Beyond the Arc : Kentucky coaching search

Calipari worth the risk, if you can call it that

Mike Miller — Thu, 28 May 2009 05:47:00 GMT

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.

Is Calipari the biggest name in hoops?

Mike Miller — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:57:00 GMT

Simple question: Is John Calipari now the biggest name in college basketball?

Thanks to his recruiting prowess, non-stop Twittering and general media onslaught (a dream for those of us dreading the summer doldrums), Coach Cal’s owned the college hoop headlines every since the NCAA tournament ended.

This story from Jerry Tipton at the Lexington Herald-Leader (hat tip: A Sea of Blue) covers all the bases of Calipari’s wild spring, whether it’s chatting it up with fans, heading to church or just generally embracing all things Big Blue. (The paper's illustration shown below just adds to it all.)

Camille Weber/Herald-Leader

John Calipari, striking the pose

That embracing of it all is probably the most important. He’s in the good graces of Wildcats fans because of that once-in-a-generation recruiting class, but has gone above and beyond because of the way he’s adapted to the life in Lexington.

Ex-Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall and former athletic director C.M. Newton have been blown away by the whirlwind 54 days.

"It exceeds anything I've ever seen or dreamed of, really," Newton told Tipton. Newton does think the honeymoon will end sometime, but the start has been pitch perfect.

Sure, the whole thing could get out of hand given the expectations, but for now, he’s thriving at perhaps the most prestigious program in the country.

And if he’s thriving there, does that make him the biggest name in the game?

Coaches rule the college game. Players can only stick around for four years, which elevates the coaches into superstar status. Take the Guitar Heroes.

Roy Williams just won his second NCAA title in the last five years. Rick Pitino was doing all this at Kentucky when Calipari was still at UMass. And it’s tough to watch TV in March without seeing an ad featuring Mike Kryzewski.

Is Calipari bigger than any of them? Right now, for sure. But what about after the recruiting glow wears off? Just how long can Cal and Kentucky dominate the headlines?

It all depends on how much he wins, eh?

Calipari by the numbers

Mike Miller — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:06:00 GMT

John Calipari compiled some ridiculous numbers the last four years at Memphis: 137 victories; 61 consecutive conference victories; 4 regular-season titles; 4 conference tournament titles.

Among non-power leagues, it’s a run worthy of Jerry Tarkanian’s heyday at UNLV. Calipari established himself as the outsider making life uncomfortable for the big boys in the BCS conferences.

But for Kentucky fans, here are the numbers that matter most ~~if Coach Cal does sign on in~~ now that Coach Cal has signed on in Lexington.

Tom Uhlman/AP

John Calipari

0 – Years spent coaching in a BCS conference.

1 -- Final Fours during Calipari’s 9-year Memphis tenure. This is good or bad, depending on your point of view. It’s more than Kentucky’s had since 1999, but short of expectations for a school that’s won at least 33 games the last four years.

2 – Five-star prospects likely to follow Calipari to UK. DeMarcus Cousins and Xavier Henry are committed to Memphis, but both would presumably want to stick with Calipari. Another star recruit, John Wall, may settle on Kentucky when everything settles.

3 – Runs to the Elite Eight since 2006. No coach has been more often in that span.

4 – Top 10 recruiting classes at Memphis. According to Scout.com, the Tigers overall ranks since 2005 were 6, 25, 4, 6 and No. 1 for 2009. Every year resulted in a more touted class than Kentucky.

5 – Double-digit loss seasons. Three of those came in Calipari’s first three years at UMass, while the most recent was a 22-16 campaign at Memphis in 2004-05. The Tigers reached the NIT semifinals that season.

6 – 30-win seasons. Since ’91, he’s had two at UMass and four at Memphis. That’s one more than Kentucky’s had in the last 20 years.

7 – NBA players drafted while at Memphis.

9 – Regular-season and conference tournament championships won.

11 – NCAA tournament appearances in 17 seasons as a head coach.

13 – NCAA tournament wins since 2006. Only UCLA has more.

15 (of 18) – Four-year Memphis players who’ve graduated. That number could grow this season, with Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier and Chance McGrady on track to graduate. If the Tigers don’t go pro early, they usually get their degree. UMass graduated nearly 80 percent of its players during Calipari’s tenure.

The last one is interesting. Memphis is perceived as a basketball factory, but that’s a good graduation rate for guys who don’t jump to the pros. It drops among black players (44 percent), but that’s because of the guys in the NBA. It’s not a shining example of academic excellence, but consider that Memphis had a zero graduation rate and missed the NCAA tournament four straight seasons before he arrived in 2000.

And if you’re Kentucky, a school that just fired Billy Gillispie because he wasn’t “the right fit,” it’s important to consider. Calipari is beloved in Memphis because he’s won games, established himself as a part of the community and given the city a team to be proud of.

That’s what Big Blue Nation wants: A winner and a coach who loves being in Lexington. Sounds like Calipari fits the bill.

How Kentucky job rumors help coaches

Mike Miller — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:01:00 GMT

Michigan State’s impressive win against Louisville gives Tom Izzo a chance at the ultimate prize: Coaching at Kentucky.

OK, there’s a little sarcasm in there.

Izzo’s going to be focused beating Connecticut and trying to win a second NCA tournament title. But rest assured you’ll hear Izzo’s name mentioned as possibly the next coach in Lexington more than once this week.

Billy Gillispie’s ouster in Lexington has the rumor mill in full swing. Nearly every big-name coach – except for Billy Donovan – seems to be a candidate. Izzo, Villanova’s Jay Wright, Pitt’s Jamie Dixon, Texas’ Rick Barnes and Memphis’ John Calipari are chief among them.

It makes sense. If you’re a hoops coach, few jobs are better than Kentucky. In terms of tradition, fan base and resources, it’s tough to match the ‘Cats. North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, Duke, maybe Indiana. That’s the short list.

Any time one of those positions opens up, the game’s best coaches are going to be floated as possible replacements.

It even affects coaches like Rick Pitino. He’s re-built Louisville into a powerhouse, yet his name is being floated as the next possible coach at Arizona. If you’re thinking that Arizona is a lateral move for Pitino, you’re probably right. But it doesn’t prevent all the chatter (though Pitino is a master at not addressing rumors; others could take tips).

If it seems disingenuous to be talking about Izzo or Wright in Kentucky – two coaches who are still vying for a title – too bad. College hoops has been all about business for some time. If a coach can’t prepare his team and cope with rumors at the same time, he’s probably not gonna make it in Lexington.

Besides, Izzo hasn’t exactly shot down any Kentucky rumors. Check out this quote:

"I don't think there's a guy on this planet that would ever say he's not going anywhere, not doing anything,'' Izzo said during a Midwest Regional press conference. "I don't think there's anybody on this planet that would ever say, 'I'm here to stay. I'm this. I'm that.' I don't think me, you or anyone else. So I would never do that because I think it would be insulting to you and me.''

Izzo’s already being touted as the ideal Kentucky hire. Rick Pitino said last week that “there’s no one better than Tom Izzo in our game.”

Spartans fans are a little miffed right now. Why would Izzo leave a program he’s taken to five Final Fours since 1999? Well, he probably wouldn’t, but it’s complicated.

This story from Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press is a good example. Izzo isn’t likely to leave East Lansing, but he’d like potential recruits to know he’s good enough to be Kentucky’s prime candidate. And if there’s ever a time when not denying rumors can help recruiting, this is it.

Izzo’s never lacked for top talent, but it sounds like he’s never had an easy time convincing them to come to East Lansing. Rosenberg uses two local players as an example:

[Izzo] recruited Detroit's DeShawn Sims hard. Sims went to Michigan, which had not been relevant on the national scene for years. Izzo recruited Cleveland's Delvon Roe like crazy, and Roe clearly loved Michigan State more than any other school, and he ultimately signed with the Spartans -- but I think Izzo felt that landing Roe should have been easier.

Fair enough. Roy Williams usually had the same complaint while at Kansas, and doesn’t have any trouble stocking North Carolina with McDonald’s All-Americans. The Heels have nine on their roster. (Bill Self has plenty of NBA-caliber players at Kansas, so read into that what you will.)

Bottom line: Coaches like Izzo and Wright – who says he’s happy at Villanova – will never get to fully enjoy a Final Four week when a prime program like Kentucky has an opening.

But don’t feel sorry for them. They’re smart enough to turn rumors to their advantage, whether it’s added exposure to recruits or more money from their current school. It’s all part of the game.

Didn't we just go through this with Kentucky?

Mike Miller — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:20:00 GMT

Whoa, we’re to this point again? Already?

Didn’t we just do this dance with Billy Donovan and a handful of other coaches two years ago? How did Billy Gillispie wear out his welcome so fast in Lexington?

Kentucky has reportedly fired its men’s basketball coach. Can things really be this bad in Kentucky?

Well, no … and yes.

The yes is obvious. Kentucky – the winningest program in NCAA history with perhaps the most rabid fanbase – missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991. It didn’t even make the NIT semifinals. Gillispie’s 40-27 record just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about the house that Rupp built.

The on-court performance doesn’t cover Gillispie’s other issues. He’s prickly. The players don’t like him. He hasn’t endeared himself to the fan base. Former Louisville Courier-Journal writer and current ESPN.com column Pat Forde covers all these topics and more in this story, which I encourage you to read.

Most every Kentucky fan already knows the details, but one thing sticks out to me: Gillispie wasn’t the right guy because Kentucky rushed into this hire. After being turned down by Donovan and other coaches, the school turned to Gillispie because it didn’t want to appear desperate.

So a job that should’ve taken months took weeks. As Forde writes:

“Never mind that former athletic director C.M. Newton took more than two months and at least a couple of rejections (Lute Olson and P.J. Carlesimo) in 1989 before getting around to hiring a guy named Rick Pitino. This time around, UK hurried a critical decision”.

Coaches like Kansas’ Bill Self have preached patience, noting that even Mike Krzyewski wasn’t too popular in his first two years at Duke. It’s a fair point. It’s rare that a program gets righted overnight, and even then it takes a little bit of luck.

Gillispie’s contract contains a reported $6 million buyout clause. In an economy like this, that’s no small consideration.

Also, Kentucky isn’t struggling. True, this isn’t the level of winning the Bluegrass State is accustomed to, but it’s not NJIT. Gillispie says Kentucky’s on the verge of being a great team. Should the school pay big bucks to mess with that? Because if Gillispie is fired, a big-name replacement won’t be cheap. (Fans on A Sea of Blue seem to be divided between Donovan and Memphis’ John Calipari.)

And there’s the rub.

Replacing Gillispie will be costly and may cost Kentucky a coach who could be good. Or it could stem the ‘Cats playing in the NIT next season and get them back on the Final Four track.

I hope the decisin made by Kentucky A.D. Mitch Barnhart and school president Lee Todd is the right one. We’d all rather be spending our time reading about Kentucky’s basketball exploits, not its coaching drama.

Gillispie's feeling the heat in Kentucky

Mike Miller — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:53:00 GMT

Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie likes to say he has the best job in the world. He might be right.

The Wildcats’ tradition, facilities and devoted fan base is like few other programs in college hoops. They’re the reason the state bleeds blue.

The flip side: It might be the toughest job in college hoops, too.

Kentucky closed the regular season with eight losses in its last 11 games, including a disheartening 90-85 home loss to SEC cellar dweller Georgia. Dana O’Neil captured the mood surrounding Gillispie and the program with a behind-the-scenes feature that showed a little of how tense things are right now.

UK (19-12) hasn’t missed the NCAA tournament since 1992, the third-longest active streak. Unless the ‘Cats make a deep run in the SEC tournament, that streak is going to end. And Wildcat Nation is livid.

UK officials will discuss Gillispie’s job status after the season, which means he’ll likely face post-game questions about his future in Lexington no matter how the ‘Cats play this week. Nearly every area media outlet and fan site has an opinion on the coach, as you might expect. Some want Gillispie gone, others think he needs more time. (Links nod to A Sea of Blue.)

Even if one dissects the varying quotes made by Kentucky president Lee Todd and A.D. Mitch Barnhart, which the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Eric Crawford does here, it’s tough to get a bead on what is going to happen to Gillispie after the season.

He hasn’t endeared himself to UK fans – both by not winning enough and by his sometimes brusque manner – but it’s clear all of that could change. The ‘Cats could start winning. An SEC tournament title wouldn’t make every concern disappear, but it’d be a start.

Even if Kentucky does miss the Big Dance, it’s hard to envision Gillispie being ousted after just two years on the job. Continuity is king in college hoops. Everyone needs time to build a program. Hiring and firing coaches is for the NBA, not a sport where recruiting is half of winning. Plus, there are financial concerns.

Kentucky isn’t what it was under Adolph Rupp, Rick Pitino or even Tubby Smith. And two years isn’t enough time fully to judge Gillispie.