Kentucky was the talk of college basketball yesterday after the embarrassing loss to South Carolina, with national pundits from near and far weighing in on the Wildcats’ struggles. The story led to ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption and Both Tony Kornheiser and Micheal Wilbon have slammed Kentucky fans for their treatment of John Calipari, notably the scattered boos he received Tuesday night and the “Please go to Texas” sign held up by a fan behind the bench before being ejected. For this, both hosts believe that Calipari should leave Kentucky and settle elsewhere; In fact, Wilbon said to give the BBN double birds if he leaves Rupp Arena.
“I hope it’s his last year,” Wilbon said. “John Calipari, with the transfer portal, what it is and how it’s reshaping collegiate sports, especially football and basketball, John Calipari, as great a coach as he is, as a great recruiter, a magnet for talent, John Calipari might like.” a his pop-up store. He can go to any damn place in America.
“He’s mostly a Northeast guy, he can set up a business anywhere and be in the tournament in a season and secondly, a threat to win the tournament so John Calipari can get off the floor in Lexington – he’s not going to do that that, I would do that – he could give people the double bird if he wants. He can say I’m going right out of here, I’m taking half of these kids with me.”
Kornheiser agreed.
“I have to tell you, when I heard about it, I was stunned,” he said. ‘For giving John Calipari an invitation. I understand it’s a basketball school, I understand they’re rabid fans, they’re Big Blue. I understand all this. But you’re booing a guy who won a national championship and played in three Final Fours? You’re booing a guy who basically had half the teams in the NBA filled with Kentucky players?”
While acknowledging the fatigue that comes with Kentucky’s one-and-done system, Kornheiser failed to address the key issue for fans right now: if Calipari doesn’t manage to attract elite talent like it has in recent years , the results are there on the square t. Kornheiser mentioned the national championship and the Final Fours, but Kentucky hasn’t progressed past the Elite Eight or won an NCAA tournament game since 2015.
“Well, I understand that Cal is somewhat to blame for the style he’s adopted in recruiting. No one has embraced the one and done more than Cal. And he says to the players all the time, he says to his recruits, my job is to prepare you for the NBA. As a result, recruits have no loyalty to the University of Kentucky and Kentucky fans have no loyalty to people who will only be there for a year. There’s a revolving door. They keep reloading. I get that, but are you booing this guy? For real? Do you know what to do? He should go to Texas and he should go to Texas because in two years they’ll be back at the SEC and he can beat Kentucky in Kentucky.
Wilbon said Calipari should choose another target, a basketball school, and the next day a “pop store” with valuable recruits and players will appear.
“All these fans at every major athletic school overestimate their own commitment and situation,” Wilbon added. “Let’s fire a guy who goes 9-3 because we’re better than that. Maybe you’re not. Kentucky? You’re welcome.”
Hooo boy. That’ll get people talking this morning.