postseason video games counting SEC Event play and that mark is why the love affair with Calipari soured at UK.

Seth Davis of CBS Sports activities and Paul Finebaum of ESPN are each on the Nate Oats to Kentucky bandwagon. Oats simply took Alabama to the Closing 4 regardless of being walloped at UK in late February. He’s produced wins however being within the 24-hour a day highlight at UK might be greater than he would need regardless of how a lot Barnhart provides.

“Calipari going to Arkansas is a kind of seismic shifts that’s good for all events. He wants a recent begin and so does Kentucky. Kentucky must again up the Brinks truck for Nate Oats. This can be a no brainer. He has an 8 determine buyout however he’s price it and Kentucky has the cash,” Davis posted on social media.

“Alabama shouldn’t be Kentucky, and Kentucky is the gold customary. Alabama soccer and Kentucky basketball are primarily the identical factor,” Finebaum stated on ESPN.

Change isn’t simple however change all the time finally occurs. Hopefully this variation is sweet for each Calipari and UK as a result of it appeared apparent each wanted this variation.