Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday

Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday

Posted on: March 31, 2009 12:44 am

Edited on: May 18, 2009 9:24 pm

Score: 138

Eventually, John Calipari will choose between Kentucky and Memphis.

But it won't happen until at least Tuesday.

Everything in CBSSports.com's earlier report remains true -- that UK officials believe Calipari will be their next coach, that some Memphis players and recruits would likely follow him, that he could be introduced at Kentucky on Tuesday or Wednesday. But Calipari spent Monday night visiting with prominent Memphis boosters and keeping in touch via phone with UK officials, and a source told CBSSports.com that Calipari still hasn't officially "pulled the trigger" on the deal despite UK officials telling multiple industry sources that it's "pretty much done."

Either way, this much is true: Calipari will be the highest paid coach in the country when this is over.

Sources said UK offered a contract of $35 million to $40 million spread over seven or eight years.

Separate sources insist Memphis can and will match any offer.

Category: NCAAB

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jgpennin Reputation: 85 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 11, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:02 am Score: 130 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday Who do ya'll think would win a straight up bidding war? Word around Memphis is that Fred Smith, Billy Dunavant, and other prominent boosters have spent the majority of Monday evening at Cal's house trying to pursuade him to stay. I still think this is about Cal either wanting to stay at Memphis and build a traditional powerhouse and annual NC contender, or go to KY and leave a legacy of rebuilding one. I think he can and will do either, but if this was decided solely on money, this has the potential to make Nick Saban's contract look like a 13 year old kids allowance. [ Reply to Comment ]
bradhurt2003 Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 3, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:16 am Score: 102 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday If it's about the money, Cal will stay in Memphis. At this point in his career obviously he doesn't need the cash. My gut feeling is that he will go. The SEC is a pretty good conference compared to C-USA, and Kentucky has a ton of tradition. It's another step up in the college hoops world, from UMASS to Memphis to Kentucky. As a Memphis fan, I hope he stays, but it's not looking good. The question is, who replaces him? There is no one near his caliber out there, and he'll most likely take his assistants with him. [ Reply to Comment ]
warchant08 Reputation: 85 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 18, 2008	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:21 am Score: 76 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday I feel sorry for his daughters. one goes to the U of M and one goes to a local private high school. [ Reply to Comment ]
madbomberiv Reputation: 87 Level: All-Star Since: Apr 28, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:22 am Score: 137 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday prominent boosters. possibly fred smith and another name that is big in memphis' sports history and woven industry.... honestly, Cal may leave for the big time UK program, but it will not be because Memphis did not pony up. There is no matching offer, and i believe Memphis made a better offer, financially. Is Cal worth it ? currently he holds the leverage because the team would be gutted w/o his current recruiting class. Memphis would be ok in the long run, but the short run would be a painful adjustment. Sadly, there is no Tom Izzo anywhere near Memphis. (alumnus that loves to coach at his school) the sad details here are that Memphis has done nothing (AD) to ever make Cal commit to us (that i am aware of) during all of the nit years and multiple unbecoming players have all been tolerated during his tenure - until he decided their value on the basketball court was not worth the trouble off the court. at the end of the day, UK would have never considered Cal 3yrs ago, but now they are willing to do anything they can to get back to the top - this is understandable. Barnhart is looking to save his own job and Cal would appease the fan base considerably. the anger and bitterness for Tiger fan comes in because we tolerated 6 yrs of average basketball under Cal w/ the belief that we would eventually get back to the final four, etc. Well, we did and the NT was crapped away due to poor coaching. now we are on the brink of going back to the tic price days all over again. btw, tony barbee isn't welcome here. i get it. i'm in sales, but i am not happy with the situation at all. do i want Cal back ? sure. but i truly hope that the university guards itself against this type of situation in the future. [ Reply to Comment ]
DILF Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 15, 2006	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:41 am Score: 67 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday Stay in Memphis, John. We want a coach at UK who can teach players to shoot free throws when necessary. [ Reply to Comment ]
UKisKing Reputation: 79 Level: Pro Since: Apr 30, 2008	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:42 am Score: -25 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday All time wins: 1977 (NCAA rank #1) All time winning percentage: .760 (NCAA rank #1) NCAA Tournament appearances: 49 (NCAA rank #1) NCAA Tournament games: 142 (NCAA rank #1) NCAA Tournament wins: 98 (NCAA rank #1) NCAA Tournament winning percentage: .690 (NCAA rank #6) NCAA Championships: 7 (NCAA rank #2) NCAA Championship Game appearances: 10 (NCAA rank #2) NCAA Final Four appearances: 13 (NCAA rank #4) NCAA Elite-8 appearances: 31 (NCAA rank #1) NCAA Sweet-16 appearances: 40 (NCAA rank #1) AP Top-10 finishes: 38 (NCAA rank #1) AP Top-5 finishes: 25 (NCAA rank #1) AP #1 finishes: 8 (NCAA rank #1) UPI (Coaches) Top-10 finishes: 34 (NCAA rank #1) UPI (Coaches) Top-5 finishes: 25 (NCAA rank #1) UPI (Coaches) #1 finishes: 7 (NCAA rank #1) 20-win seasons: 52 (NCAA rank #1) 25-win seasons: 28 (NCAA rank #2) 30-win seasons: 11 (NCAA rank #1) Total non-losing seasons: 91 (NCAA rank: #1) Total winning seasons: 88 (NCAA rank #2) Consensus All-Americans: 17 (NCAA rank #2) Consensus All-American selections: 22 (NCAA rank #5) Total All-Americans: 46 (NCAA rank #2) Total All-American selections: 76 (NCAA rank #1) NBA draft picks: 90 (NCAA Rank #3) 1000 point scorers: 55 (NCAA rank #3) Conference Championships: 43 (NCAA rank #2) Conference Tournament championships: 26 (NCAA rank #1) In addition, Kentucky is the only team in history to have multiple NCAA, NIT, and Helms titles. UK has 7 NCAA titles, 2 NIT titles, and 2 Helms titles. Further, Kentucky is the only school to be in the top-10 in victories in each full decade since the 1930's (1930's- 2000's). Kentucky is also the only school to be in the top-10 in winning percentage in each full decade since the 1930's (1930's- 2000's). Other facts: Kentucky is the only school to win NCAA Championshps under 4 coaches. UK is also the only school to finish ranked #1 in both polls under 4 coaches. Kentucky has only one losing season since 1926-27 (80 seasons). Kentucky has led the nation in attendance a NCAA record 20 times, including 12 out of the last 13 seasons. [ Reply to Comment ]
jgpennin Reputation: 85 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 11, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:47 am Score: 46 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday This may be the reason he stays... He will just be another name at KY. I can guarantee you there will never be a Calipari arena at KY. [ Reply to Comment ]
ChiTownFan03 Reputation: 1 Level: Amateur Since: Mar 31, 2009	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:53 am Score: 74 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday for all of you who think calipari should stay. isnt the point of being a college coach is to start from a smaller school and reach the peak. well whoever thinks memphis is the job of your life something is wrong with you. kentucky is a school that you stay at. memphis is a spring board type school that you use to get to a school like kentucky. calipari made memphis everything they are and by doing that deserves to coach a power school like the rest of the great ncaa coaches already are, this chance comes once in a lifetime [ Reply to Comment ]
Blue&Grey Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Apr 28, 2008	Posted on: March 31, 2009 1:59 am Score: 35 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday and a$$shats for fans (NCAA Rank #1) [ Reply to Comment ]
JungleJim Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 29, 2006	Posted on: March 31, 2009 2:06 am Score: 129 Calipari drama will carry into Tuesday I actually feel for Memphis - as we all remember Rick when Boston gave him EVERYTHING to leave - I was happy for Coach Pitino (still am) it was a great opportunity - and he deserved it!!! So, I know how the fans in Memphis must be feeling. That said, Coach Calipari is the ONLY one whose name really can pull this off. Sorry, no Donovan, no Ford, no Phelphry (right now - Ford and Phelphry still to inexperienced). Donovan should NEVER be considered or brought up again (and we know he wasn't offered this time, despite the media "assumptions" that he was on the short list. Barnes/Wright? Not seriously - come on! Go Cats! Get the right man this time and the one available and the one whom will cover all bases, not just on the court - John Calipari! [ Reply to Comment ]