John Calipari (Vicky Graff Photo)
Let’s face it. The desirable lifespan for a Kentucky Basketball coach is about eight years. Once they hit the seven-year mark, the fan base grows impatient.
Joe B. Hall won a natty in year six but was in the NIT in year seven and didn’t make it past the NCAA second round the next three years and the fan base grew impatient.
Eddie Sutton didn’t make it for seven years.
Rick Pitino may be the exception to this. Natty in year seven and runner-up in year eight. I think the fans were satisfied with him when he left.
Tubby Smith won a title in year one but failed to advance past the second round in three of his last four years.
It only seemed like Billy Clyde was here for seven years.
And now Cal. His seventh year was after the 38-1 squad. Two Elite Eights but a missed tourney and first-round NCAA exit.
Hall. Pitino, Tubby, and Cal are also one-NCAA title coaches. If they aren’t winning multiple titles, the seven-year itch for UK fans fits.
But no one has had the talent that Cal has had. One title seems a bit underachieving. Since taking over at Kentucky, Jim Calhoun, Coach K, Roy Williams, Rick Pitino and Bill Self have added to their National Title resume. Jay Wright won two titles in that span.
Those elite coaches got it done in the past 13 years.
6 Responses
Not necessarily. Cal dug the hole that he is in by putting the goals of individual players ahead of the goals of the team (Andrew Harrison). Then came his devotion to his pets (BJ Boston, Sahvir Wheeler). Add to that his determination not to play zone defense or to refuse playing inside out offense, relying solely on the dribble drive offense has made Cal predictable and other coaches have taken advantage of it many times. Recruits see these patterns too and avoid the teams that underachieve. Cal has a loaded team again, yet it is already underachieving. Cal has been given plenty of time to correct this. My take is that he doesn’t know how or just doesn’t care to. It is time for Cal to move on, but not to say that the next coach will only have an 8 year tenure is premature. If it’s another Billy Clyde, it will only be one or two years. If it’s a Jim Calhoun type, let him stay as long as he is competitive and doesn’t embarrass the University. The wins will take care of themselves.
I ve been preaching for years only Rupp, Rick Pitino and Cals first 5 years had indure our magic runs. Folks again regardless what type of talent and we’re not only one school that had the talent to win it it all it’s lot of luck and how the ball bounce your way and plus the refs calling it. It. I will give this Cal blew it in 2015 and some since then.
Cal’s first 5 years was the 2nd best run I’ve seen in my lifetime for UK.
But his last 7 years is by far the worst I’ve seen over a 7 year span in my lifetime.
It’s time for him to retire, he’s embarrassing our great program and himself.
Eddie Sutton tenure was by far worst in my opinion put us in death bed and never like his slow style of of ball playing . Can’t leave Billy G out he ranks besides with him . Cal is too stubborn to change his style and really think if he doesn’t make some noise this season its time for him to go .
Oh I remember Sutton and BCG. I was talking about a 7 year span. Neither of those guys made it 7 years.
As far as a single season. Cal’s 9-16 was the worst of my lifetime. 2 year span has been the past 2 years.
9-16 followed by the first round loss to St Pete.
This season we’ve started out playing 2 teams with winning records and lost both games.
If Cal doesn’t retire soon he will take us to depths this great program has never seen in its entire history.
He’s already broken some really bad records.
I haven’t give up about this season like some fans have. The thing is we should be further along than most teams with the trip and extra practice we had. I’m not for sure this is all on Cal. I wonder there something going on behind the scene we don’t know about .