Yup. Cal’s best years are way behind him.
This. Calipari is already 65 years old. Arkansas has the scent of a half-way house job for him. More than a hobby but less than something he really needs to do.
Cal will be 66 before the next NCAA tournament and his best days are long gone.
What if Calipari isn’t really going to change his roster building, despite suggesting (but not committing) that he would? What if he relies heavily on freshmen and brings in the #1-2 ranked recruiting classes (full of 3-4 OADs) each year at Ark by telling them they're all one-and-done before even stepping on campus – which I expect he can and will? More casual fans will be entranced by those recruiting classes and the attention the program gets due to those expected draft picks. So, it might take 5 years for a program like Arkansas to finally have an “aha” moment and realize those recruiting classes don’t produce teams that are good enough to compete for titles. Also, is it possible that just being in the upper third of the conference, which Calipari might be able to do with some of those recruiting classes, will satisfy Ark. fans?
They were happy to see Musselman go and I'd be very surprised if Calipari does as good or better than Muss.
right or wrong cal wore out his welcome with me. i was ready for a change.
Cals best attribute was talking. Kinda guy that could sell a Eskimo ice kinda deal. He would be good at commentary he would just ramble the whole time.
It was always been my impression a lot of the media doesn’t like him. I could see some UK fans losing their minds if he did work for ESPN and started making little remarks here and there to slight UK.
NBA connections and large NIL. That's the biggest recruiting tool there is.
You’re right, history and prestige don’t mean as much to kids these days
Agree, I fully expect Pope to have a better five years than Cal at Ark, and the next five years will be much better than our last 5.
They will have to have two to get all of the UK fans in.
He may assemble enough talent to win the SEC one year and maybe get an elite 8 or a couple S16’s. I’d say Pope will for sure if he recruits like he’s doing now. I like his style and his staff and he’s coming into his prime in his career.
I can’t wait to see Kal take off his shirt after a win. Actually, I can.
Man I dont want to come on here and seem like an *** but Cal is doing at Arkansas exactly what you wanted him to do there. Avoid the all freshman all the time.
Don't give a damn what he does at Arkansas. Appreciate what he did through 2015. That will soon be 10 years, a decade. He didn't give a damn about UK basketball. He cared as a narcissist about himself. His only goal and mission was put kids in the NBA. I am just thankful he is gone...don't care if it is Arkansas or Chico State. We have our program back...our focus is back to winning SEC and NCAA Championships and winning for KENTUCKY.
Thank goodness he didn’t ever mention coaching and in game adjustments.
He wouldn't ever shutup.. it would be like Dickie V rambling on until commercial break then the other guys might try talk a second only to be interrupted until the next 4 minute timeout.
If Calipari changes his roster building approach that would be beneficial to competing against the top tier teams, but also a pretty big surprise. That is the antithesis of who he has been for more than 15 years. Getting one-and-done freshmen drafted on potential (regardless of production) is Calipari’s schtick. So, I suspect Ark.’s roster construction this season is a result of Calipari taking over so late in the process. Nevertheless, I think it benefits Ark. this season. But going forward????
I hope he does because it will show how small the man truly is. I doubt that he does because Pope will have things rolling at UK without any negative coming from him, only praise for Cal.
