Nothing like a shocking information drop on the eve of the nationwide championship sport.
John Calipari is leaving Kentucky and headed throughout the SEC to Arkansas, finalizing a five-year deal to interchange Eric Musselman in Fayetteville.
No one may have foreseen this chain of occasions when SMU fired Rob Lanier after simply two seasons, resulting in the Mustangs poaching Andy Enfield from USC and Musselman departing Arkansas for the Trojans’ emptiness. Arkansas took a few early swings at Ole Miss’ Chris Beard and Kansas State’s Jerome Tang, however each coaches turned down the Razorbacks and returned to their respective faculties.
So, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek reassessed the search and got here out with a brand new identify atop his goal checklist: Calipari.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf react to the brand new transfer, together with what it means for the convention and the faculties — and who may succeed Coach Cal in Lexington.
How did we get up to now? What compelled Calipari to depart Kentucky?
Myron Medcalf: After a sequence of disappointing outcomes (9-16 in 2020-21; the 2022 NCAA match loss to Saint Peter’s; final month’s first-round loss to Oakland), Calipari not had full management in Lexington. Quite than give Kentucky’s brass one other yr to resolve in the event that they needed to maintain him, Calipari did what some coaches do on this state of affairs: He left.
The enjoyment of teaching at Kentucky is having fun with the admiration, recognition and affect one positive aspects from a large fan base and basketball model. However Calipari misplaced that assist in recent times. It had felt like Calipari and Kentucky had been residing underneath the identical roof however had been not collectively. Calipari simply made it official Sunday evening.
Jeff Borzello: As soon as a coach will get to the purpose the place his athletic director must launch a press release confirming his return as coach, it is laborious to regain the belief of the fan base. And Calipari reached that time. The NCAA match losses, one Large Dance win since 2019, refusing to embrace the switch portal and persevering with to construct freshmen-focused rosters — all of it added as much as a annoyed fan base. And so when one other faculty with large sources and a passionate fan base confirmed curiosity, Calipari jumped. Higher to depart than stay on the recent seat.
1:50
Farnham: Calipari’s ‘recent begin’ advantages each Arkansas and Kentucky
Sean Farnham reacts to the information of John Calipari leaving Kentucky to develop into the top coach at Arkansas.
What’s most tasty concerning the Arkansas job?
Medcalf: Soccer is Arkansas’ old flame, and it final gained a basketball nationwide title in 1994. It has a particularly passionate fan base, however nothing rivals Kentucky’s Large Blue Nation. Calipari will not face the identical strain he endured in Lexington, however he may have entry to energy boosters (the Tyson household, Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones and the Walton household) who will provide sufficient NIL cash to assist him appeal to elite expertise.
Borzello: Arkansas has loads of sources and is rising its NIL price range to deliver Calipari into the fold. The fan base is there too. When Bud Walton Area is rocking, it is the most effective home-court benefits within the SEC. And Arkansas has a stranglehold on retaining in-state expertise residence for college; there was a stretch from 2016 to 2022 when zero ESPN 100 prospects left the state of Arkansas for faculty.
What are the probabilities Calipari will take pleasure in the kind of success he had at Kentucky now that he is at Arkansas?
Medcalf: In 5 seasons, Eric Musselman had a greater postseason run (two Elite Eight appearances and a visit to the Candy 16) than Calipari did at Kentucky over the identical stretch. Calipari has at all times been a prime recruiter; that will not change at Arkansas. He may not get 4 or 5 McDonald’s All People yearly the best way he did at Kentucky, however Calipari will signal nice expertise.
Borzello: Calipari can win a nationwide championship at Arkansas. All the things is in place to persistently compete on the prime of the SEC and push for Closing 4 berths. Musselman did not fairly have the regular-season success to match, however he had the Razorbacks inside a sport of the Closing 4 in back-to-back years. The important thing for Calipari is whether or not he’ll change his outlook on roster building. He’ll be capable of recruit at a excessive degree in Fayetteville, however Calipari cannot proceed to construct with just one or two transfers. There needs to be a mixture of excessive schoolers and veterans, and he’ll have the NIL price range to construct a roster in that method.
1:20
Pete Thamel lists potential John Calipari replacements at Kentucky
With John Calipari on the cusp of a transfer to develop into Arkansas’ coach, Pete Thamel throws out names of some potential candidates to interchange him.
Is the transfer good or unhealthy for Kentucky?
Medcalf: That is an advanced query. Calipari had the aptitude (and trace of conceitedness), persona and expertise to deal with the calls for of a rabid fan base that craved the success he had introduced in his first six seasons — together with a nationwide title. It is a distinctive position, one solely Rick Pitino and Calipari have excelled in over the previous 30 years. There is no such thing as a clear successor who can proceed to draw five-star recruits and future NBA stars. The brand new coach additionally must endure the expectations of a fan base that hasn’t witnessed a nationwide title run since 2012 however nonetheless expects to compete for a championship each season.
Borzello: It may be laborious to reply this proper now. Whereas Calipari’s buyout was the largest obstacle to firing the Corridor of Fame coach, the dearth of a pure alternative was second on the checklist. Many of the logical successors both have large buyouts or will not make the transfer. If Kentucky has to dip down into its second- or third-tier candidate pool, it may not be a terrific transfer for the Wildcats.
How will the transfer have an effect on the SEC?
Medcalf: It relies upon partly on the dominoes. Will Kentucky goal Alabama’s Nate Oats? Or will the Wildcats chase former Villanova coach Jay Wright or UConn’s Dan Hurley? Both method, Kentucky will not accept a subpar candidate. On the flip facet, Arkansas, which hasn’t gained the SEC since 2000, is definitely in a brand new tier with this hiring. General, a league that may quickly add Oklahoma and Texas in all probability will enhance.
Borzello: It is landscape-shifting. As Myron talked about, the dominoes falling will have an effect. However this is not nearly Kentucky and what it does from right here. This instantly vaults Arkansas into the higher crust of the nationwide dialog — and due to this fact the SEC dialog. The Razorbacks out of the blue have title-contending expectations each season. Kentucky will at all times have these, however the Wildcats may not be the largest story within the league throughout the 2024-25 season.
What’s subsequent for Kentucky? Who ought to Kentucky goal for its opening?
Medcalf: Once more, there aren’t any easy solutions right here. However Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart ought to pull as much as Monday’s nationwide title sport and ask Hurley for the sum of money it will take to lure him to Lexington — though Hurley is comfortable in Storrs, Connecticut. Oats would make sense, however he has an $18 million buyout. Wright does not appear too excited about leaving TV to return to teaching. If these choices all fall by means of, Kentucky will not have an apparent goal. That stated, the Wildcats do not owe Calipari his $33 million buyout as a result of he left, in order that they have the monetary backing to buy groceries.
Borzello: There are large obstacles to rent a lot of the names who would theoretically be the highest targets. I do not suppose Hurley would go from UConn to Kentucky, particularly if he wins one other nationwide title on Monday evening. Does the Chicago Bulls’ Billy Donovan actually need to coach in school once more? Does Wright need to coach in any respect once more? Oats has an enormous buyout. Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger has an enormous buyout. Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd simply signed a brand new contract. Auburn’s Bruce Pearl has had related NCAA match struggles in recent times. Baylor’s Scott Drew might be essentially the most reasonable goal, and he simply turned down Louisville. Whether or not Kentucky can rent — or a minimum of attempt to rent — Drew will possible be decided by the buyout in Drew’s new deal.
