Why John Calipari Will (and Will Not) Win Another Title at UK
- Thread starter KYtotheCore
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Will: He gets to the FF at a great clip, eventually a player or two will refuse to lose and not choke.
Won't: His teams are always young, young guys are affected by the biggest of stages.
I honestly think he will win multiple titles here, but it might not happen until another AD comes along or a 2 year rule gets implemented.
Won't: His teams are always young, young guys are affected by the biggest of stages.
I honestly think he will win multiple titles here, but it might not happen until another AD comes along or a 2 year rule gets implemented.
2019 with a good core of sophomores who returned is his next best chance imo.
Think he'd be ok with that as long as he helped 50 guys get to the NBA.
You know, life is a lot more fun if you enjoy the ride and worry less about getting there, usually the ride has more fun and memories.
It's what he says but I don't believe it, entirely.
Interesting topic. Two valid points of view and a lot to think about.
Being a true blue sunshine pumper I believe yes. More trophies starting this year.
Being a true blue sunshine pumper I believe yes. More trophies starting this year.
Wasn't being sarcastic. He's said himself his job isn't to win titles, but he's more interested in changing lives and getting guys to the NBA. Just his perogative. I'm not bashing it. Just believe if he never wins another title at UK he'd be ok with it.
Have to disagree here.
Sure. I believe him when he says things about changing lives, creating millionaires, etc.
However, I've read way too much about John Calipari having a big ego to believe that he would be content with having the same amount of championships at Kentucky as Joe Hall, Tubby Smith, and most importantly, Rick Pitino.
Many coaches have won one. Only a select number in college basketball have won multiple.
No way Calipari doesn't want to be in that group and put himself only behind Adolph Rupp at Kentucky.
Coaches say lots of things. Cal is always recruiting, so really I don't fully buy it. But I will say, Cal has pushed his message in a very convincing way.
Coaches like Calipari are judged on how many ships they get especially in history. No one is going to care how many lives he changed or players he put in the NBA. Just the nature of it.
And let's be real. Cal isn't searching for 3 and 4 star kids who are in poverty. The vast majority of these top recruits come from good families or at least have an option to make their future better regardless. Most of Cals guys save a few were going places anyway. AD, Wall, Cousins, Jones, Knight, Murray, Kat, Randle etc did not need Cal's "changing lives" routine. So I think Cal believes it, but really I believe it's a recruiting pitch that people overblow.
Calipari is an alpha dog just like the rest. He comes off as a guy who doesn't really care about titles, but I don't buy it. Catch him during closed practices when he thinks no one is around. Different personality all together.
Well, sometimes what people say isn't what they mean. He said it so the 16 and 17 year old elite recruits would hear it and say, that's who I want to play for... Not a bad recruiting strategy. JC would love to hang a banner every year.
The tragedy about this thread is that it is infected by the following sentence in the piece arguing that Calipari will not win another championship:
"Yes, you know exactly who I am talking about, that person who never has anything positive to say about Coach Cal and UK." (emphasis mine).
I'd like to point out that just because a poster doesn't think that Calipari is the best college basketball coach who ever lived, and says that, doesn't mean that that same poster "never has anything positive to say about . . . U.K." It is constantly depressing to me that those two concepts are almost always conflated on this board. The heavily prevailing notion on this board is that a less-than-positive comment about Calipari's coaching is necessarily a less-than-positive comment about U.K. That is, simply, just not the case.
I won't hazard a guess about whether Calipari will win another championship at U.K., or not, but I'll bet that he retires from coaching after Brad graduates from U.K. if he hasn't won another championship by then. He's 1-for-8 so far, with the best talent in the country year-in-and-year-out. Brad is a sophomore this season. If we don't have another championship by the time Brad graduates, that will make us 1-for-11 under Calipari. I don't think he'll be willing to continue to listen to the complaints from BBN if that scenario plays out.
"Yes, you know exactly who I am talking about, that person who never has anything positive to say about Coach Cal and UK." (emphasis mine).
I'd like to point out that just because a poster doesn't think that Calipari is the best college basketball coach who ever lived, and says that, doesn't mean that that same poster "never has anything positive to say about . . . U.K." It is constantly depressing to me that those two concepts are almost always conflated on this board. The heavily prevailing notion on this board is that a less-than-positive comment about Calipari's coaching is necessarily a less-than-positive comment about U.K. That is, simply, just not the case.
I won't hazard a guess about whether Calipari will win another championship at U.K., or not, but I'll bet that he retires from coaching after Brad graduates from U.K. if he hasn't won another championship by then. He's 1-for-8 so far, with the best talent in the country year-in-and-year-out. Brad is a sophomore this season. If we don't have another championship by the time Brad graduates, that will make us 1-for-11 under Calipari. I don't think he'll be willing to continue to listen to the complaints from BBN if that scenario plays out.
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I am not sure that most of our recruits come to Kentucky with the primary goal of winning a title. We know what their goal is because most say they are coming to Kentucky because Cal gets players to the NBA. Years ago they would say they are coming to Kentucky with a goal of a championship but in those days the NBA was way down the list on the priorities of a freshman basketball player.
If a player comes to UK now with the attitude it would be nice to win one but if I don't I'll go pro and get rich then that reduces the chance of Cal winning another one. Not to say he won't but it is going to be very hard.
If a player comes to UK now with the attitude it would be nice to win one but if I don't I'll go pro and get rich then that reduces the chance of Cal winning another one. Not to say he won't but it is going to be very hard.
I don't think Self or Roy will have recruiting renaissances.
I think K will retire within five years, and after that Cal will stick around five years before retiring.
As long as Duke can't romance Brad Stevens into replacing K, that five years will be Cal's best chance for two more titles.
It won't only be that he will be killing it recruiting, either. The whole narrative will have changed. Once K is gone, in the vacuum that follows the only carrot ESPN/NCAA will have to wave in front of viewers will be "Who can topple mighty Kentucky." But obviously you can't push that story very hard if you have a hobbled Kentucky.
Without any other $$ to chase, their greed will be enough to even make them ease up on the criminal reffing and seeding for a while. They will throw us a bone. It won't be enough to let Cal dominate with those recruits the way he would on a truly level playing field. But it will be worth enough to bring us two championships. They'll need that to protect their product's value.
I think K will retire within five years, and after that Cal will stick around five years before retiring.
As long as Duke can't romance Brad Stevens into replacing K, that five years will be Cal's best chance for two more titles.
It won't only be that he will be killing it recruiting, either. The whole narrative will have changed. Once K is gone, in the vacuum that follows the only carrot ESPN/NCAA will have to wave in front of viewers will be "Who can topple mighty Kentucky." But obviously you can't push that story very hard if you have a hobbled Kentucky.
Without any other $$ to chase, their greed will be enough to even make them ease up on the criminal reffing and seeding for a while. They will throw us a bone. It won't be enough to let Cal dominate with those recruits the way he would on a truly level playing field. But it will be worth enough to bring us two championships. They'll need that to protect their product's value.
K didn't win any titles his first ten years at Duke despite going to final fours. Cal is doing just fine at UK. Will he win another title? Who knows. What I do know is Cal will position the team for a run in March, play exciting basketball and continue to own Pimptino like the cheating little bitch he is.
My guess is he will win another one here
Things have to line up just right though.
Things have to line up just right though.
Coach Cal has won 1 title.
three other times he went to final four or better, while having injure / suspension.
one time we lose to a buzzer beater against UNCheat, who wins the whole thing.
5 Seasons, he had legit change of winning it all. 3 of those teams had major injure or suspension that prevented us from being 100%.
1 other Season, we were #1 seed. Obviously a chance to win it, but we did have major shooting concern for that team as well as discipline.
So, If you give me next 8 years...i like my chances of Coach Cal winning a title. Just by having a healthy season, we should expect another title in 8 years. If Cal wins title every 8 years, i will be very happy. If we get lucky, we might even win 2 titles in next 8 years.
His 8 years support this, and nothing can really argue against it. ITs been amazing 8 years with annoying ass injuries.
three other times he went to final four or better, while having injure / suspension.
one time we lose to a buzzer beater against UNCheat, who wins the whole thing.
5 Seasons, he had legit change of winning it all. 3 of those teams had major injure or suspension that prevented us from being 100%.
1 other Season, we were #1 seed. Obviously a chance to win it, but we did have major shooting concern for that team as well as discipline.
So, If you give me next 8 years...i like my chances of Coach Cal winning a title. Just by having a healthy season, we should expect another title in 8 years. If Cal wins title every 8 years, i will be very happy. If we get lucky, we might even win 2 titles in next 8 years.
His 8 years support this, and nothing can really argue against it. ITs been amazing 8 years with annoying ass injuries.
The reason he won't is because he is too stubborn to change playing style, defense or offense to play to the strengths of the players he has. His constant refusal to play a defense other than switching has cost him 2 titles already.
i honestly think his refusal to change styles is its hard enough it is to take guys who were their high school ball teams super star and get them to work together much less teach them hundreds of plays sets and defensive sets...just my humble opinion
Like he has been any different from any other coach with their flaws. K should have 5 more titles. Pimptino at least 2. Self and Izzo multiple titles missed out on due to coaching. Same with Dean Smith.
I would agree if you changed the line to "the best YOUNG" talent" year in and year out. But the media says K has had better so even that could be in question if you believe them.
Hit the nail on the head, with youngsters you have to keep it simple and let them grow at their own pace and let their natural talent be their strength. Then have hopes that they buy totally in by tournament time.
If we don't win another title under Cal the only reason is because the NCAA and its refs don't want us to. They don't like how the perception of one-and-done has given CBB a bad image and they see us as the program spearheading the perception. Duke gets a pass because, well, it's Duke and they always get a pass.
In 2015 Duke was struggling till K starting playing more zone and they won a title. Please don't tell me other coaches don't change. If you want to blindly defend Cal, this not the excuse you should choose.
Unfortunately it is true about the unwillingness sometimes to make changes. Ulis should have played at the end of his Freshman season over Harrison or given way more time in the tourney. But, Cal was loyal. Zone defenses several times would have been the answer with his teams that didn't have shot blockers. However, maybe some of the recruits we landed would have gone elsewhere if Cal did things different. There is simply no way to ever really know.
Cal may win another title but will need some breaks along the way. Even his Championship season had a couple lucky breaks with injuries impacting UNC. Sometimes it is about survival. Several times he got some great recruits but missed out on one that would have been the difference. This season we have some real question marks at the Center position and yes every year including this one we will have mainly Freshman to count on. But, he has except with the Noel injury season been in the running so that increases the odds that we will get a couple breaks our way and there will be more Championships.
Cal may win another title but will need some breaks along the way. Even his Championship season had a couple lucky breaks with injuries impacting UNC. Sometimes it is about survival. Several times he got some great recruits but missed out on one that would have been the difference. This season we have some real question marks at the Center position and yes every year including this one we will have mainly Freshman to count on. But, he has except with the Noel injury season been in the running so that increases the odds that we will get a couple breaks our way and there will be more Championships.
!00% correct. Cal gives us a better chance to win a natty every year more than any other coach we have had, except maybe Rupp. I also agree on the breaks, good and bad. I just think Cal is his own worst enemy during the biggest of games.
If that happens, bummer. It would put him around Joe B Hall in his legacy, and not even close to Rupp.
