Calipari turns down Maui; says he'll never take UK there again

#1
ukvols

ukvols

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
13,892
Likes
1,247
#1
I figured this was worth at least a little discussion. I guess when you're John Calipari, and you're at UK, you have the luxury to dismiss the Maui Invitational as an unnecessary long trip. It's not uncommon for teams to struggle in the first game after the trip (see UT in 2011).
I wonder how the UK fans who love taking these trips will react to this. Most UK coaches would probably be forced to go to Maui; then again, most would just graciously go.
I suppose that if Calipari had his way, conference tournaments and early-season holiday tournaments would all be eliminated. Well, hopefully the rest of college basketball won't follow him, because if he had his way, basketball would be worse off for it.
Missouri is getting the spot UK vacated (lol). I hope this leads to Tennessee going more often, and I hope I can afford it some time.

Calipari says no more Maui for Wildcats | CollegeBasketballTalk
 
#2
#2
The SEC Tournament and the Maui Invitational: two events that UK fans love, and Calipari wants no part of. I suppose he isn't allowed to refuse an SECT invitation.
 
#3
#3
ukvols said:
The SEC Tournament and the Maui Invitational: two events that UK fans love, and Calipari wants no part of. I suppose he isn't allowed to refuse an SECT invitation.
Click to expand...

I really wonder how declining an invitation to your conference tournament would work. If conferences can ban teams from the tournament...
 
#4
#4
I don't see the Maui being the premier tournament for that much longer. The Preseason NIT and Battle 4 Atlantis tournaments have the potential to get really solid fields. Still, pretty dumb of Cal IMO. This is one of the more desired and recognizable tournaments and to dismiss it like it's backyard basketball is retarded.
 
#8
#8
Bad Move. Maui seems to almost always be a great tournament. UK wouldn't be the only team trying to deal with long travels back from there.
 
#11
#11
ukvols said:
He doesn't like the long trip and has decided that UK doesn't need this event.
Click to expand...

I think that he also mentioned something about not caring for tournaments where you play 3x in 3 days. I can dig it from the aspect of potential injuries.

He's never been a fan of the SECT for this reason.
 
#14
#14
If Calipari had his way UK wouldn't play in any tournaments besides the NCAA and would play every game in a neutral NBA areana
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#15
#15
Brian McCat said:
I think that he also mentioned something about not caring for tournaments where you play 3x in 3 days. I can dig it from the aspect of potential injuries.

He's never been a fan of the SECT for this reason.
Click to expand...

He's cancelling or refusing or, in the case of the SECT, wanting to cancel, games and tournaments that I thought UK fans cared a lot about. Only Calipari could do this and not lose support, IMO. If Gillispie would have tried to tell Maui "no," I doubt many people would have dug it.
 
#16
#16
ukvols said:
He's cancelling or refusing or, in the case of the SECT, wanting to cancel, games and tournaments that I thought UK fans cared a lot about. Only Calipari could do this and not lose support, IMO. If Gillispie would have tried to tell Maui "no," I doubt many people would have dug it.
Click to expand...

Cal has won the trust of the fanbase - I will miss seeing them play in this tournament (on TV) but it means 3 additional games (2 at home) that count as 1 - better for fans and for the program.

Lord knows UK doesn't need the exposure which is why teams love this tourney.
 
#17
#17
dukes_of_maggard said:
Cal has won the trust of the fanbase - I will miss seeing them play in this tournament (on TV) but it means 3 additional games (2 at home) that count as 1 - better for fans and for the program.

Lord knows UK doesn't need the exposure which is why teams love this tourney.
Click to expand...

Are you saying you embrace playing fewer total games over the course of the regular season?

Like I said, only Calipari can decrease the amount of times BBN gets to engage in its perferred form of entertainment and still retain their trust and support.

Most programs take the opposite approach - they want to play in these "exempt" events, because they count as one game, so they get to play extra games against quality competition on national television in an environment that helps prepare them for the postseason, without burning off 1/9 of their allowed total games in just three days.

If UT stops participating in these events, I'll be ticked.

If UK stops participating in the SECT, that will be fine with me. I'd like to get cheaper tickets and actually win it eventually.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#18
#18
Whenever Calipari leaves UK, I give it about four seconds before the entire fan base rolls over and completely turns on him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#19
#19
ukvols said:
Are you saying you embrace playing fewer total games over the course of the regular season?

Like I said, only Calipari can decrease the amount of times BBN gets to engage in its perferred form of entertainment and still retain their trust and support.

Most programs take the opposite approach - they want to play in these "exempt" events, because they count as one game, so they get to play extra games against quality competition on national television in an environment that helps prepare them for the postseason, without burning off 1/9 of their allowed total games in just three days.

If UT stops participating in these events, I'll be ticked.

If UK stops participating in the SECT, that will be fine with me. I'd like to get cheaper tickets and actually win it eventually.
Click to expand...


It isn't fewer games, they play in preseason tourneys like the ones at the Barclay Center last year where the Championship is played in a NBA facility and the other two games are played at Rupp - as opposed to all 3 games in Maui.
 
#21
#21
Look, Calapari may be a good coach and a great recruiter but he has to be the most ARROGANT coach in college basketball right now.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top