Opinion: The long-standing union between the University of Kentucky and head basketball coach John Calipari appears to have reached a crossroads. After nearly 14 seasons leading the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program, some onlookers outside the program and many in the fanbase are starting to question whether Calipari still has the energy and creativity needed to guide the program to success.
The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, who were ranked fourth in the preseason polls, were expected to end their Final Four drought dating back to 2015. However, after a home loss to Arkansas and a 75-68 loss to the University of Georgia on Saturday in Athens, the team’s NCAA Tournament prospects are looking bleak, with six regular season games remaining. Their next matchup is against Mississippi State (16-8) on Weds. Feb. 15th. Kentucky will need a win to even get a sniff of the Big Dance.
Despite the challenges, Calipari remains optimistic, (see his post game comments here) pointing to the absence of two key players and the quality opponents the team will face in upcoming home games against Tennessee and Auburn. However, many fans of the program expect more than just a trip to the tournament; they expect a competitive team that can make a deep run in March. And, the past few years have been dogged by early exits or not making the tournament at all.
The Calipari of the past, who arrived at Kentucky over a decade ago via University of Memphis, was a perfect fit for the program. He recruited top talent, produced NBA-ready players, and consistently threatened to win a national championship. But in recent years, the program has struggled and the team’s performance this season ranked between 40th and 50th in the country by advanced metrics.
Despite the team’s struggles, the Hall of Fame Coach Calipari is unlikely to be let go due to the high cost of doing so, estimated at $40 million. And, as a highly-compensated coach with six years remaining on his contract, it’s unlikely Calipari would willingly leave his post.
It’s clear that something needs to change at Kentucky, but the options for fixing what’s broken appear limited. Calipari has spoken about the team’s ability to turn things around this season, but the same could be said for himself and the program. The future of their relationship remains unclear, but one thing is certain: the Kentucky basketball program may be in need of a fresh start.
