Could another early exit make Cal think about leaving?

[Sean Miller Fan]

Will John Calipari be able to win back the Kentucky fanbase | Marshall County Daily.com

By LARRY VAUGHT John Calipari has faced a lot of challenges at Kentucky but after going 9-16 during the 2020-21 season and then losing to 15th-seeded Saint Peter's last week to end this season he

www.marshallcountydaily.com

A lot of the Kentucky fanbase is frustrated with him. Could this be a situation where his ego needs to have him come home as the conquering hero to rescue his hometown team, which is on life support?

Its extremely unlikely Cal would ever want to coach Pitt but if it was ever going to happen, the current situations are about as close to ideal as it could get.

 

[TD_6082]

Will John Calipari be able to win back the Kentucky fanbase | Marshall County Daily.com

By LARRY VAUGHT John Calipari has faced a lot of challenges at Kentucky but after going 9-16 during the 2020-21 season and then losing to 15th-seeded Saint Peter's last week to end this season he

www.marshallcountydaily.com

A lot of the Kentucky fanbase is frustrated with him. Could this be a situation where his ego needs to have him come home as the conquering hero to rescue his hometown team, which is on life support?

Its extremely unlikely Cal would ever want to coach Pitt but if it was ever going to happen, the current situations are about as close to ideal as it could get.

UK fans have a meltdown after every loss regardless of coach.

Hard to see Cal walking away from $9 million a year. Anyone with a huge ego isn't going to leave UK for Pitt. There probably aren't many jobs in college athletics that feed the ego like being the head coach at Kentucky. That's a bit of a double edged sword though, becuase there is a lot of shit to put up with, as the expectations are off the chart. But you have to be really over it to leave for a lesser job. Tubby Smith is the only coach that actually reached that point.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

UK fans have a meltdown after every loss regardless of coach.

Hard to see Cal walking away from $9 million a year. Anyone with a huge ego isn't going to leave UK for Pitt. There probably aren't many jobs in college athletics that feed the ego like being the head coach at Kentucky. That's a bit of a double edged sword though, becuase there is a lot of shit to put up with, as the expectations are off the chart. But you have to be really over it to leave for a lesser job. Tubby Smith is the only coach that actually reached that point.

I was told money isn't a motivator for most people. Remember the Joe Lombardi discussion?

I don't think Cal would ever coach here but lets say they go out early again next year, I'd call and ask "how much." See what he says. Huggins isnt in the same category but he came home. Sometimes being a hometown hero means something to these guys.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

I was told money isn't a motivator for most people. Remember the Joe Lombardi discussion?

I don't think Cal would ever coach here but lets say they go out early again next year, I'd call and ask "how much." See what he says. Huggins isnt in the same category but he came home. Sometimes being a hometown hero means something to these guys.

No that isn’t what you were told. You think money is the be all end all. What you’ve been told is that isn’t true for everyone.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

No that isn’t what you were told. You think money is the be all end all. What you’ve been told is that isn’t true for everyone.

And for a guy like Cal, whose made 9 figures in his life, perhaps, making $6 million at Pitt would mean more to him than making $9 million at UK. Maybe not. That said, if there was any chance Pitt could get him, they'd have to pay him what he asked. $9 million, $10 million, doesn't matter. Find the money somewhere. 8-9 years of big time basketball and possibly a Final Four, you cant put a price on.

 

[TheLogicalTake]

If he can’t get it done at the bluest of blue bloods, why would anyone think he could get it done here? When he eventually leaves UK, it will be for a big money media deal or the NBA to cash in for a few years before said media deal. Cal is decent enough but he has an ego the size of Texas and, at this stage in life, there is zero chance he will do anything that isn’t an upgrade on his current situation.

 

[Voice of Danno]

This all good except he's been gone from Pittsburgh for 40 years. Does he have any family left here? And if money is not an issue since he's earned over $100 million in his career, why not go to Duquesne or RMU where he will be a God a la Pittino at Iona?

 

[eastcoasthoops]

And for a guy like Cal, whose made 9 figures in his life, perhaps, making $6 million at Pitt would mean more to him than making $9 million at UK. Maybe not. That said, if there was any chance Pitt could get him, they'd have to pay him what he asked. $9 million, $10 million, doesn't matter. Find the money somewhere. 8-9 years of big time basketball and possibly a Final Four, you cant put a price on.

1. Cal’s not going anywhere.
2. He certainly isn’t going anywhere for $6MM
3. Pitt is never going to pay $6MM for a basketball coach in the near future.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If he can’t get it done at the bluest of blue bloods, why would anyone think he could get it done here? When he eventually leaves UK, it will be for a big money media deal or the NBA to cash in for a few years before said media deal. Cal is decent enough but he has an ego the size of Texas and, at this stage in life, there is zero chance he will do anything that isn’t an upgrade on his current situation.

If Calipari cannot win at Pitt, then we should cancel the program. Get real. We'll be in the NCAAT 4 out of 5 years with several good seeds. Heck, he might even do better at Pitt since he wont get the 1 and dones. He can use the Jay Wright model and have a full router of guys ranked between 30 and 100

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

He’s retiring at UK

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

He’s retiring at UK

Seems like a safe bet. But I'd still ask how much. Maybe send a contingent a Pgh legends to recruit him. Tell him he can be on the Mt. Rushmore with Clemente, Big Ben, Lemieux, etc

 

[TD_6082]

I was told money isn't a motivator for most people. Remember the Joe Lombardi discussion?

I don't think Cal would ever coach here but lets say they go out early again next year, I'd call and ask "how much." See what he says. Huggins isnt in the same category but he came home. Sometimes being a hometown hero means something to these guys.

Not sure why Pitt would even bother to call when there is no way they would pay $8 to $9 million for a basketball coach.

There's a huge difference between leaving K-State and leaving Kentucky.

 

[buckage]

If he can’t get it done at the bluest of blue bloods, why would anyone think he could get it done here? When he eventually leaves UK, it will be for a big money media deal or the NBA to cash in for a few years before said media deal. Cal is decent enough but he has an ego the size of Texas and, at this stage in life, there is zero chance he will do anything that isn’t an upgrade on his current situation.

What are you talking about? He did get it done.

 

[chirurgo]

My first question when I read this thread was would the administration want him here if he doesn’t run a clean program? But then I wondered, what is a clean program now with NIL? It seems to me that all of this pay-to-play scandal stuff should go away with NIL. It opens Pitt up to a lot more big name coaches should they be willing to pay for them. And why wouldn’t they be able to pay them? The market already has shown they could sell out the Pete if they win. 12,508 x $68 avg cost of a ticket x 21 home games = $17.9 million annually in ticket revenue. I am sure I am overestimating ticket revenue a bit(assuming they sell out), but $9 million/year doesn’t seem that far-fetched if they have to rebuild the program.

 

[buckage]

My first question when I read this thread was would the administration want him here if he doesn’t run a clean program? But then I wondered, what is a clean program now with NIL? It seems to me that all of this pay-to-play scandal stuff should go away with NIL. It opens Pitt up to a lot more big name coaches should they be willing to pay for them. And why wouldn’t they be able to pay them? The market already has shown they could sell out the Pete if they win. 12,508 x $68 avg cost of a ticket x 21 home games = $17.9 million annually in ticket revenue. I am sure I am overestimating ticket revenue a bit(assuming they sell out), but $9 million/year doesn’t seem that far-fetched if they have to rebuild the program.

That's not how financials work in college.

Even if they sold out at the rates you're suggesting, that money is not just for the mbb team.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Not sure why Pitt would even bother to call when there is no way they would pay $8 to $9 million for a basketball coach.

There's a huge difference between leaving K-State and leaving Kentucky.

If Cal said he'd do it for $9 million, Pitt would need to find $9 million. You are paying for the NCAAT most years, sellout crowds, possibly a Final Four, maybe even a NC if everything breaks right. We can always find money to buyout coaches but we couldn't find money to pay a HOFer.

I keep seeing these articles. Kentucky fans are royally pissed. Dale Brown wrote an op-ed to UK fans basically telling them to calm down. I'm telling you if they go out early again next season, there would never be a better time for Heather to ask "how much." A portion of their fanbase wants him fired like today.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

Even if Calipari considered leaving UK it wouldn't be for Pitt, and the Pitt administration would never want John representing the university, unfortunately. Was it true Calipari was interested after Willard was fired and Nordy said no way?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Even if Calipari considered leaving UK it wouldn't be for Pitt, and the Pitt administration would never want John representing the university, unfortunately. Was it true Calipari was interested after Willard was fired and Nordy said no way?

Cal wanted it after Howland but he was seen as dirty. I don't even think he's viewed as dirty anymore. I think the thing on him is he doesn't have to cheat anymore and now, with NIL, he doesn't have to cheat. I 100% believe our administration would take Cal if they could find the money. It wouldn't be a moral decision. It would be a money decision. Obviously, Cal could name his college or NBA team but some guys have something inside of them to want to do something for their hometown. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't.

 

[TheLogicalTake]

What are you talking about? He did get it done.

That depends on your definition of getting it done. All that talent and every institutional (and under the table) advantage in the sport for over a decade and he has one title to show for it. For all the hype and bluster around him, that’s a disappointing return in my eyes

 

[h2p_5150]

If UK fires Cal (they won't) he'll do better than Pitt. This is a bottom-of-the-barrel P5 job, probably the 13th or 14th best in the conference.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If UK fires Cal (they won't) he'll do better than Pitt. This is a bottom-of-the-barrel P5 job, probably the 13th or 14th best in the conference.

He won't get fired at UK but he's getting heat from the fanbase that his ego may not want to deal with. And of course he could do much better than Pitt. But Pitt is home. Would it mean more to him to coach Pitt, or lets just say Michigan State if Izzo retires. MSU is a ten times better job but Pittsburgh is home and its a special challenge. Just saying the time could be right to ask "how much."

 

[Voice of Danno]

Just for the record. Cal is not getting fired any time soon. His current buyout is $52 million and decreases by $6 million for the next 8 years. And he never wanted Pitt. He was never a candidate at Pitt. And he never put his name in contention for Pitt.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Just for the record. Cal is not getting fired any time soon. His current buyout is $52 million and decreases by $6 million for the next 8 years. And he never wanted Pitt. He was never a candidate at Pitt. And he never put his name in contention for Pitt.

The last part is incorrect. He badly wanted it after Howland. Memphis was in CUSA and he was looking to step-up.

 

[Voice of Danno]

Keep believing that. He had everything he needed at Memphis (including good friend World Wide Wes recruiting I mean hanging out at the Pyramid). But I guess you are probably right because Cal couldn't wait to leave after all he was there for a quick EIGHT years and only left for one of the 5 best jobs in the country. I guess a Pitt-like job didn't come available the last 4 years he was there as he struggle with 2 Elite 8 appearances and choking away a National Championship.

Sucked to be him a place that was beneath Pitt.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Finebaum talks Cal.

Paul Finebaum on Calipari: “He is at a tipping point in his career”

Almost a week has passed since Kentucky’s season-ending loss to Saint Peter’s in the NCAA Tournament but the conversation about the men’s basketball program isn’t slowing down. There’s criticism that comes with Kentucky’s season-ending meltdown, even more so considering the program hasn’t made a...

gobigbluecountry.com

Telling you, another early exit and Cal will listen to suitors.

 

[Voice of Danno]

NBA maybe. But since you know all. I said his buyout from the University is $52 million. What's his buyout if he wants to leave. Most times they are around 50 percent of what the school still owes. But let's say it is 25 percent. Love to see Pitt or any other school not with a Texas in their name come up with $12 million to pay his buyout (next year it will be $48 million) plus the $6 million you seem to think he will take at Pitt. But it will probably be more if not Pitt since he won't give that school a hometown discount that some believe he would give us,

 

[Voice of Danno]

OK. I admit when I am wrong. Calipari's contract allows him to terminate it without any cost to him. See. Not hard to admit publicly when wrong.