Kentucky expert on John Calipari: 'I think he's kind of gotten a little big for the program'
Following Kentucky’s latest NCAA Tournament disappointment, this time a first round loss to 14-seed Oakland, prominent media personality and Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones went in on head coach John Calipari.
After hosting his own postgame show for nearly two hours late Thursday night, Jones had more left in the tank and joined Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast with Big Cat and PFT Commenter around 1 a.m. to further discuss the loss and what it means for Calipari. He had this damning statement on the UK head coach to share at the top:
“I think he’s kind of gotten a little big for the program. I think his relationships here are pretty poor. He has no relationship with the AD, no relationship with the boosters, no relationship with the media.”
Per Jones, Calipari is isolated, even after he and the radio host once had a close relationship.
“You guys know I used to be pretty close with him. He does not like us (KSR) now,” Jones added.
He wishes that wasn’t the case and says there’s no ill will towards Calipari personally. However, it may just be time for a split between Kentucky and its head basketball coach after 15 years together.
“It’s just unfortunate, because I think he’s a good dude. But you know, sometimes times end, right. Like, sometimes, you just gotta say ‘that’s it.’ I don’t know if we’re there, but we’re pretty close.”
Clearly, some change is needed if John Calipari is to remain in Lexington, but that’s where Matt Jones is skeptical. He told PFT and Big Cat that he just doesn’t see Calipari’s stubbornness going away.
“There’s no assistant, he won’t listen to them. But 60-year-olds, how many of those guys do you know that change? He believes that the way he plays is the way you should play.”
Big Cat then brought up the example of Nick Saban, likewise an incredibly successful collegiate coach, but someone who was able to find success in the last stage of his career because he was willing to change and adapt to modern football. Jones agreed that Saban’s ability to change was key to Alabama’s last couple titles, though he’s unsure Calipari is willing to listen to any ideas about any major change.
“Cal is in charge. People can say whatever they want, he’s still going to do what he’s going to do, and that’s a good way to lose the grip on success,” said Jones.
Now, after a four-year stretch featuring brutally poor success by Kentucky standards, change could be coming, whether John Calipari is on board or not.