SNAFU
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In 2015 against Wisconsin in the Final 4, led by 4 points with 5 minutes to go when he "deflated" the basketball with 7 eventual draft picks. “I don’t like this. It ended up in a bad shot last time,” said legendary broadcaster Bill Raftery. UK eventually lost and has never been the same since. More than eight years later, Calipari and the Wildcats have not been back to a Final Four. They’ve won one NCAA Tournament game in the last three years.
“I really believe that game broke him,” said one former support staff member, who, along with four others, requested anonymity.
-Calipari’s patience steadily shrank in recent years, which led to a shorter fuse with players (and some staff) and a less detailed approach to preparation.
-He became less innovative. Gripping the wheel too tightly in that 2015 Final Four loss, incredibly, did not convince him to unleash all that talent. Instead, he clamped down harder.
-As Calipari dug-in stylistically, even publicly scoffing at the 3-point revolution that has overtaken basketball at every level, he also turned cantankerous, seeking out slights and holding grudges. He picked fights with Kentucky’s athletic director, with the biggest radio personality in the state, and with the Wildcats’ wildly popular football coach.
-Most cite significant turnover on Calipari’s staff as an ailment that has plagued the program. Karl-Anthony Towns once called Kentucky assistant coach Kenny Payne “the horse beneath the jockey driving Kentucky basketball.”
-Calipari’s infamous Two Circle play, often used as a stall tactic, “became our go-to offense,” the second former staffer said. Some European teams run versions of a Circle offense, but with pace and creative wrinkles. Calipari’s version? It was a “meat grinder,” said the third former staffer. “We were running good offense against Wisconsin, went to Two Circle and lost it.”
-“Their offense is archaic,” said another. “It’s gotta be the same sh– he was running with the New Jersey Nets.”
Summary from The Athletic
Personally, I am enjoying every minute of it!
“I really believe that game broke him,” said one former support staff member, who, along with four others, requested anonymity.
-Calipari’s patience steadily shrank in recent years, which led to a shorter fuse with players (and some staff) and a less detailed approach to preparation.
-He became less innovative. Gripping the wheel too tightly in that 2015 Final Four loss, incredibly, did not convince him to unleash all that talent. Instead, he clamped down harder.
-As Calipari dug-in stylistically, even publicly scoffing at the 3-point revolution that has overtaken basketball at every level, he also turned cantankerous, seeking out slights and holding grudges. He picked fights with Kentucky’s athletic director, with the biggest radio personality in the state, and with the Wildcats’ wildly popular football coach.
-Most cite significant turnover on Calipari’s staff as an ailment that has plagued the program. Karl-Anthony Towns once called Kentucky assistant coach Kenny Payne “the horse beneath the jockey driving Kentucky basketball.”
-Calipari’s infamous Two Circle play, often used as a stall tactic, “became our go-to offense,” the second former staffer said. Some European teams run versions of a Circle offense, but with pace and creative wrinkles. Calipari’s version? It was a “meat grinder,” said the third former staffer. “We were running good offense against Wisconsin, went to Two Circle and lost it.”
-“Their offense is archaic,” said another. “It’s gotta be the same sh– he was running with the New Jersey Nets.”
Summary from The Athletic
Personally, I am enjoying every minute of it!
