Overrated, Controversial, Or Just Getting Started?

With all of the hype around Kentucky basketball, what is really going on? Will John Calipari be the downfall of UK basketball? Is this the era of one and done’s at UK? All of the chat boards, forums, and comment sections of websites on college sports have one thing in common: Kentucky Wildcat Haters! They say John Calipari is going to ruin Kentucky basketball, the Wildcats will be on probation in just a few short years and UK as a university and the Commonwealth of Kentucky will be out even more millions of dollars, having to fire Calipari. That they will fall on their faces, not go far in the tourney, etc. So, let’s get the Calipari question out of the way. Yes, he is the first coach to have 2 final fours nullified. Memphis and the NCAA had agreed to keep the appeal decision under wraps. Why? More than likely they found against Memphis. However, how would John Calipari know whether or not Derrick Rose went and physically took his SAT’s or not? It is near impossible, and would be an NCAA major violation if he Did show up, or any University official, show up to make sure a player took their SAT’s. Marcus Camby and UMass, once again, this was a player taking something into their own hands, in this case it was money from an agent. And once again, Calipari could not have known about it before hand. Both times, he was found not to be involved in any of the incidents. As far as a coach, he is top notch and a class act. He brings a certain pizzazz to whatever coaching spot he has, and is now at his dream job. Is he human, and could he end up erring? Yes. Will he do it purposefully? Emphatically no! The history at Kentucky, the prestige to play at Rupp, to dawn the blue and white, is enough for any top notch player to come to Kentucky, and now we have the coach to go with it. Tubby Smith is a good coach, but he is not a good motivator. BCG was a semi good coach, but an over bearing motivator. Now, we have a good combo, with added basketball IQ, and just a love of the game. Coach Cal has a ton of basketball IQ, and it is already showing, from the Sam Houston St. game to the Rider game. So no, John Calipari will not be the downfall of the UK Wildcats. He will be the catalyst in rebuilding the program. Now, will this be the era of one and done’s? Possibly. However, I believe there will be mostly two or three years then done. John Wall is the only one I see leaving after one year, but I think there will be a slim chance he could stay for one more year. Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jon Hood, should all be at least two years, with Hood and Orton being the ones who will make it at least three years or go all four in this class. Will this be a whole era of it? I don’t think so. Even though Patrick Patterson is not a Calipari recruit, he is actually going to graduate before going to the NBA, even though he is leaving after this year. If he were not graduating, his momma, not the university nor the NBA, would be the one who would make the decision to stay in school for a senior year. There will be a steady stream of new recruits. From people leaving, either by graduation, eligibility running out, or just that good to leave early and go on to the NBA, just like any other top notch college basketball program. UK will just finally be back in the running for the top notch, the cream of the crop. No more mediocre coaching, no more 10 loss seasons, and National Championship talk every year. That’s where the elite want to play. This year? After four games, these young Wildcat’s have made vast improvements. From the last second shot by John Wall against Miami of Ohio, to Sam Houston St. shooting the lights out, which was the only reason the game was even close, then the gratis early season near thirty point romping of Rider, and the adjustments made each game, this team is coming together. Providing no meltdowns in the Cancun Challenge, their first test will be at UConn. UNC coming into Rupp will not be much of a problem. We won’t see UK being truly tested until they hit the road and go to UConn. So, really, this Kentucky Wildcat squad could potentially win the National Championship come March. Will they? It’s anyone’s guess, but they will be there, like it or not.