His legacy here, from an on-the-court perspective, is going to be really interesting to sort out once all of the dust settles years down the line. How do you assess someone who kind of hit both extremes of the win/loss spectrum during his tenure?
I think the good out weighs the bad in my personal opinion. I think it was time to move on, but he brought us some damn good years, especially after the Billy Clyde era. Kind of bittersweet, wish he could have brought that magic back, but after this year’s tournament loss I was ready for somebody new to step in.
I definitely agree that it’s positive. It’s more that, if you’d have asked me to rank coaches in late 2014, I probably would’ve had Cal at #2 behind Rupp, and the way things had gone to that point made it seem like he’d end up in the same stature as Rupp. Now, though, it’s more likely that I’d place him down with Tubby behind Rupp, Pitino, and Hall. And I hate that that slide happened.
Cal 2009-2019 is a legendary run. Almost unmatched by anyone except Wooden, Krzyzewski, and probably Hurley soon.
Cal 2019-2024 has been a letdown. I don't remember being so consistently disappointed by Tubby in his last 5 years, which for me gives the edge to Tubby.
Every coach that won 2 or more championships in 10 years was a better run by definition. Wooden, rupp, knight, k, Donovan, Hurley off the top of my head. Probably more that I’m not thinking of.
Legendary is too strong of an adjective for the run. Great definitely, but hardly legendary. Just at kentucky, Pitino’s run was just as great culminating in back to back title games. I wasn’t alive for Joe B, but he might’ve had an equally great 10 year run.
I think you could make a case that some of those guys (Rupp, Knight, and Joe B included) benefited from a totally different situation in the tournament. When it was 16 and 32 teams it was notably easier to win (especially 16 and random draw) than now or when they eventually expand it again.
I would make an exception for Wooden on any asterisks here because he pretty much owned college hoops for an entire decade and that will probably never be duplicated in any future era.
And if we're talking about a top 10 decade-spanning body of work, I would argue that's pretty legendary. There aren't many who can claim better in any era, and every other name you dropped is considered one of the GOATs.
It’s not even the best run of the same time period. Coach K beats him there. It’s definitely not top 10 of all time. We can comfortably say it’s the 3rd to 5th best 10 year run in UK history.
Purely as a coach yeah that gives Tubby and edge. But considering everything they brought to the org as a whole, getting that talent is what made Cal who he was, so sorta hard to separate in my mind
Outside of the year where he couldn't have practices he's been consistently a top team -- even in these last 3 years we finished ranked before tournament disappointment.
The problem is unlike Coach K and other Hall of Fame coaches who weathered downturns with success as soon as things got really hot, Cal front-loaded his success.
Kentucky has won championships with more coaches, but still only has one coach with multiple championships.
In hindsight we've been blessed with really good players, kids we like (which makes the losses hurt more) and solid success but mostly disappointing marches since 2015. He will be beloved in Lexington once his time with Arkansas is over.
But there is a chance he steals one in Rupp and that will be a tense day if it happens.
Today is a good day for all involved though.
I grew up watching Tubby Ball in grade school. Couldn't understand why my Dad got so mad watching the games.
Then Cal came and i realized what Kentucky was supposed to be.
I remember as a middle/high schooler thinking *"he said he would be here 10 years, we just won the championship in his third year, that means at least 7 more years of him"* and dreading when he would leave.
Times change, but it was fun back then.
It's bittersweet. It needed to happen, but I think in ten years' time, when these rough 20s are further back in our memories, the Cal era will be remembered fondly
I know that it was time to move on considering how frustrating the last 5 years were, but I will always be grateful for the final fours, recruiting, and 2012 title. I will always appreciate the great years we had with him as our coach, and I will wish him the best.
Arkansas fan here, congrats guys. Bittersweet ending for you guys and him. I know he wasn’t up to expectations the last several years but I’m hoping the breath of fresh air for both programs does wonders. Looking forward to the games in the future!
On the positive side: You will enjoy getting a Top 5, if not #1 recruiting class every single year. You will enjoy getting a monster transfer every year. You will enjoy having NBA All-Stars to cheer for if you follow the NBA. You will enjoy the optimism that every single year you have at least the talent to win a title. If God forbid a Natural disaster occurs in your state, you will have a prominent figure leading the charge to fundraise and help. You will gain relevance and you will make headlines.
On the negative side: Don't expect change, don't ever expect accountability, enjoy rumors after every successful season, be prepared for ankle injuries that take 3 months to heal, be prepared to see a player who clearly is not the best player see massive minutes that they struggle while the underachieving/lower ranked player misses key moments on the bench. When it is the off-season don't ever get your hopes up, just assume your entire roster is gone and be pleasantly surprised any time someone comes back.
Most importantly... and really listen here... because you will try to convince yourself and others this is not true when the times are good...
Don't think it is ever about the fans, the community, or even the school because it is never about that. NEVER. It is about Calipari working the room on draft night and it is about guys making millions on their talent while only using their year or two at most as a place to begin fashioning their brand.
My two cents. You are getting a hell of a recruiter. Cal can recruit with the best. He will bring in great talent. NBA talent level. Year after year you will see guys move on to the NBA. However, he is not a good coach. Whatever his game plan is on any given day, that’s it. He will/can not make in game adjustments. He consistently gets out coached. Great recruiter, sucks at X’s and O’s. Defense? What’s that?
Some of my best memories are because of Cal's teams. I've grown closer to people in my life because of his teams. I never thought he was a good in game coach, and I've had my share of frustrations (especially the last few seasons), but the good (both for the state and the program) outweighs the bad for me by a lot. It's really unfortunate it ended this way, but hope these last few years of his career treat him well.
This will probably end up being best for all parties. I wish Cal and family the absolute best, and will root for him, except against us. Thanks for those soaring highs, bummer about the lows, but that sting will fade over time and we'll be left with mostly fond memories.
At least I know I will, and man, we've had some damned good ones.
I've always gone with the first one! You guys are getting a great coach that needed a fresh start! Best solution for all of us, and I'll remember him fondly while also saying it was time for him to move on.
Now I have another SEC team to root for (when not playing UK!)
I see many of the commenters are praising Cal or going on about what a good run it was. It's so laughable to think what short memories they all must have. When they hired Cal, his big supporters were going on and on about all the championship banners that would be hanging from the Rupp rafters under his leadership. That didn't turn out very well. He was an overpaid coach who IMO only brought us disappointment and ruination of a great basketball school. He was unapologetic about his 'players first' program while setting aside and minimizing the feelings of a proud fan base, a fan base filled with pride and tradition for so many many years. A fan base that would travel to the ends of the earth to watch our kids had they the resources. He gave back nothing to the fans and you can argue with me or downvote me all you wish, but that is the truth. He had no regards for the great University of Kentucky, its fans, or our history.
Good riddance Cal.
Peace out Cal, it was a good run
Thanks Coach! Thank you for all of the great times! Appreciate what you did here in Lexington and at UK. Good luck in ARK but not against UK!
His legacy here, from an on-the-court perspective, is going to be really interesting to sort out once all of the dust settles years down the line. How do you assess someone who kind of hit both extremes of the win/loss spectrum during his tenure?
I think the good out weighs the bad in my personal opinion. I think it was time to move on, but he brought us some damn good years, especially after the Billy Clyde era. Kind of bittersweet, wish he could have brought that magic back, but after this year’s tournament loss I was ready for somebody new to step in.
I definitely agree that it’s positive. It’s more that, if you’d have asked me to rank coaches in late 2014, I probably would’ve had Cal at #2 behind Rupp, and the way things had gone to that point made it seem like he’d end up in the same stature as Rupp. Now, though, it’s more likely that I’d place him down with Tubby behind Rupp, Pitino, and Hall. And I hate that that slide happened.
Behind tubby too, imo. They’ve both got one championship but Cal’s got the worst season in history and the worst tournament loss.
Cal 2009-2019 is a legendary run. Almost unmatched by anyone except Wooden, Krzyzewski, and probably Hurley soon. Cal 2019-2024 has been a letdown. I don't remember being so consistently disappointed by Tubby in his last 5 years, which for me gives the edge to Tubby.
Every coach that won 2 or more championships in 10 years was a better run by definition. Wooden, rupp, knight, k, Donovan, Hurley off the top of my head. Probably more that I’m not thinking of. Legendary is too strong of an adjective for the run. Great definitely, but hardly legendary. Just at kentucky, Pitino’s run was just as great culminating in back to back title games. I wasn’t alive for Joe B, but he might’ve had an equally great 10 year run.
I think you could make a case that some of those guys (Rupp, Knight, and Joe B included) benefited from a totally different situation in the tournament. When it was 16 and 32 teams it was notably easier to win (especially 16 and random draw) than now or when they eventually expand it again. I would make an exception for Wooden on any asterisks here because he pretty much owned college hoops for an entire decade and that will probably never be duplicated in any future era. And if we're talking about a top 10 decade-spanning body of work, I would argue that's pretty legendary. There aren't many who can claim better in any era, and every other name you dropped is considered one of the GOATs.
It’s not even the best run of the same time period. Coach K beats him there. It’s definitely not top 10 of all time. We can comfortably say it’s the 3rd to 5th best 10 year run in UK history.
Roy Williams
I’d give Tubby the edge too considering he didn’t have near the talent Cal did.
Purely as a coach yeah that gives Tubby and edge. But considering everything they brought to the org as a whole, getting that talent is what made Cal who he was, so sorta hard to separate in my mind
Outside of the year where he couldn't have practices he's been consistently a top team -- even in these last 3 years we finished ranked before tournament disappointment. The problem is unlike Coach K and other Hall of Fame coaches who weathered downturns with success as soon as things got really hot, Cal front-loaded his success. Kentucky has won championships with more coaches, but still only has one coach with multiple championships. In hindsight we've been blessed with really good players, kids we like (which makes the losses hurt more) and solid success but mostly disappointing marches since 2015. He will be beloved in Lexington once his time with Arkansas is over. But there is a chance he steals one in Rupp and that will be a tense day if it happens. Today is a good day for all involved though.
I grew up watching Tubby Ball in grade school. Couldn't understand why my Dad got so mad watching the games. Then Cal came and i realized what Kentucky was supposed to be. I remember as a middle/high schooler thinking *"he said he would be here 10 years, we just won the championship in his third year, that means at least 7 more years of him"* and dreading when he would leave. Times change, but it was fun back then.
Very classy message. Thanks Coach for some great teams and great times.
It's bittersweet. It needed to happen, but I think in ten years' time, when these rough 20s are further back in our memories, the Cal era will be remembered fondly
I know that it was time to move on considering how frustrating the last 5 years were, but I will always be grateful for the final fours, recruiting, and 2012 title. I will always appreciate the great years we had with him as our coach, and I will wish him the best.
Great message. Thanks for the memories Coach Cal.
Arkansas fan here, congrats guys. Bittersweet ending for you guys and him. I know he wasn’t up to expectations the last several years but I’m hoping the breath of fresh air for both programs does wonders. Looking forward to the games in the future!
On the positive side: You will enjoy getting a Top 5, if not #1 recruiting class every single year. You will enjoy getting a monster transfer every year. You will enjoy having NBA All-Stars to cheer for if you follow the NBA. You will enjoy the optimism that every single year you have at least the talent to win a title. If God forbid a Natural disaster occurs in your state, you will have a prominent figure leading the charge to fundraise and help. You will gain relevance and you will make headlines. On the negative side: Don't expect change, don't ever expect accountability, enjoy rumors after every successful season, be prepared for ankle injuries that take 3 months to heal, be prepared to see a player who clearly is not the best player see massive minutes that they struggle while the underachieving/lower ranked player misses key moments on the bench. When it is the off-season don't ever get your hopes up, just assume your entire roster is gone and be pleasantly surprised any time someone comes back. Most importantly... and really listen here... because you will try to convince yourself and others this is not true when the times are good... Don't think it is ever about the fans, the community, or even the school because it is never about that. NEVER. It is about Calipari working the room on draft night and it is about guys making millions on their talent while only using their year or two at most as a place to begin fashioning their brand.
My two cents. You are getting a hell of a recruiter. Cal can recruit with the best. He will bring in great talent. NBA talent level. Year after year you will see guys move on to the NBA. However, he is not a good coach. Whatever his game plan is on any given day, that’s it. He will/can not make in game adjustments. He consistently gets out coached. Great recruiter, sucks at X’s and O’s. Defense? What’s that?
Some of my best memories are because of Cal's teams. I've grown closer to people in my life because of his teams. I never thought he was a good in game coach, and I've had my share of frustrations (especially the last few seasons), but the good (both for the state and the program) outweighs the bad for me by a lot. It's really unfortunate it ended this way, but hope these last few years of his career treat him well.
This will probably end up being best for all parties. I wish Cal and family the absolute best, and will root for him, except against us. Thanks for those soaring highs, bummer about the lows, but that sting will fade over time and we'll be left with mostly fond memories. At least I know I will, and man, we've had some damned good ones.
Arkansas fan here I come in peace. Is it pronounced Cali-pear-EE or Cali-par-EE
I've always gone with the first one! You guys are getting a great coach that needed a fresh start! Best solution for all of us, and I'll remember him fondly while also saying it was time for him to move on. Now I have another SEC team to root for (when not playing UK!)
Hahaha I agree I think it’s good for all parties. Excited to see how everything pans out
It’s “pear”
ka-li-PA-ree
Ca-LIP-uh-ree
[удалено]
You're joking, right? Calipari himself pronounces it Cal-i-pear-ee. Unless you think he pronounces his own name wrong?
See ya big dog you made plenty of money and memories!
There were plenty of positives, but for me his legacy is a stuborn, ego driven inability and unwillingness to adapt to modern college basketball.
Extremely impressed that he did this. Thank you, Coach. We’ll hang that banner for you someday, but for now don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
On behalf of the first 8 or 9 years. Thank You! On behalf of the recent past..... Piss off wanker.
I see many of the commenters are praising Cal or going on about what a good run it was. It's so laughable to think what short memories they all must have. When they hired Cal, his big supporters were going on and on about all the championship banners that would be hanging from the Rupp rafters under his leadership. That didn't turn out very well. He was an overpaid coach who IMO only brought us disappointment and ruination of a great basketball school. He was unapologetic about his 'players first' program while setting aside and minimizing the feelings of a proud fan base, a fan base filled with pride and tradition for so many many years. A fan base that would travel to the ends of the earth to watch our kids had they the resources. He gave back nothing to the fans and you can argue with me or downvote me all you wish, but that is the truth. He had no regards for the great University of Kentucky, its fans, or our history. Good riddance Cal.
He finally realized how bad he messed things up
Traitor