With the heat on Kentucky’s John Calipari after his team’s stunning first-round men’s NCAA tournament loss to Oakland on Thursday, some of ESPN’s college basketball analysts are defending the longtime coach.
To varying degrees, Seth Greenberg, Jay Bilas, Jay Williams and Rece Davis all dismissed the idea of Calipari actually being fired, with Davis going so far as to suggest that only two people in the world are qualified at the school: Calipari and Rick Pitino.
However, Williams did note the eroding relationship between Calipari and Kentucky fans as why it might be something people want to happen.
Despite the passion behind some of their arguments, this probably won’t dissuade the angry Wildcats fans who want the coach gone after yet another surprising early tournament exit.
College hoops analyst Jay Wright laid out a compelling case this week about why Kentucky has been faltering as of late under Calipari, and the angst in Lexington might not fully subside until a new coach is in place.
ESPN analysts strongly defended John Calipari against the idea of him being fired by Kentucky. Seth Greenberg and Jay Bilas even called the suggestion "absurd."
"There are only two people on the planet that can coach Kentucky; it's Calipari and (Rick) Pitino." – Rece Davis.
H/T… pic.twitter.com/L4xN9MtgxE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 23, 2024
With Calipari’s astronomical buyout in place, it’s no lock that Kentucky will choose to move on from one of the best coaches in the school’s history.
However, it sure doesn’t sound like Calipari will get back into the good graces of Wildcats fans until he’s able to prove his mettle after a series of March Madness disasters.
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