Calipari ranks as the most powerful basketball coach in the country
By Staff
I bash and then I compliment. Tis the life of a blogger.
The Orlando Sentinel has been running a series on the “Most Powerful People In” and I took a few shots at Jeremy Fowler’s assertion that Tim Tebow is the 5th most powerful person in the SEC. Well today, Josh Robbins carried the “Most Powerful People In College Sports”
In it, the SEC has a great presence with commissioner Mike Slive coming in at number 4. The SEC also had the only two coaches in the Top 20, with Urban Meyer at 13 and John Calipari at 14. A good representation for the two star coaches of the SEC. The new ESPN contract is definitely going to continue the SEC’s hold on best conference in both football and basketball
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Another Jeremy Fowler article in the Sentinel today, this time how gators basketball coach Billy Donovan is still a star but the “glow from titles is a tad dimmer”. Fowler notes that the Gator’s attendance last year hit it’s lowest point in almost a decade and that UF officials project a $500,000 decline in basketball ticket sales next reason.
Former UK Athletic Director C.M Newton weighed in on the story and suggested that Donovan may have served himself better by actually taking (and keeping) the Magic job when it was offered in 2007 after the 2nd NCAA title. “It personally may have been time to move on… what more can you do? All you are doing is setting yourself up for fans to say you’re slipping. If Billy wanted to be real safe, he probably should have left after the second national championship and let someone else go through the rebuilding process”
As a Magic fan, I am thrilled that Donovan reneged on his word and went back to Gainesville. How about that Brandon Bass signing by the Magic, eh?
On another Gator note, it looks like they are following Calipari and the rest of the SEC and scheduling a tougher out of conference schedule for next year. Florida has added a meeting in Gainesville against Xavier, a Tampa showdown against Syracuse, and a New Jersey tourney game against Michigan State.
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I know this is old news by now, but former Cat Jodie Meeks had a successful debut for his new team, the Milwaukee Bucks. Granted, it was in the Summer League in Vegas, but Meeks led the Bucks with 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting. Lots of buzz in Milwaukee that Meeks may actually start next year. If not start, he is expected to get plenty of minutes off the bench.
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Speaking of former Cats, lots of buzz is building for Jeremy Jarmon in next week’s supplemental draft. 18 teams turned out to watch him work out and the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the teams showing the most interest. The supplemental draft is a curious affair, devoid of any fanfare as the teams email the commissioner what round pick they would select Jarmon with. Priority goes to the teams with the worst record, but it is conceivable that it will take losing a 3rd round pick next year to nab Jarmon.
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Really not a lot else going on. The BBN remains on Doron Lamb watch or whatever other name will be the first 2010 recruit and the Calipari’s are moving into their new Lexington digs. Interesting tweet from Cal yesterday that they don’t have a fence up and their 75 pound German Shepherd is “mean and nimble”. Sounds like a warning to not be gawking around and taking pictures of the Calipari casa.
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