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.

Trey: You rightly mention recruiting. Perhaps more than any other program this decade, it was the calling card of Memphis basketball and the reason Calipari was able to win so consistently. I'll ask you now to offer your wish list for replacement candidates.

And if you could, also address whether any of the men you suggest can maintain some/all of the commitments that had Memphis in position to bring in the nation's No. 1 recruiting class.

Leroy: Well, the No. 1 recruiting class is going to be broken up. There is no doubt about that. At this point, we will be happy to keep our JUCO kids—post beast Will Coleman and super-long, super-sweet wing player Darnell Dodson—and maybe to sneak away a couple of three-star recruits.

I will focus on the four best coaches that are being mentioned right now:

1) Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh: He is an energetic young coach, an excellent tactician, and has an extremely positive pedigree. He has done nothing but win at Pittsburgh, and he has recruited very well.

Pittsburgh has three professional teams, and he might like coming to Memphis and being a big fish in a small pond. Money is not an issue; Memphis could blow away anything Pitt might offer him.

2) Tim Floyd, Southern California: Probably the closest thing to John Calipari left in college basketball today. He was a big winner at small programs (Idaho, New Orleans, and Iowa State) before washing out in the NBA (Chicago Bulls).

Though he has not yet had fabulous success at USC, neither did Calipari in his first five years at Memphis. Floyd is an incredible recruiter, and with the NBA on his resume', hot shot kids might come here for him.

3) Andy Kennedy, Mississippi: Often overlooked at Ole Miss, Kennedy had great success at Cincinnati and won 21 games last season at Mississippi. This job would definitely be a step up for Kennedy prestige-wise, the money would be a huge step up, and his acumen as a recruiter could allow him to step in and be a success in a short period of time.

4) Reggie Theus, Sacramento Kings (NBA): This is by far the most intriguing name on this list. Theus has a very scant coaching resume'. A star basketball player at UNLV in the late 1970s (helping lead the team to a Final Four in 1977), he went on a fine NBA career, primarily with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings.

In 2005, he led the New Mexico State Aggies to the NCAA Tournament, and coached the NBA's Kings for one season. His NBA pedigree makes him a fascinating possibility.

Additionally, it is said that Calipari himself lobbied heavily for his former player and assistant coach, Tony Barbeeat UTEP, to succeed him at Memphis. This is still unsubstantiated.

Another former Cal player and assistant, Derek Kellogg at UMass, is also thought to be a "sexy" candidate for the Memphis job.

Trey: Has Calipari earned the right to hand-pick his successor? Or at the very least, should Memphis take his input into consideration during this coaching search?

Leroy: Trey, you're asking the tough questions tonight!

Given how much this school is losing as he walks out the door; given the meat grinder that Calipari scheduled (Cincy, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Syracuse, Tennessee, and others) but will now avoid; given that Calipari has already begun cashing in on a $5 million annuity that was supposed to be paid in a lump sum after 10 years at the school; I think Cal should leave well enough alone and not expect to name his own successor.

If he had left the storehouse full, perhaps we as fans would feel differently, but his timing, for Memphis at least, was particularly egregious.

However, Calipari knows as much about college basketball as anyone alive, and the Memphis administration would do well to at least ponder any suggestions that he makes, because I sincerely believe that he means the program and city well.

Trey: Tough questions for tough times. I'm with you, I do believe he means the program well with his recommendations.

But like Rick Pitino, who nominated former players Travis Ford and John Pelfrey for the Kentucky gig, maybe he's too close with too many conflicts of interest to be an objective resource for the time being.

Last thing from me, Leroy. Clearly, this is the end of an era. But is it also the end of the Golden Age of Memphis basketball? Or is there faith in Tiger Town that the right person can build off of Cal's foundation?

Leroy: Tough questions are usually good questions, Trey, and this is another good one—meaning it is tough to address.

Speaking only for myself, I feel that Memphis is never going to be this good again. Our senior class just went 137-14, which is unprecedented in the history of NCAA D-I men's basketball.

We have made two Elite Eights, a title game, and a Sweet 16.

All things considered, I don't see how we can reach those heights again, given both the unique circumstances and profound disadvantages that we face.

Remarkably, though, the fans here in Memphis are surprisingly optimistic. The feeling is that with the right coach and an eventual move to a Big Six conference, we could someday be even better.

I tend to be somewhat pessimistic in my outlook for the future, and with the prodigious accomplishments of the past four years, I can't see things ever getting better.

But I've been wrong before; and the fan in me hopes I am wrong now!

Many thanks to Leroy for his timely analysis. Please check out more of his Memphis coverage here.