I think there would be some of what you said, and a LOT of "wow he's leaving after that? What a dick." Agree to disagree, and it doesn't matter anyway because it's not happening.
Cal to Texas?
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I don't think Cal is leaving and don't want him to.
But, those that think it would be no big deal that UK fans ran off a HOF coach that accomplished all Cal has and we would just hire Brad Stevens or some other huge name are idiots. UK would be a laughing stock and, IMO, no legitimate, big name coach would touch the UK job. UK fans (at least those on message boards) have lost their freaking minds about Cal the past few months and it's baffling to me.
IU is nowhere near UK's level but is still IU basketball and they were told no by 10+ coaches and had to settle for a laughably terrible hire. They paid $10 million for a guy to go away and had unlimited money to throw at a big name coach and they all said "no thanks".
UK fans better be REAL careful what they wish for, it's not going to turn out well if Cal leaves now.
But, those that think it would be no big deal that UK fans ran off a HOF coach that accomplished all Cal has and we would just hire Brad Stevens or some other huge name are idiots. UK would be a laughing stock and, IMO, no legitimate, big name coach would touch the UK job. UK fans (at least those on message boards) have lost their freaking minds about Cal the past few months and it's baffling to me.
IU is nowhere near UK's level but is still IU basketball and they were told no by 10+ coaches and had to settle for a laughably terrible hire. They paid $10 million for a guy to go away and had unlimited money to throw at a big name coach and they all said "no thanks".
UK fans better be REAL careful what they wish for, it's not going to turn out well if Cal leaves now.
Maybe he's tired of the bright lights and scrutiny. Maybe he sees a portion of the fanbase completely misaligned from the players he's trying to recruit. He might just be done with it. Might want a new start. Honestly, I'd bet on him retiring completely because it seems the college game has changed, and his action plan has been nuked.
But having a 9 win season doesn't make him leaving some "dick" move. And I don't think the media would run with the anti-Cal message you think.
But maybe we'll get to find out.
Although to agree with @LineSkiCat14, it would definitely happen because people LOVE to villainize Kentucky fans. Love it. Look at the reactions when Tubby left. We were the worst group of racist fans on the planet for driving out Tubby. So there would be an element of it because people love to do it. But people also love to emphasize how every program Cal leaves he leaves "in shambles!" So I'm not sure which talking point would win out in this hypothetical scenario.
The laughing point is the contract Cal has. Nobody deserves that kinda contract.
Nah, Cal's good on the lifetime term of his current contract. Just needs a little more walking around money. $9M don't buy what it used to any more. Need to up that to about $10.5.
I do think our fans get painted in a bad way. However.. this season certainly justified some of it.
I think the basketball landscape wouldn't go that angle, they would just laugh at a top tier fanbase becoming impatient and helping to run the coach out of town.
I see your point but I also think If we called coaches it is a lot different. You can’t tell me holtman turns us down while his whole family are Kentucky fans. Even beard Oates those guys are coming here. I hope Duke drops off like indiana did after losing knight. I think we would get a great coach and agree with everything else you said.
Let's be very clear here -- if Cal leaves, it won't be because "Kentucky fans ran him off." Would be a convenient, but ******** excuse for the "Kentucky fans are the worst" crowd. He is a big boy making big boy dollars at a big boy school. This is the "commonwealth's team", he said so himself at his introductory press conference. If he leave because some people were being meanie tails to him that's just a big old excuse. Period.
sorta like when people said if we ran Tubby off we'd never get a big name coach? What happened in 2009?
You do realize UK's obligation to Cal ends in 2029, right?? Unless he has a second contract not published, or unless the contract ends up being extended, it ends 2029.
"It's time to rip the band aid off and start healing."
I'm not sure you understand the use of a band aid, but I'm not surprised by that either.
You don't know that lol. You could be right, but you can't say that with certainty. And it's crazy to think that our fanbase, an impatient and "what have you done for me lately" type of fanbase isn't at least PART of the cause for wanting to leave.
Honestly, why else WOULD he leave? It's not like Texas or any other job will be any easier.. he'd make less money.. what other reason is there>?
Um...you do know that Cal didn't replace Tubby, correct?
You really believe that Holtmann, Beard and Oats are upgrades over Cal??? Like, you seriously believe that?
I'm giving Cal the benefit of the doubt here and saying he's not going to run from criticism after handing the program the worst season in it's history. I think a ***** would do that and I don't think Cal is a *****.
His point is that UK will always get back on top. It may take a couple years, but it will happen. People in this thread are acting like the entire program will go away without Cal, and that’s not even close to true.
The idea that UK will just inevitably always end up back on top is ridiculous. Every program in every sport is one or two bad hires from irrelevancy
point stands, at the time of the BCG hire he was seen as a upcoming star coach. So UK ran off a title winning coach in Tubby Smith, and made a errant hire. No big name coach would want to coach that dumpster fire, right? In comes cal. UK goes on probation and loses all their stars in 1989 a NBA coach comes to UK to rebuild the program. UK attracts top coaches, period.
While this is true, Kentucky is still the only program that can claim consistency over the years under multiple coaches the way that we have.
So Kenny is gonna leave UK for the Knicks, and then leave the Knicks for Texas? Lmao, do people even use their brains anymore?
Or keeping a coach a few years too long from irrelevance, like IU.
Captivating insight as always from Matt Jones! It could happen, probably not, but MAYBE!!
Do you know how old Cal is? How much do you think he will be coaching at a pressure cooker like UK after he reaches 70 years old?
If Cal stays until the end of this contract, it will probably be all he wants of any job.
Retirement looks better every day once you get past 60. Especially when the wheels fall off your dynasty and your legacy is taking a huge hit. People with big egos like Cal will find a way out, even if he has to blame the fans and leave the program in shambles.
Hope that doesn't happen but we are on the precipice of that every year Cal continues to rollover 75-90% of his roster with newcomers.
IDK.. I can't say if I think he will or won't leave.. I guess I ultimately think he stays, but I wouldn't be surprised one bit if he moved on. What helps is that he's now got 4 guys coming back, who want to play for HIM btw.. a top class, and a few (likely) transfers.
But had the transfer rule gutted the program.. I bet he leaves. And honestly, I wouldn't blame coaches for doing so. This rule completely screwed up college basketball.
You just have to laugh at the fans being blamed if Cal leaves.Did fans run him off at Umass and Memphis?Sorry but if a millionaire coach with a lifetime contract is mad at fans being mad about a 9-16 season then he can go!!!
Man it amazes me how Cal has some dudes absolutely worshipping at his feet. some of y’all would take the whole thing, balls and all. It’s just sad man lol
UK was UK before Calipari was the coach here. We will be UK after he leaves. Stop it
UK was UK before Calipari was the coach here. We will be UK after he leaves. Stop it
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Just as Matt Jones said a few weeks back, John Calipari has $57 million reasons (3 years left on contract at $9 million per year, plus $1 million for life which we estimate at around 30 years left) why he will not leave Kentucky. Time to focus on who we are getting on this roster for next year because we need a BIG year
What am I on? High on life my friend.
And I said I don’t know what he’s doing. Read.
P.S.: The buyout means nothing.
But the point is meaningless. Nobody ever said we would never be able to hire another good coach, just that you wouldn't get a good coach after Tubby in light of running him off, and guess what, we didn't.
If Cal leaves this year, we will not likely get a really good coach to follow him. The only way I can see getting a good coach to follow him is if he retires, and even that will be hard to do. The trend for hiring coaches at UK isn't by coincidence. Generally you will get a good, not great coach to follow a great one. That coach won't meet expectations they end up moving on, and you end up with a coach with issues. That coach with issues creates an environment where a great coach can come in and restore the once great program, along with firing a coach with justifiable cause, and you end up with a great coach.
The other side is, when moving on from a coach with issues, you can do it under your own terms, which means there is more time to survey and understand who you can get. The other coaching changes usually happen all at once, and you end up with a scramble to find somebody to coach.
The realistic options for this year just aren't very good. There are a couple of decent coaches out there, but they don't appear ready for UK. The ones that would be ready for UK aren't likely to listen to a pitch to become coach over their current jobs. While Cal makes a little over 8 mil/yr, he didn't start out there. He started out at under 4, and because of performance, his salary increased. Yes, UK can pay more than anyone else, but we aren't likely going to throw that kind of money to a new hire. The number is going to be substantially lower, as it should be.
Like a 9-16 record?You’ll get what you deserve.
All good things must come to an end. If he leaves, he leaves. Matt shouldn't even say anything unless the info he heard was from a very reliable source. That's just him being him though. Gotta get them clicks, and people tuning in.
Cal will have to adjust his coaching for sure. But returning players helps, big time. There's consistency. For as bad as our record shows last year, we we're still in the 40's/50's in Kenpom. We were a better team than our wins state, and I think that will show next season.
But yeah, IDK if it's going to be a 25+ win season. That appears to be pretty lofty.
Yes that is totally stupid.It seems like it's becoming popular to blame fans for everything like missing on recruits.I don't see any truth to the rumors but Cal is a big boy and if he leaves it's totally his choice and it's crazy to blame the fans.
WHat IS our schedule looking like for next season? If we had to play the same first 8 teams we had this year... yeah, that's going to be several losses. If we get the schedule we had in say.. 2009/10? That should be an easy 7-8 wins.
Sadly some of them do, then they would start bitching almost immediately when the new coach got here no mater who it was !