Paul Finebaum: Kentucky, Arkansas fans are 'equally ecstatic' after John Calipari move
John Calipari leaving Kentucky for Arkansas certainly sent shockwaves throughout college basketball and both fan bases are happy.
Well, that’s at least what ESPN’s Paul Finebaum claimed. It seems as though Calipari wore thin at Kentucky while Arkansas fans wanted an upgrade from Eric Musselman, who decided to take the USC job.
“It’s so unusual when a gigantic, Titanic, Hall of Fame figure leaves the school to go somewhere else and both fan bases, I believe, are equally ecstatic today,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “I think Arkansas fans feel like okay, this isn’t the 1999 or 2009 version of John Calipari, but it’s still really good and it’s probably better than anyone else we’re going to find.”
As far as what’s next, Kentucky has to find its next head coach. Calipari was expensive but that doesn’t meant the next coach will be cheap.
Don’t be surprised if the Wildcats back up the brink truck to bring in their desired candidate.
“Kentucky fans, I think quite frankly, were glad to see him go,” Finebaum said. “He has worn out his welcome. I don’t want to hear about his resume. His most recent performance was abysmal by Kentucky’s standards. And I frankly think he came within a whisker of losing his job two to three weeks ago, but the buyout was too large and now he’s gone and I think the next 48 hours in Lexington will be among the most fascinating in modern history.”
Kentucky allegedly considered parting ways with Calipari this offseason. However, the 65-year-old head coach possesses a massive $33 million buyout, the largest in the country. Now, per KSR’s Matt Jones, neither Kentucky nor Arkansas will have to pay the hall-of-fame head coach’s buyout fee.
Arkansas previously was reportedly in discussion with Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang and Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard. Instead, the Razorbacks have reeled in one of the biggest fish in the pond: John Calipari. He will replace Musselman in Fayetteville.
As far as Kentucky moving forward, as Finebaum alluded to, the search will be fascinating. ONe thing’s for sure, Calipari will look quite different not sporting any Kentucky blue from this point forward.