It’s hard to believe that the debate over comments John Calipari made about his Kentucky Wildcat’s future basketball schedule are entering a third week, but yet they are. And I have to say that after the Indiana loss this weekend, I get where Cal is coming from loud and clear.
In case we forgot, Calipari had a poll on his website asking the BBN what rivalry they would like to get rid of if they had to between Indiana, Louisville, and North Carolina. The BBN erupted in rare disapproval of a Calipari statement and said that none of the rivalries should go away. I have to say that I pretty much trust Calipari’s judgement on things like this and while the loss of any of the rivalries would suck, it could be for the better.
Indiana helped hammer that point home.
Let’s face it. As long as John Calipari is coach at Kentucky, there is going to be tremendous turnover as players defect to the NBA. And I am OK with that. I would reload every year rather than try to rebuild with players we think will stay 3-4 years. And we can hate the NBA age limit rule all we want it. Everyone hates it. Fans. John Calipari, You. Me. It’s a stupid rule, but its the rule. So Kentucky recruits to get the best every year.
Next year’s team could be the greatest transformation Calipari has had to make as many as eight Wildcats will need to be replaced. Darius Miller and Eloy Vargas will graduate. Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, and Marquis Teague could all head to the NBA. And Stacey Poole is no longer a Wildcat.
Now take a very young Wildcat squad whose will have two juniors in Twany Beckham (who has not even played as a Wildcat yet) and Jarrod Polson as their senior players. Jon Hood and Kyle Wiltjer will be the only other players with game experience. Now mix that squad with Ryan Harrow and the incoming freshman and try to take them into Chapel Hill and Louisville’s Yum! Center for raucous road games the first two months of the season.
It is not a recipe for success and for some reason, John Calipari has lived a semi-charmed kind of life and made it successful. Sort of. The road troubles of last years team is well documented and the fact is, John Calipari is just 10-10 in true road games in his Kentucky career thus far. And next year, it will be hell on the road.
Kentucky could have road games at Louisville, Chapel Hill, and an unnamed Big East opponent in the first 10 games or so next year. Add the fact that Kentucky will probably add a road game at Missouri next year along with Alabama, Florida, and Vanderbilt in the SEC. And there is still DUke in NYC plus any other early Tournaments. That is about 25% of your schedule at very tough road stops and a slow start will mean the difference between a 1st or 2nd seed in the NCAA or a 4th or 5th.
I get it. We want to play the best. We want to beat the best. But there is a difference between playing a tough, competitive schedule (which we will have every year) and throwing your team to the wolves. Indiana was not even a ranked team when they upset Kentucky and you can see how rabid and passionate a fan base this Kentucky team inspires.
I hate to lose UNC off the schedule as well but I see the logic it makes for now. There is now harm in delaying it a year until it can be on a more favorable home/away schedule for Kentucky. I support UK playing the best of the best, but I also support taking a well thought out approach to make sure you are not going to hurt yourself by going too early, too soon.