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ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg is a former college head coach who is also a long-time friend of John Calipari.
He’s not afraid to criticize Calipari or point out problems at UK when he sees them but he’s also worked camps for Calipari.
It was not a huge surprise when he took to Twitter Sunday to show his support for Calipari and warn those criticizing the UK coach that they were wrong in their thinking.
Kentucky has lost four players to the NBA Draft off last year’s team and lost four more players to the transfer portal. Even with the commitment from Jordan Burks Monday, UK has just eight scholarship players on the roster about a month before the Wildcats go to Toronto to represent the United States at the FIBA GLOBL JAM.
“I get a kick out of local media taking shots at Calipari. The guy has the No. 1 recruiting class in the country,” Greenberg posted on Twitter. “It seems like they have an agenda and want him to fail. Known the guy for 40 years that won’t happen. Kentucky will be just fine. No collective real NIL.”
Not sure which “local media” Greenberg means but assuming it is Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio. Comments by Jones about the UK basketball program being in “disarray” were published in New York newspaper stories last weekend.
“Covid year Kentucky had no shot. No team building, not extra individual practices learning how to compete. Same thing as Duke that year. Impossible for programs that year that relied on freshman. The loss to the year after brutal. Just a fact,” Greenberg posted.
Of course, the COVID year was when UK won nine games and missed the NCAA Tournament. The next season UK lost to Saint Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA when UK was a No. 2 seed. Last season UK lost to Kansas State in the second round of NCAA play.
“Never a agenda. They play poorly I say it and why. See when you don’t have an agenda like others it’s easy,” Greenberg tweeted. “Believe me they won’t have 7 players. Fwiw (for what’s it worth) you need 8 contributing players and a few developing guys.”
Now that Burks has signed, UK has the eight players Greenberg says Calipari needs and he’s right that the UK coach is prone to play a rotation of seven or eight players. However, it might be helpful to have a few more talented players to practice with and against.
Kentucky might be just fine. Other college coaches have told me Kentucky’s young roster is so talented that most coaches across the country would gladly trade rosters with Calipari.
But based on what’s happened the last three NCAA Tournaments — one win in three years — and the departures off last year’s team there have to be questions going into next season. I know one major publication that has decided not to put UK in its preseason top 25 despite having the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.
15 Responses
Based on Cal’s first 8 yrs no one saw the last 4 coming either. He still has more NCAA Tournament wins since he’s been at Ky than any other there team. I mean… how is anyone going to justify celebrating a Championship while Cal’s coach, without confirming they are a hypocrite. The same people say he can’t do it with a young team. They talk about his pet future NBA players. I will bet every scholarship player there now (minus Canada) will be in the NBA. I’m gonna buckle up and enjoy the ride. Go Cats!
Your just a idiot! Sit back and enjoy losing! Wow!
At least a true Kentucky fan.
Who cares if they’re going to be in the NBA?
I’ll never understand celebrity worship. Therefore, I’ll never understand the Cal worship and the blindness of his following.
I agree, David. I don’t care what they do after they leave UK. Yes, I like to see anyone be successful, but that has nothing to do with how they play as a team at UK.
NBA talent on a college roster does not equate to wins on the floor. It does definitely help, but team play, making shots, preparation, coaching, and defense win games; even at the NBA level. The Best Teams win, not the best individual players.
If you are a coach at a major ncaa school. You will get criticism.
Seth Greenberg can criticize Calipari, but no one else can do so?
Seth Greenberg is a idiot!
*an idiot
Seth Greenberg is a loser too! If he was a great coach why isn’t he coaching at a major program! He a flippin idiot! Any bet right now that UK will suck next year just like they have the last few years!!
I keep hearing that this team will be kicking butt, whatever that means.
Here is the thing we will just have to wait and see what happens. It is what it is. If he wins with this team and goes final four we will have to admit one of the greatest coaches of all time. If he has a losing record with this team or gets knocked out first round of the tournament we will have to admit that something has to give. It is on coach cal. Personally this year I have the wait and see attitude. I’m going to leave this season up to the coach. What ever happens either way it is on coach cal. Unfortunately even injuries must count as to the success of the coach this next year. Every coach must be prepared for all possibilities. Kentucky has not had a full roster for 5 years now.
Patience is not something you find a lot of any more Phil
The fans that have said so many bad things about Calipari are the ones that have caused all this problem . The players have read all of this negativity till it has persuaded them to go some where else. The ones complaing could not even coach a little league team. My opinion they are not true Kentucky fans. Well you have accomplished getting rid of the players. No one would play for you for sure.
Seriously, an argument that criticism of Calipari has harmed recruiting while the current incoming class is universally acclaimed as the #1 recruiting class in the nation.
The criticism of Calipari has never focused on his ability to recruit future NBA stars, and he has done that throughout his time at UK, and he is doing that now. The criticism of Calipari is that his recruiting and training strategies are based on the wrong priorities, i.e., moving these kids into the NBA as quickly as possible, not the success of this program.
Calipari is paid to be successful for this program. He is not doing that job. The program is in decline, and has been for too many years.
As for not having a full roster, and that costing the teams, this is not new to the last 5 years. The 2013 team lost its heart and soul when Nerlens went down, and Calipari’s roster was not full, did not have the resources to carry forward, and that season went into the tank. After that season, I clearly recall Calipari reflecting on the lack of roster depth and proclaiming that NEVER AGAIN WOULD THAT OCCUR on his watch.
Well, it has been the rule rather than the exception that his rosters have been less than fully stocked with quality players. Just as much of what spews from this man’s mouth, that proclamation after the 2013 season was nothing more than mush for consumption by the BBN. He routinely makes these sorts of proclamations like "Player X MUST GET MORE PLAYING TIME" only to be followed by game after game in which PLAYER X does not ever make it into a game.
This man may be a great basketball coach, and I am willing to concede that his record prior to UK supported that conclusion. However, his "players first" priorities here are misplaced and taking this program down.