John Calipari Introduced at Kentucky: What Next for Memphis?

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

As John Calipari makes the transition to Kentucky, the majority of analysis will focus on what impact he will have in Lexington, how many recruits he will bring with him, how soon he can win.

But like it or not—and many did not—Memphis became the most consistent program in college basketball under Calipari. Our resident Tigers expert, Leroy Watson has documented just how devastating his departure is to that program.

So where does Memphis go from here? I pose that question and others to Watson in the following discussion.

Trey: Leroy, I know everyone is anxious to speculate about replacement candidates, but first, let's spend a few words talking about the significance of what Calipari was able to accomplish at Memphis, and how he will be remembered by that fan base.

Leroy: Trey, it is almost impossible to quantify what John Calipari has meant to the Memphis program.

When he arrived, we weren't graduating kids; we were not winning games; Tic Price had resigned, under fire and under pressure for sleeping with a co-ed; Johnny Jones had taken a plucky but basically talentless squad to a 15-16 record.

And we were thrilled to almost finish .500!

Calipari rode in on his white horse and changed all of that. He won 21 games his first season here. He won 27 and an NIT the second year. That second year, he secured the services of DuJuan Wagner, and began the remarkable run of stud recruits.

And 17-of-19 four-year seniors have graduated. Past illuminaries like 'Penny' Hardaway, Keith Lee, and Andre Turner were invited back and earned their degrees. Calipari forced the administration to end the estranged relationship with Larry "The Legend" Finch after the painful "Hot Dog Stand" incident.

I know that Memphis fans are upset that the program is being gutted, but I still love him for what he did. He loved this city, too, and that is why it was so hard for him to leave.

Trey: So much was made about "the right fit" at Kentucky, and how Billy Gillispie didn't mesh with that program's traditions.

Because Memphis has struggled pre-Calipari, because it plays in a mid-major conference, because it's not just a basketball school but a basketball city, isn't it equally important that the Tigers find "the right fit" in their next head coach?

Leroy: Absolutely! However, it is very difficult to quantify just what "type" of coach that will be.

I mean, he needs to be a "name" coach, in order to continue to sell tickets. He needs to run a wide-open, exciting offense, to attract the top young prospects. He needs to be a good tactician, someone who can win right away, despite a gutted roster.

More importantly, though, he has got to be good with people, able to relate to the community!

Calipari almost spoiled this city, because he was a one-man, humanitarian effort. He did not polarize the community, he united us; Black kids in the inner city worshipped him just as much as the White suburbanites did.

Cal could laugh at himself, and could relate to anybody, anywhere. He engaged the city of Memphis, and the city responded to his renegade, "us-against-the-world" attitude.

This hiring is going to be a very difficult one. I am very interested to see how well R. C. Johnson and company handle it.

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