John Calipari meets Jason Sudeikis, jokes about 'Ted Lasso' joining Arkansas staff
As he looked at his roster and staff at Arkansas, John Calipari probably looked like Ted Lasso in the first episode of the show. He said as much in his introductory press conference, saying “there is no team” when assessing his new situation after leaving Kentucky.
But Calipari, much like Jason Sudeikis’ character, smells potential in that empty locker room. That became even more apparent after the two met at the Wooden Award Friday night.
Calipari posted a picture with Sudeikis on Saturday after joking he was pulling “double duty” getting both his roster and his staff together. He then said Coach Lasso “might be interested” in coming aboard to perhaps give the occasional pep talk and remind players to be like the happiest animal on earth – a goldfish, with its 10-second memory.
As for what “Ted Lasso-isms” Calipari might have learned – or, maybe, dance moves – that might have to wait until his next press conference. It’s also unclear if Coach Beard would be on board, as well.
Sudeikis didn’t just catch up with Calipari, though. He also met with former Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark and gave her a custom AFC Richmond jersey ahead of the ceremony. The two had many an interaction this year during Hawkeyes games – Sudeikis is a big fan – and connected once again before Clark hears her name called in Monday’s WNBA Draft.
After wrapping up his time in Los Angeles, Calipari will return to Fayetteville to continue settling in to his new digs. He spent 15 years at Kentucky, but after yet another early round exit and questions about his future, decided it was time for a “new voice” in Lexington.
As far as his staff goes, it sounds like Calipari’s making like the Blues Brothers by getting the band back together. His entire staff from Kentucky is expected to join him at Arkansas, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander reported, which could help with both implementing his scheme and building the roster how he wants.
The next step, of course, will be to rebuild the roster. Most of the Arkansas roster under Eric Musselman either declared for the NBA Draft or entered the transfer portal. That meant John Calipari walked in to a clean slate – and he’s embracing it.
“I met with the team — there is no team,” Calipari joked during his introductory press conference on Wednesday. “So now I’ve got to — Hunter [Yurachek’s] really, extremely confident — but we’ve got to get a roster together and some of it is a little bit of everything. But we will.
“It may take a little longer because there are kids that put their name in the NBA Draft that are going to go through some of the process, which means, do you wait for that kid? Or do you go take somebody that’s not quite as good? And you’re going to be juggling balls. That’s what we do now.”