The Kentucky Wildcats are 26-0 and off to their best start in school history. Only seven teams in college basketball history have concluded with a perfect season, the last time being the Indiana Hoosiers in 1976.
The Wildcats could very well be the next team to make history, but instead the talking point that sticks out by far seems to be how bad of a guy Wildcats’ head coach John Calipari is perceived to be.
There are three main reasons why people dislike Calipari, the first being his troubles with the NCAA. Granted, Calipari is the only coach in NCAA history to have trips to the Final Four vacated at two different schools. Also, both of his Naismith Coach of the Year awards came in seasons that were later vacated by the NCAA as well. Even with vacated wins, Calipari technically doesn’t have any violations to his name. Don’t you think the NCAA would be keeping a close eye on him since he’s been at Kentucky because of his past? I do.
The second reason is his one-and-done players. The funny thing is, every other coach in the country recruits these same players too. Calipari is just better at it.
How do you blame the kids for wanting to leave after one year when they have an incredible opportunity to sign a multi-million dollar contract? He produces top-ten picks, perennial all-stars, and a couple of guys well on their way to Hall-of-Fame careers.
“Succeed and proceed,” as Calipari says. Most people hate it. I love it.
Calipari is a winner, which is another one of the main reasons why people don’t like him. He holds a career record of 552-172, with his career winning percentage of .762 being one spot ahead of the late Dean Smith on the all-time list. Calipari has something that not many coaches have: a ring.
Kentucky has reached three Final Fours in the past four years under the realm of Calipari, with the majority of those players being freshmen. People always see Calipari’s Cats still playing in the end of March, hoping that their team doesn’t face them in the postseason.
Before you call me out for being the typical bandwagon fan of the newest dynasty in sports, take a deep breath. I am a Fighting Illini basketball fan as well as someone who supports our Bradley Braves.
Over the past few years I have been forced to watch some less than impressive basketball, and that includes Illinois. Not once have I thought of abandoning my favorite teams. The difference is that I can learn to appreciate greatness when it is taking place.
Kentucky is in the making of a special season, but that’s not the general talk of the team. I’m not saying you have to like John Calipari, but it wouldn’t hurt to respect him.
