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The most vocal segment of Kentucky basketball fans have been singing the blues in the Bluegrass State the past week about John Calipari.
While many prefer seeking a divorce from their 15-year, Hall of Fame head coach, the truth is the current rough patch in this marriage is something both sides must try to navigate and hope things get better.
For now, Kentucky and Calipari are sort of stuck with each other, a union much less about bliss than being in financial handcuffs.
Kentucky coach John Calipari reacts to a play in the team’s loss to Oakland in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Calipari will be back for a 16th season, but after three straight early exits from the NCAA tournament, Wildcats fans aren’t doing cartwheels over his return.
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That’s because an overly generous administration, back in 2019, foolishly gave Calipari a lifetime contract (taking him to retirement after the 2028-29 season) that has a pricey buyout of $33.5 million.
So when the Wildcats were ushered out of the NCAA tournament in the first round by 14th-seeded Oakland — the third consecutive year of not making it to the March Madness second weekend — it was no surprise the social media outcry to give Calipari the boot reached record decibels.
This post on X from Dan Dakich, a 12-year assistant at Indiana and former player under Bob Knight, was notable: “Told you all preseason, #BBN KENTUCKY is irrelevant. . . . they’ve moved into IU #iubb status.”
That needle was rather tame compared to the outrage expressed by UK fans. It was vociferous and relentless, many of them calling for Calipari and athletic director Mitch Barnhart to be shown the door together.
Oakland’s 80-76 victory, in which Golden Grizzlies’ mad bomber Jack Gohlke made10 of 20 three-point attempts, prompted someone named Trent to lob this grenade on X: “March Madness is great because Kentucky has a few future NBA…
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Author : The Florida Times-Union
Publish date : 2024-03-28 15:13:32
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