Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
John Calipari wasn't up on the stage once with David Stern during Thursday night's NBA draft, but fans still saw plenty of the UK coach. With five players selected in the first round -- and three of them going in the lottery -- Calipari got more than his fair share of screen time.
It was really the ultimate recruiting pitch to players: "Win or lose at the college level, I can make you rich." Sure, that Kentucky team won an SEC title, but it didn't make a Final Four or win a title, so in the history of that school, they hardly even rate. The achievement of bringing together talented freshmen to win at that level is noteworthy, but probably not an historic achievement by UK standards. And yet on Thursday night, Calipari dropped this doozy of a comment while talking to ESPN's Heather Cox:
"I'd like to say it is the biggest day in the history of Kentucky's program," [Calipari said]. "... the biggest day for the University of Kentucky."
It's certainly a bold statement about a school that has won seven national titles, finished as the runner up three times and been to the Final Four a total of 13 times. When you hold the 2009-10 team to that standard, Calipari is stark-raving mad. The school's all-time leading scorer, Dan Issel, said just about as much to the Herald-Leader:
"The dumbest thing I've ever heard," said Dan Issel. "If the goal is to be a feeder team for the NBA, maybe that was the greatest day. I thought the goal was to win a national championship."
Jerry Tipton was unable to find one former UK player or coach in his small survey who agreed with Calipari's sentiment. And, if we're being honest for a minute, Calipari is off his rocker if he actually believes this was the biggest day in Kentucky basketball history. But you don't think he believes that, do you? Anyone who holds up that statement as more than a bold, if not overstated, sales pitch to future recruits clearly hasn't been paying attention to Calipari all these years.
Now, if fans at Kentucky care about achievements of the players beyond Lexington, then sure, this rates as an historic day for the Wildcats. The NBA had never had five players drafted from one school in the first round. Kentucky did it. The Wildcats had also never had a player drafted No. 1 overall, but they did that too.
It's understandable that the comments rubbed a few people the wrong way, but this is what you signed up for with Calipari. He'll be brash and maybe even a little bit arrogant, but you take one look at that 2010 and 2011 recruiting classes and tell me you'd rather have someone else.
(H/T to College Basketball Nation)
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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This is a good article with perspective on Calipari’s comment. I’m a UK fan and overall among my friends nobody has much of a problem with what Calipari said. We know he’s a marketer and he’s always looking to get his message out to recruits, which is good for UK.
Now I’m 27, so some older fans might be turned off by it, but for those who see the bigger picture and understand what Calipari is trying to build recruiting wise they don’t have a problem with it at all.
by DustinUK on Jun 28, 2010 2:26 PM EDT reply actions
Oh the wisdom of a 27 year old. The older generation just doesn’t get it. Let’s just limit coaches to under 30.
by snowhill on Jun 28, 2010 7:03 PM EDT reply actions
The moment that came out of his mouth, I thought, "Ouch. That’ll take some explaining on the banquet circuit."
Every UK fan believed West Virginia, minus it’s starting PG, would get run out of the gym by half-time. Watching Kentucky chuck 3s all night long and stay in a zone with the back-up PG on the bench with 4 fouls, down almost double digits, ended Cal’s honeymoon period. 5 1st round picks isn’t getting it back, no matter much Cal spins it.
Cal’s going to learn a tough lesson. 30-4, with high NBA draft picks, and a Final Four or 2 isn’t going to cut it at Kentucky. Roy has 2 championships at Carolina in 7 years. That’s what Kentucky wants — or more.
by heel9091 on Jun 28, 2010 9:51 PM EDT reply actions
Every sports web site has done an article on Calipari’s comments and the reaction by former players and fans. This has much to do about nothing and Calipari’s comments were made for one reason and one reason only. Enjoy the national media’s attention given to how the Big Blue Nation reacts to the insignificant things. GO CATS!
by rcobb on Jun 28, 2010 10:01 PM EDT reply actions
Send your child off to be under the tutelage of this cheap thug.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Jun 29, 2010 12:53 AM EDT reply actions
Calipari cares about himself and his ego.But what can you expext from a serial cheater?
by garryowen on Jun 29, 2010 10:18 AM EDT reply actions
"take one look at that 2010 and 2011 recruiting classes and tell me you’d rather have someone else"
Okay…. I’d rather have someone else.
by sddbaker on Jun 29, 2010 1:03 PM EDT reply actions
What a moron I am. All this time, I thought it was about winning. Now I know that it is all about getting kids to the pros. What an idiotic comment for Cal to spew, even if it was all about self-promotion. Maybe because Cal has never won anythng other than a recruiting championship, he just does not know any better.
by LSUSMCR on Jun 29, 2010 4:43 PM EDT reply actions
the kids in the projects don’t care about your national championships, or your schools…they want to make a name for themselves…stay for one year…they want to get to the NBA…so they can get paid.
by lordhlatts on Jun 29, 2010 4:46 PM EDT reply actions
Ask John Wall or Demarcus Cousins if they cared about UK or winning games and achieving milestones. Wall said sometimes he went back in his room and watched highlight packages of the season and cried because of how special this team and this season was. One year at UK is more special than a hundred years at 99% of the schools out there.
It’s about winning, but recruiting is a means to that end and for all those who wonder what his secret is while implying he’s cheating this is it. Marketing to elite players by promoting the idea that they can reach their career basketball goals while playing on a team with a chance to win big is the way to get recruits and nobody does it better than Calipari.
I’ve said my piece, you all can resume the haters convention now.
by DustinUK on Jun 29, 2010 11:42 PM EDT reply actions
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