BREAKING: Calipari Says Yes

[UNHWildCats]

John Calipari has accepted a lucrative offer to leave Memphis for Kentucky and become the highest-paid coach in college basketball, sources confirmed to SI.com on Tuesday. An announcement is expected in Lexington on Wednesday.

The deal Calipari is expected to sign with Kentucky could reach eight years and pay him more than $4 million per season, the source told SI.com. Memphis boosters had attempted to sweeten Calipari's contract with the school earlier this week, delaying his decision, but he eventually opted to jump ship from the team he'd coached for the past nine seasons. He replaces Billy Gillispie, who was fired from UK after just two seasons.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/03/31/calipari.kentucky/index.html

[putter]

Lots of money for lots of pressure but I think Calapari will be fine. I wonder if he will bring his top recruits that signed with Memphis

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Over/under at the NCAA finding major violations at Memphis now that Calipari is gone: 2.5 months.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Lots of money for lots of pressure but I think Calapari will be fine. I wonder if he will bring his top recruits that signed with Memphis

Heard ESPN pontificating on this last night. They said UK doesn't have enough openings, they only had one scholarship available and had signed someone IIRC. They did mention that there could be departures in Lexington. They also said a couple of the highly regarded Memphis recruits almost attended other schools. They mentioned one kid who now will probably sign with Kansas since he was so close to going with them.

[wkuhillhound]

Just when you think WKU is about to pass UK in basketball, they pull out a Calipari. When you take two teams to the Final Four (UMass and Memphis), you are a great coach.

xbawlingxxbawlingxxbawlingx:(:(:(:(:(:(

[LehighFan11]

What on earth is Calipari doing? This is a great move by Kentucky and Calipari will most likely have success. But why leave Memphis? He just can sit back and enjoy top 10 rankings, top recruits, and 30 win seasons. I could coach Memphis to 20 wins in C-USA.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Just when you think WKU is about to pass UK in basketball, they pull out a Calipari. When you take two teams to the Final Four (UMass* and Memphis), you are a great coach.

xbawlingxxbawlingxxbawlingx:(:(:(:(:(:(

You do know that the UMass visit to the Final Four is not acknowledged by the NCAA due to violations, right? In my book, it wasn't great coaching that got the Minutemen to the Final Four. xrolleyesx

[minuteman65]

You do know that the UMass visit to the Final Four is not acknowledged by the NCAA due to violations, right? In my book, it wasn't great coaching that got the Minutemen to the Final Four. xrolleyesx

Do you even know what the violations were? Do some research (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n23_v221/ai_19503011/) before you throw blame around. It's not like he's John Calhoun or anything.


After examining the case of star center Marcus Camby's involvement with an agent and concluding there was nothing Umass should have known -- he was charged with accepting about $28,000 while in school -- the NCAA chose to punish the Minutemen by making them vacate their Final Four appearance.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

I knew exactly what the violations were. BTW, I assume you meant Jim Calhoun. And if you've been paying attention, I detest the Sled Dogs. And I disliked that arrogant SOB before he arrived in Storrs.

Answer me this, why did UConn, hardly a paragon of virtue, not even recruit Marcus Camby, a resident of Hartford? There's no way that level of talent goes unnoticed! Maybe they saw the character issues that arose a few years later in Amherst or they couldn't get him admitted? Just like a few other CT kids who played at BC back then that the UConVicts never gave a sniff. Are you seriously going to tell me that UMass didn't stretch admissions standards to get a basketball team to fill seats at the new Mullins Center? That they didn't want a winning team on the national level at any cost? And I know things worked out great with Lou Roe, but wasn't he a very high risk recruit? All I'm saying is that Calipari gets things done with recruiting more so than coaching (the X's and O's type). My displeasure was directed at Calipari and how hypocritical the big time schools are.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

If UMass was guilt free back in those Camby days, then it seems like the NCAA would have left themselves wide open for lawsuits from UMass with their Final Four rescinding action. This smells like a settlement to me. NCAA says we've got enough other stuff on you, but we won't drag you through the muck if you allow us to slap your wrists over the Camby Agent thing. Why didn't UMass sue the shat out of the NCAA back then if they and Mr. Calipari were so innocent? xconfusedx

[minuteman65]

If UMass was guilt free back in those Camby days, then it seems like the NCAA would have left themselves wide open for lawsuits from UMass with their Final Four rescinding action. This smells like a settlement to me. NCAA says we've got enough other stuff on you, but we won't drag you through the muck if you allow us to slap your wrists over the Camby Agent thing. Why didn't UMass sue the shat out of the NCAA back then if they and Mr. Calipari were so innocent? xconfusedx

Because UMass had an ineligble player on their roster?

[TheValleyRaider]

Just when you think WKU is about to pass UK in basketball, they pull out a Calipari. When you take two teams to the Final Four (UMass and Memphis), you are a great coach.

xbawlingxxbawlingxxbawlingx:(:(:(:(:(:(

No offense, but it was never going to last. Kentucky is Kentucky. They're one of the top programs in the country, they can have their pick of coaches and with their resources, it was only going to be a matter of time


What on earth is Calipari doing? This is a great move by Kentucky and Calipari will most likely have success. But why leave Memphis? He just can sit back and enjoy top 10 rankings, top recruits, and 30 win seasons. I could coach Memphis to 20 wins in C-USA.

Why? Because he'll be an icon at Kentucky. The job has that kind of prestige attached to it. The place oozes basketball history, and people know that. Much higher profile at UK than at Memphis. Higher stakes, but the reward for being great at Kentucky is probably worth it xtwocentsx

Besides, he's competitive and loves a challenge (though I don't know how much of a challenge the SEC is...). Is running up the score on C-USA foes and then having to refocus for the Tournament really the best way to go about doing things?

[LehighFan11]

Why? Because he'll be an icon at Kentucky. The job has that kind of prestige attached to it. The place oozes basketball history, and people know that. Much higher profile at UK than at Memphis. Higher stakes, but the reward for being great at Kentucky is probably worth it xtwocentsx

Besides, he's competitive and loves a challenge (though I don't know how much of a challenge the SEC is...). Is running up the score on C-USA foes and then having to refocus for the Tournament really the best way to go about doing things?

I understand the whole Kentucky basketball culture, but it is a huge risk by Calipari. He is guaranteed to own at Memphis for the near future. Pay any coach a million dollars to coach Memphis and they would never leave. This guy has to be extremely cocky and full of himself if he leaves a great thing at Memphis to become the next Kentucky great. I have nothing against Calipari, but if he struggles and gets the boot after 2 years, I don't want to hear him crying or coaching my team.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

If only Chaney had followed through. Calipari is a rat....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51-4sJTf7iQ

[wkuhillhound]

No offense, but it was never going to last. Kentucky is Kentucky. They're one of the top programs in the country, they can have their pick of coaches and with their resources, it was only going to be a matter of time


Why? Because he'll be an icon at Kentucky. The job has that kind of prestige attached to it. The place oozes basketball history, and people know that. Much higher profile at UK than at Memphis. Higher stakes, but the reward for being great at Kentucky is probably worth it xtwocentsx

Besides, he's competitive and loves a challenge (though I don't know how much of a challenge the SEC is...). Is running up the score on C-USA foes and then having to refocus for the Tournament really the best way to go about doing things?

None taken. I can only dream. xnodx

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Over/under at the NCAA finding major violations at Memphis now that Calipari is gone: 2.5 months.


Memphis received the notice of allegations Jan. 16 and is scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 6.

Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky on March 31. The NCAA has requested his presence at the hearing, although he is not named in the report.

I knew I should have quit the IT/sportswriting business and become an oddsmaker. xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

March 31st + 2 1/2 months = June 14th.

Boo-ya!!

[93henfan]

I knew I should have quit the IT/sportswriting business and become an oddsmaker. xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

March 31st + 2 1/2 months = June 14th.

Boo-ya!!

Excellent work!

[appfan2008]

good call!!!!

no surprises

[Cobblestone]

Do you even know what the violations were? Do some research (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n23_v221/ai_19503011/) before you throw blame around. It's not like he's John Calhoun or anything.

I think you've been hanging out with Citdog too much. Do you mean the guy on the top or the guy on the bottom??



http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/45/7045-004-DB9E6BBC.jpg

http://nbcsportsmedia3.msnbc.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-080305-BBcoaches/ss-080305-BBcoaches-Calhoun.widec.jpg

[Reign of Terrier]

I think you've been hanging out with Citdog too much. Do you mean the guy on the top or the guy on the bottom??



http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/45/7045-004-DB9E6BBC.jpg

http://nbcsportsmedia3.msnbc.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-080305-BBcoaches/ss-080305-BBcoaches-Calhoun.widec.jpg

John C. Calhoun former VP of the USA and Senator of S.C. during the Antebellum...we've had so many awesome senators....anywho it would suck if Memphis's record setting team for wins has to vacate those wins. (and ironic)

[Lehigh Football Nation]

John C. Calhoun former VP of the USA and Senator of S.C. during the Antebellum...we've had so many awesome senators....anywho it would suck if Memphis's record setting team for wins has to vacate those wins. (and ironic)

Imagine that. A John Calipari coached team having to vacate wins.