Caliparty?

Ever since Gillispie's removal as UK's head coach 3 days ago, rumors have been rampant about who our next coach would be.  Many speculated Travis Ford, since AD Mitch Barnhart was stressing the importance of having someone who truly understood and appreciated what UK basketball is all about.  Ford played point guard for the Wildcats during the early 90's under Pitino and was one of the key figures in building the program to what it became in the late 90's (2 National Championships and a Runner-up in 3 years).  Others were screaming for Donovan because he too would be returning to somewhere he knew and respected as having been a former assistant coach here in Lexington.  Both of those seemed poor choices to me.  Ford is too young and inexperienced.  Maybe another decade from now I will consider him a forerunner for this position, but he needs to get some more games under his belt.  I also heard he has some off-court issues that sound a lot like BCG.  Not good.  Donovan has the celebrity factor.  He's a big name, having won 2 recent National Championships at UF, and he has the "it" factor - clean cut, handsome, and witty.  And we've all seen how good of a recruiter he is.  But I still didn't want him.  His stock has significantly declined in the last two years, having only made the NIT.  Why bring in someone who isn't even getting their team to the Big Dance?  Still others were throwing around the names of Jay Wright, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino (gasp!), or Thad Matta.  My responses to those (in order): nope, no more up-and-comings; boring basketball; yeah right/sick; not proven enough.  

John Calipari's name was also in the mix, but people kept insisting that he has it perfect at UM.  Winning season after winning season.  The gem of Memphis sports - not competing with football.  He's the "King of Memphis" - the most popular guy in town.  Recently signed a contract making him one of the highest paid coaches of all time.  It just didn't make sense for him to go.  Well that was the media talking.  

We Kentuckians see the big picture.  We know that UK is the winningest program of all time.  That we have 7 National Championships, 43 SEC championships, the greatest fan base out there, and an unbelievably storied tradition (The Fabulous Five, Rupp's Runts, the Miracle in Mardi Gras, The Untouchables, the Comeback Cats).  We all know and appreciate this.  We've produced the likes of Pat Riley, Kyle Macy, John Pelphrey, Richie Farmer, Jamal Mashburn, Antoine Walker, Tayshaun Prince, and Rajon Rondo).  The rest of the country apparently sees us as "has-beens".  Let me tell you, we are still there, we have just had some bad luck recently. 

Today news came out that Coach Cal also sees UK like the Big Blue Nation does, which is a breath of fresh air since Billy Clyde seemed to never grasp the grandiose "culture" of Kentucky Basketball.  Calipari was quoted as telling his UM players that "Kentucky is the Notre Dame of college basketball" and that he couldn't let this offer from Lexington go without giving it some serious thought.  Some reports said that players left the meeting this morning convinced that he was leaving them, while others said that they were confident he'd return.  All day today people were celebrating that we had landed Calipari.  While it seems likely that he will be coming, with both parties confirming that they have expressed a mutual interest and are talking numbers for the contract, nothing is set in stone yet.  Rumors are that Calipari could be getting upwards of $6 million per year.  (Economic recession my butt.)

Apparently Memphis boosters are proposing counter offer after counter offer to Calipari, trying to entice him to stay.  But I've seen reports that he has turned those down, saying it's not about the money.  People are freaking out here in Lexington that he was meeting with the UM administration this afternoon, worried that he may change his mind.  But apparently he was only sitting down with them to give suggestions as to who they should hire to replace him.  Who knows if that's true, but if it is, that's awfully nice of him!  :)

I'm not ready to throw all my eggs in one basket and celebrate.  I think it's pre-mature.  And after having been burned a few years back during the UK/LSU football game, I'm not gonna fall for it again.  Cats, it ain't over til the fat lady sings.  Not until I see Calipari in a UK tie shaking the hand of Mitch Barnhart in front of thousands of crazy fans here in Lexington will I finally celebrate.  And the possibility that he may bring his top recruits (Henry who has a clause to get out of his LOI, Cousins who hasn't signed yet, and Wall who is still undecided) with him makes it even more exciting.  If that were the case, I truly believe UK would be in contention for a National Championship next year.  Look at this possible line-up (very unlikely to happen, but I can dream):

Starting 5:

     John Wall

     Xavier Henry

     Jodie Meeks

     DeMarcus Cousins

     Patrick Patterson

Bench:

(players that would probably start anywhere else in the country):

     Daniel Orton

     Darius Miller

     Jon Hood

(players that started or played significant time this year):

     Perry Stevenson

     Michael Porter

     Kevin Galloway

     Ramon Harris

     DeAndre Liggins

    

Hello Kentucky, there's a team.  If this happens (or anything close to it), the Commonwealth of Kentucky will definitely be throwing a CALIPARTY until the season starts!  And I think it's merited.  

Now we just have to make it official.  Please Barnhart, rope him in!