Calipari worth the risk, if you can call it that
The “I told you sos” will surely come Kentucky’s way. But I’m not sure school officials will lose too much sleep over them. They knew this was coming.
It sounds batty – cocksure, perhaps – to suggest that Kentucky isn’t worried about NCAA allegations regarding Memphis’ 2007-08 men’s basketball season. After all, that’s where new Wildcats coach John Calipari spent the previous nine seasons. The 2007-08 season was a biggie, too. Calipari helped lead the team to a Final Four berth and an NCAA record 38 victories that season.
Yet, it’s one player on that team – reportedly Derrick Rose, now a guard with the Chicago Bulls – who is the focal point of those NCAA allegations of “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam, not Calipari. The coach will cooperate with the investigation, and Kentucky made clear that he “is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case.”
In fact, Calipari told Kentucky about the allegations during his March job interview. How’s that for be upfront with your prospective employer?
From a statement released by the school:
“Coach Calipari was forthcoming with the University of Kentucky during the hiring process about any issues under investigation at the University of Memphis at that time. It is normal procedure for the NCAA to ask a former coach to participate in a hearing. Therefore, Coach Calipari will participate as requested.”
As far as Kentucky’s concerned, Calipari hasn’t done anything wrong.
Indeed, when the hiring was announced, athletic director Mitch Barnhart talked at length about the school’s vetting process. As the Lexington Herald-Leader reports: "We then started our due diligence, more calls and background checks. Sandy Bell and the compliance folks talked with the NCAA and checked records and facts. David Price (the NCAA vice president of enforcement services), other people at the high level with the NCAA, assured us how much they enjoyed working with John in that process."
Still … it has to be unnerving.
This isn’t the first time the NCAA has accused a Calipari program of major violations. Massachusetts was forced to vacate its 1996 NCAA tournament results, which included a Final Four berth, because star center Marcus Camby received money from an agent. Calipari bolted for the New Jersey Nets and UMass was left to rebuild.
The catch is that Calipari wasn’t found personally culpable for Camby’s mistakes. But the perception hung around.
When Memphis made its Final Four run last season, Calipari had to continually address impressions that his programs were tainted. The new allegations aren’t going to help those perceptions, but that’s to be expected.
It’s been a big spring for Kentucky. The Wildcats, behind their new coach, have made recruiting headlines and been the buzz of college hoops. But the school knew these allegations were coming and officials still decided Calipari was worth it. Memphis thought the same thing.
And when everyone wants you despite any perceived imperfections, that’s a game worth playing.
