I think Calipari would be perfect for that job. Unfortunately, firing Gillispie and hiring Calipari would be a grand slam move for UK.
Calipari going to Kentucky would also scare the hell out of me as a Missouri fan. Memphis obviously has a deep pocketbook, considering Calipari's base salary of $2.5m plus the $5m bonus he would get for staying through 2012. There would be no more of a seamless transition than Mike Anderson, who coaches a similar style, loves that region of the country, and has C-USA experience from his days at UAB. With that said, were it not for money, I don't see why he would leave -- Missouri's facilities are top-notch, as is the fan support, and it certainly helps exposure being a Big 12 school rather than a C-USA. But the rumored extension talks he's having with Missouri are starting at around $1.3m, which is certainly far below what Memphis is paying Calipari now... and I don't know how high our AD is willing to go. So, I really hope Calipari stays.
According to Memphis CA : Edit: http://new.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=16436 - media told to expect something by 4 pm. - The offer to Calipari is rumored to be for $6 million a year. - Bozich talks to Calipari buddy “Worldwide Wes” who told him “What’s going to happen is going to be monumental for college basketball. It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be great.” Bozich also said he’s heard that Wall and Cousins might not be too far behind. - Jerry Tipton was on Sportscenter and said he expects it to happen today and then something about how no matter who the coach is, he will fall short in one aspect of his job in the fans eyes. - Andy Katz just said he expects this to be resolved within 24 hours and if Calipari decides to stay at Memphis, UK will likely turn to Travis Ford - The Memphis Commercial-Appeal is reporting that John Calipari held a meeting with his Memphis team today where the UK job was discussed. While Calipari did not say he was taking the job, he did call it the “Notre Dame of basketball”, which I’m hoping is a compliment, but the players left with the feeling that he was going to take the job. The story also says that Memphis is prepared to make him the highest paid coach in college basketball. SIDENOTE: Jodie Meeks named AP 2nd Team All-American
Sorry to double post... but this is getting nuts. They have a live video feed outside of the Memphis athletic department! hopefully Calipari doesn't get chased down by the paparazzi like Billy G did. Edit: Per Mark Maggard (UK sports reporter) Cal has turned down Memphis's counter offer and tenured his resignation.
big difference, one doesn't have it's own network to shove the overrated/underacheiving team down our throats.
How reliable is this guy? Not following Kentucky I don't know of him. (By the way, I'm cool with it now... apparently Anderson and Mizzou are in the final stages of nailing down an extension, so no worries for me. And I'd much rather see a dominant Kentucky than a dominant Memphis. )
So if Calipari comes to Kentucky I wonder will DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall and Xavier Henry follow him?
Actually he's only semi-reliable. But all the sites are saying there is going to be news released at 4.. both in memphis and in lexington. I am pretty sure it's a done deal. Lord I hope so Edit: There is a players meeting scheduled at 4:30 at the Wildcat Lodge. I would say that's a definite sign.
I hope so I'm not sure we will get all 3 recruits but 2 out of 3 won't be bad. Also this pretty much means Tyreke Evans will enter the draft.
apparently it's official. http://memphis.rivals.com/barrier_n...pt=content.asp&cid=930002&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=
This will be a great move. Saw this too http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9398650/Sources:-Kentucky,-Calipari-nearing-monster-deal
Also heard on memphis tv that he's bringing at least two of his players with him Salle is one.. didn't hear the other.
Man this is huge. Just getting him would have been huge but if his recruits and two of this current players come we will be looking nice. Even though Salle and the other guy will have to sit out one year.
I forget... Why didn't UK just get Calipari 2 years ago? I kind of hope Memphis goes away, they are annoying, unless the rest of CUSA can catch up.
According to the FoxSports article above: Calipari has expressed significant interest in the Kentucky job over the last few years, sources told FOXSports.com, and was disappointed that he wasn't contacted two years ago prior to the hiring of Billy Gillispie, who was fired last week after a two-year record of 40-27. On the flipside, that was before last year when he was 1 bad minute away from winning a national title. Maybe he realized how good a team he was going to have that year and didn't want to leave that opportunity.
Rumor now is that Calipari and UK have almost everything worked out. Apparently one sticking point is honoring the commits past 2010... "Only one of them is a UK caliber player" is what he is supposed to have said.
