John Calipari addresses future of roster, decision-making process for key players
Nothing official has been announced but John Calipari seems to be returning for another season. Kentucky‘s loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament had people seriously questioning the head coach’s future but a $33 million buyout may be too much for athletic director Mitch Barnhart to stomach. Calipari will have at least one more opportunity to impress in Lexington.
First order of business will be figuring out the roster, with Calipari needing to have some conversations with players about their future. Multiple guys could declare for the 2024 NBA Draft and hear their name called by Adam Silver.
Calipari has been through that process plenty of times, completely giving the player the option to make a decision.
“There may be some that when it’s time to talk, ‘What do you think?’ I’ll do that with them,” Calipari said. “I’m not ever telling anybody you have to leave and I’m not telling anybody they have to stay, because at the end of the day, they’ve got to make that decision. Then they’ve got to live with it.”
If somebody decides to leave for the NBA, great. Calipari has been supportive and even brags about how often Kentucky is putting guys in the league. Nothing helps recruiting more than earning players money by being selected in the lottery.
However, the moment somebody tells Calipari he wants to return, it’s go-time. The first-round loss to Oakland left such a sour taste — there is no time to wait around. Calipari is ready to get to work.
“You know what I’m thinking right now? If someone says to me, ‘I’m coming back,’ I’m saying, ‘Under eight months and we’ve got the first game of the year. Let’s go. Just under eight months and we’ve got the start of next year.’ Because I want this taste out of my mouth. I want it to go forward. So if any of them say that, that’s what my comment will be to them,” Calipari said.
John Calipari hoping Kentucky can bring back ‘one or two’ guards
Around March, you will hear people talk about how important guard play is when working toward winning a national championship. Kentucky had some talented guards on the roster this season but most were on the younger side.
Calipari did not name anybody but does believe having one or two of those guys return would be huge heading into 2024-2025.
“We’ve got one or two that could come back and solve that issue for us because of what they’ve been through,” Calipari said. “And then if not, then we’ve gotta look who’s out there”
If they choose to leave the program in some capacity, Calipari admits Kentucky may have to dip into the NCAA transfer portal. Directly following the loss to Oakland, Calipari admitted Kentucky may not have room to add portal players. But he still gave his sales pitch if/when the Wildcats get there.
“If you’re a point guard and you’re near draftable, why wouldn’t you come here? That’s where the NIL plays a part of it. If they’re really good, it’s not like recruiting freshmen. It isn’t. It’s totally a different situation. It’s either we get one or two of the guys that were playing some point to be back if that’s what they choose to do, or we go find one.”