Sources: Calipari on Kentucky radar

Dback Jon · March 29th, 2009, 08:07 PM

Memphis coach John Calipari has taken a place on Kentucky's radar in its search to replace Billy Gillispie, multiple sources told ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil and Pat Forde.

On Friday, a source told O'Neil that Calipari 'likely would not be interested' in the job but on Sunday, multiple sources said Calipari is indeed interested. A source also said Kentucky was gathering information on Calipari over the weekend.

According to Memphis sports information director Lamar Chance, Kentucky officials have not contacted Memphis for permission to speak to Calipari.

Athletic director Mitch Barnhart says the search to replace Billy Gillispie, who was fired Friday, will focus on finding someone who can match the passion of the school's rabid fan base.

Allow former Wildcats coach Rick Pitino a couple of suggestions: John Pelphrey and Travis Ford, guys with talent and deep Kentucky roots, if not lofty credentials.

Pitino spent eight years masterfully stalking the sidelines at Kentucky, reviving a reeling program with a mix of charm, charisma and -- most of all -- success.

Beloved by some diehards even after his defection to hated Louisville, Pitino is still the yardstick by which any Kentucky coach in the near future will be measured.

It's a standard ousted coach Gillispie failed to live up to, whether on the court, in the press or out in the Bluegrass.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4026035

wallyburger · March 30th, 2009, 03:55 AM

and then there is Billy Donovan.

MaoTosiFanClub · March 30th, 2009, 08:46 AM

Cal would be a monster at Kentucky. And he'll probably go there too if the rumors of the financial package are true. $4.5 million base for a basketball coach is ridiculous, I'm not sure any football programs come close to that.

Russ Smith · March 30th, 2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaoTosiFanClub

Cal would be a monster at Kentucky. And he'll probably go there too if the rumors of the financial package are true. $4.5 million base for a basketball coach is ridiculous, I'm not sure any football programs come close to that.

Even I can see Calipari considering that job but I'm still not sure he's willing to walk into that pressure cooker.

But the lure has got to be there, give up your great recruiting class now and hope you can bring say Cousins and Wall with you to UK?

If nothing else he's doing a great job of driving up his contract extension offer Memphis will give him.

MaoTosiFanClub · March 30th, 2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ Smith

Even I can see Calipari considering that job but I'm still not sure he's willing to walk into that pressure cooker.

Cal has wanted out of Memphis for years. He pretty much took the NC State post-Sendek until the State AD lowballed his assistants. If UK comes up with that kind of money then Calipari is a goner.

Quote:

But the lure has got to be there, give up your great recruiting class now and hope you can bring say Cousins and Wall with you to UK?

Wall, Cousins, Meeks, and Patterson and eight midgets is a National Championship caliber team. Who cares about your recruiting class if you can walk into that situation?

DWKB · March 30th, 2009, 10:19 AM

Do I come off as too bitter to hope Xavier Henry can't get out of his LOI to Memphis?

DWKB · March 30th, 2009, 11:44 AM

Cal to Kentucky appears to be a done deal. Memphis radio is now reporting that Missouri has given Memphis permission to talk to Mike Anderson.

wallyburger · March 30th, 2009, 11:58 AM

Will someone pleas take Frank Haith?

MaoTosiFanClub · March 30th, 2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallyburger

Will someone pleas take Frank Haith?

Sorry. Although with Arizona's AD you never know.

Cal is going to be huge at UK and if not he's going to be hating life. That salary is ridiculous.

Russ Smith · March 30th, 2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWKB

Cal to Kentucky appears to be a done deal. Memphis radio is now reporting that Missouri has given Memphis permission to talk to Mike Anderson.

The other name is Tim floyd to Memphis if Cal takes the UK job.

And is it a coincidence that the Memphis board I sometimes read has been down for hours, can't access it?

MaoTosiFanClub · March 30th, 2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ Smith

And is it a coincidence that the Memphis board I sometimes read has been down for hours, can't access it?

That's because the city of Memphis is in full on panic mode right now. Tucson is also on the verge of such a meltdown.

Ronin · March 30th, 2009, 12:59 PM

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Calipari!

Russ Smith · March 30th, 2009, 01:12 PM

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/sto....87f62981.html

This site claims it's a done deal, Cal to UK. Also says he'll try to bring DeMarcus Cousins with him as mentioned earlier.

Russ Smith · March 30th, 2009, 03:49 PM

Gary Parrish reports that Xavier Henry has in writing from memphis(as did Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans before him) that if Calipari is not the Memphis coach, Memphis has to release Henry from his NLI "without conditions."

So he could get out of his commit and Memphis could not stop him from following Calipari to UK if they had the scholarship. That's now 3 guys who would be allowed to follow him to UK if they chose, Cousins, Henry and Wall.
He doesn't have Wall yet but most assume wall was going to pick Memphis.

MaoTosiFanClub · March 30th, 2009, 03:53 PM

Can I get some odds on UK winning it all next year?

That team will be ridiculous, Arizona should really try and hire Pastner in some capacity to see if any of those guys would be willing to follow. That's the least we could do to UK for costing us Calipari.