Kentucky Basketball: In Defense of John Calipari

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Barely a month has passed since the University of Kentucky’s 2014-15 Men’s Basketball Team ended their season at 38-1 in a loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Final Four. The Big Blue Nation was sad, disappointed and, as I wrote, empty. That team got so close to 40-0 and immortality that it does hurt. It hurts a lot. Since the season has ended, head coach John Calipari and the Wildcats have missed out on a few potential recruits that have chosen other places to play their college ball. That leaves UK with the #2 (ESPN), #3 (Rivals) or #2 (Scout.com) class. And some people are worrying that Cal and/or UK has lost something?

Let’s review Calipari’s six year resume at the University of Kentucky:

He’s 22-4 in the NCAA Tournament, the most wins in that span (Duke has 17)
He’s 190-38 overall (.833 winning percentage) and in the SEC, he’s 82-20 (.804)
He’s reached the Elite Eight in five of six years and the Final Four in four of five.
His Cats were the national runner-up in 2013-14
He won the 2012 national title.

That’s a pretty impressive resume, but for some, it’s not enough. Both within and without the BBN, people are beginning to question if Cal really knows what he’s doing. Despite all evidence to the contrary, there’s this impression that John Calipari isn’t a great coach. He’s just a great recruiter (a part of a college coach’s responsibility) and Cal is just a great manager of personalities (another responsibility).

Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA Tournament started in 1939 and has been held 76 times. Kentucky has reached the Final Four 17 times; Cal has done it four times or 23.5% of UK’s total. Kentucky has won 8 NCAA titles; Cal has won one or 12.5% of UK’s total. By what standard is he failing or not living up to expectations? Because he has “left a title on the table?” What great coach hasn’t had a team that everyone was sure would win, but didn’t? If you coach long enough, you’re going to have some what-ifs.

Am I a Calipari “fan boy?” No. I think it’s right and necessary to question the coach. I think Cal bungled the last three minutes of the game against Wisconsin. I’m not a fan of playing stall ball and I think that derailed the team in crunch time. What I do believe is that, despite losing 7 underclassmen, the Wildcats will be ready to make a deep run in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. If you look at where the program was in 2009, Calipari has delivered.

Before Calipari, the Wildcats weren’t bad enough to be a complete laughingstock and weren’t good enough to be actual contenders for the NCAA title. I remember being ecstatic when Kentucky would get to the second round. That’s all changed. Cal has set the bar so high that 38-1 isn’t enough to reach it. Only having the #2 or #3 recruiting class won’t reach it. His critics are demanding perfection. And with that as the standard, no one can reach it. John Calipari isn’t perfect, but he is an elite coach who is setting records at the most storied program in college basketball. And in my book, that’s record that really needs no defense.

Kentucky Basketball: In Defense of John Calipari

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