John Calipari expects to meet with Mitch Barnhart today.
John Calipari did his final radio show of the season Monday night and certainly did not sound like a coach under any pressure to resign or a coach worried that he would not be retained.
Calipari has been under fire by many Kentucky fans since UK’s 80-76 NCAA Tournament loss to Oakland Thursday in the NCAA Tournament.
Calipari emphasized several times “I love this state and program” when talking with Tom Leach on the UK Radio Network. He also confirmed he had yet to meet with UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart since the Oakland loss.
“We do it every year and we haven’t, but it’ll be done in the next couple of days,” Calipari said. “Every year we share thoughts with each other. I’m sure he’s hurting, he was on the plane back. He was hurting like the rest of us and I look forward to hearing his thoughts. How can we be better?”
That was a bit of a shock since Barnhart and Calipari reportedly seldom talk to each other about the UK basketball program.
Calipari said he had to turn his attention to his team. He has individual meetings with players to “find out where they are right now” with plans for next year when it pertains to the NBA, coming back to UK or maybe even entering the transfer portal.
“We have to get through that stuff right now,” Calipari said. “My guess is we’ll meet, Mitch and I will meet tomorrow.”
Leach did ask Calipari about potential changes he might make or discuss with Barnhart that he might make.
“We are just removed from the season but every year I go through that process of evaluating everything in the program. You go through, whether it’s all the people around you or whether it’s how we’re doing things. I haven’t gone through everything, but with defense and physicality, how do we get back there?” Calipari said.
“We’re working on our physicality and we’re working on our defense, trying to set a foundation of who we’re going to be. I don’t want to change offensively. It was fun coaching it, our fans loved it. Obviously, the nation loved it — we were the highest-rated TV game. All of our games. I don’t want to change that.”
18 Responses
Barnhart simply needs to say “you’re fired”
Happy Birthday Larry. Always enjoy your articles.
Thank you Big I
One man (who believes he is GOD and has been crowned so) holds an entire athletic program, an entire university, an entire state, hostage, and there’s nobody around available or willing to negotiate any terms to free said hostages. The only thing worse is the fans who still believe things can get better the next year, and the next, and the next—they have been saying the same thing for 5 years–they will obviously never learn. Unfortunately, those fans deserve all the failings possible in SEC and NCAA tournaments from the GOD in charge. The Kentucky Wildcats are now the Centucky WildCubs–college basketball’s version of the Lovable Losers. Just like they said for decades when can the Chicago Cubs win a World Series–When can the Centucky Cubs win a championship? Hell, when can the Centucky Cubs win ONE NCAA OR SEC TOURNAMENT GAME? The Centucky Cubs–and the Lovable Losers. With GOD holding the gun on them until he has finished his dismantling of the empire.
Once again, you nailed it, James Milburn IV !!!
Happy Birthday, Larry!!!
🎉🎊‼️
If the AD and the fraud only plan to talk rather than work out a DOUBLE resignation to save face, and at the minimum for the coaching position to be open after their meeting, then it is a waste of time.
Happy Happy Happy Birthday to you big guy. Hope that it is the best one ever!
I don’t know what kind of dirt Calipari has on Barnhart, but Calipouto needs to can both of them.
ABSOLUTELY BARRY!!!
CAN BOTH OF THEM NOW!!!
Are they in cahoots together with the fraud giving a kickback to the spineless AD?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Have the upper tier UK administrators done their job and hired Private Investigators to dig into every bank account those 2 have to see if any transfers have been made or if any money has been sent from the many pets &/or their agents task far back as 2010.
It’s just good business sense to find out if any shenanigans have transpired during the years the greatness of UK BB has slowly expired! Find out if there are secret motives to showcase certain players even when they cost UK victories. Are some Agents blackmailing or just giving gifts to the guy who has favorites?
I call upon any UK administrator with authority and influence regarding the UKAA to earn his keep and investigate.
I kind of feel that the developing, quiet atmosphere of the last 24-48 hrs. would signal that Barney is going to continue with the status quo underachievement. IMO Cali-Fraudi had a horrible audition on his final Monday show for his meeting today because he said he wasn’t going to change. I did have my barf bag close by and did massage it once on twice with Cal’s repeating of the same BS hoping Barney was listening and that the BBN could continue to drink it as well. Cal also said the guys weren’t tight but they were anxious, and I am still searching for the difference. IMO we will be rinsing and repeating this a year from now.
Calipari is saying that he is a changed man/coach. He will put winning titles ahead of getting his pets into the NBA. I say that’s too little, too late! It’s time move on. Fire his ass!
If he didn’t have enough intelligence to drastically change after the St. Peters game,
he certainly doesn’t have it now. He is not going to change. Why should he?
Hate to say it folks he will be back next year. Officially confirm
If Calipari stays, I am gone. I bleed blue, but if the University is not going to do what is best for our program, I will find another team to follow. I have observed all of the sabotage that I can stomach.
Who’s the next coach? Easy to identify the problem! Be a problem solver!! Who’s the next guy??? The first call I make is Jay Wright, make ‘em say no. He will. Call Billy D and let him turn you down for the 3rd time? Not me. Kelvin Sampson? I say it’s been 20+ years since his scandal at IU and statute of limitations has passed by. He would probably say yes. It’s not that Cal should go it’s all about who will replace him!! Give us solution commenters!! It’s too easy to say I’ve had all the sabotage I can stomach and I’ll find a new team! One, you won’t find a new team. Two – you’re not a true fan if you say you’ll find a new team. BS, if Shepherd comes back you, I, you and all other fans will pull for the kids on the team!!
AD and coach should both be fired. They have dismantled the program
Who will be next? Really, while we watch the program burn, some are more worried about putting out the fire first by removing the fuel of destruction from the program?
Once it finishes its burn, then the task becomes even more difficult for whoever gets the unenviable job of rebuilding.
If UK is unable to find a coach who wants to do this rebuild and is capable of doing this rebuild, then the destruction of the UK program at the hands of this fraud is truly complete.
I have some nice swamp land in South Florida for sale to anyone who believes UK cannot do better than this fraud.