©Kim Klement-USA
Last week, I wrote that although “Cal Watch” was in full effect, I expect John Calipari to be the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Kentucky. And I continue to believe that Calipari—absent some unforeseen circumstance—will be the head basketball coach at Kentucky for several more years. He almost assuredly will not leave Kentucky for another college program and it’s difficult for me to imagine a scenario where he leaves for an NBA franchise.
But what if…
It’s one thing to choose Calipari’s replacement when the athletic department knows they need to find a new head coach (i.e. Calipari announces his retirement before the season begins or at some point during the season). It’s quite another to suddenly be forced to hire a new coach because Calipari has jettisoned off to the NBA or unexpectedly retired from coaching.
I have played this game with friends for the last couple of years. The premise is simple: If Kentucky, without advanced warning, had to hire a head coach at season’s end, to whom would they offer the job?
My Top 3 Candidates:
3) Orlando Antigua.
Coach “O” is considered by many the next Calipari assistant to be offered a head coaching position somewhere. He is often viewed as being Cal’s strongest recruiter, the one who can “seal the deal” with elite recruits. This story from ESPN the Magazine from November notes, “Many of the young men running up and down the floor wearing Wildcats blue are there because of Antigua.” Antigua would, in many ways, represent a continuation of Calipari’s recruiting and coaching style, which would likely help keep a recruiting class together.
But Antigua has never been a head coach. At 41, his youth (and inexperience) would undoubtedly be viewed as a liability by many in the fanbase. Would Mitch Barnhart be willing to hand the keys to Camelot to an unproven assistant?
2) Gregg Marshall.
Following Kentucky’s loss at South Carolina, as rumors started circulating that Calipari would leave at the end of the season, Andy Katz stated on ESPN Radio that his pick to replace Cal would be Gregg Marshall. Marshall, the head coach at Wichita State, has done a fantastic job not only at Wichita State but as Winthrop before that. In 9 seasons, Winthrop finished no worse than third in the Big South Conference, winning the league 6 times and making the NCAA Tournament 7 times.
At Wichita State, he has lead the Shockers to an NIT Championship in 2011 and lost to Louisville in last year’s Final Four. Of course, as everyone is aware, Wichita State are currently 34-0 and are the only remaining undefeated team in Division I college basketball.
While Marshall is 367-153 as a head coach, some might argue that he has yet to demonstrate he can win on the big stage and wonder if he is ready to lead make the leap from “mid-major” coach to head coach of one college basketball’s most storied programs. It isn’t unreasonable to think that more than a few Kentucky fans would prefer someone who has demonstrated they can win at a school in a “power” conference.
1) Sean Miller.
In his 5 years at Xavier, Sean Miller went 120-47 and made the NCAA Tournament 4 times, including two Sweet 16 and one Elite 8 appearances. At Arizona, he is 124-46. The 4th ranked Wildcats are 28-3 on the season and were, for several weeks, ranked #1. He is considered to be an elite recruiter, perhaps the best on the West Coast right now. And at 45, he would be young enough to spend a considerable time—assuming he wins—in Lexington.
Of course, all of this is nothing more than a crazy game of “What if…” Again, I DO NOT expect Calipari to be ANYWHERE ELSE other than at Kentucky next season and for many seasons thereafter. But, what if….?
Sound off in the comments section or tweet me.