All Entries Tagged With: "John Calipari"
NIT For The Unfocused
By Tom Stosberg At this point in time it might be appropriate to re-run my previous post in which it was suggested that the NIT may be in the near future for University of Louisville basketball. Having been been chastised by some readers, I must submit the skin is thick … and Stosberg is back. After much less than a lackluster performance against the St. John’s, it is now evident that an alternative competitive tournament may be in order for our men’s basketball team. And since there is really only one alternative to the “Tournament-Most-Sought-After-by-the-Most-Mature College-Student-Athletes,” let us now focus on the event sometimes referred to as the “Tournament For Underachievers Who are Unable to Focus For Periods of Time Longer Than Two Minutes.” Teams that go to alternative tournaments are coached by men who also are not focused, possibly pre-occupied by such things as seeking out opportunities to coach in the National Basketball Association. Let’s say the New Jersey Nets, for example, might be attempting to assemble the likes of LeBron James, John Wall and Terrance Williams. And such coaches also may wish to leave some problems behind and go to New Jersey. Purely theoretical. The good news is that Kentucky’s John Calipari is now being linked to the Nets’ job, as well as Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. But this season these guys are definitely headed to the other tournament.
Kentucky Milks ‘World Wide Wes’ Connection
Mention the name “World Wide Wes” to a Kentucky basketball fan, and the reaction is a wide grin or a snicker, followed by “whatever it takes” or words to that effect. They don’t know how it works, don’t care, but they know his relationship has something to do with the potential of an undefeated season or a possible championship.
The NCAA is also comprised of competing universities who recognize a threat to their abilities to compete for recognition and championships ...
At the same time, these fans appear to be greatly relieved that the program is even a contender again. After seeing the University of Louisville basketball team ranked No. 1 after last year’s regular season, they were adamant that UK take drastic steps to level the playing field.
Athletic director Mitch Barnhart did just that, firing Billy Gillispie and hiring John Calipari away from Memphis, bringing with him the association with World Wide Wes.
World Wide Wes, of course, is William Wesley who seems to wield considerable influence on the college choices of some gifted basketball players. For some reason Wesley attached himself to Calipari at Memphis, with Memphis suddenly becoming a magnet for top recruits.
Memphis would eventually be investigated by the NCAA. The school had to vacate 38 wins from the 2007-08 season after a player’s college test scores were invalidated. There’s no evidence that anyone else was involved, despite Wesley being a close friend and adviser.
The NCAA, if it has seriously investigated Wesley, has not turned up anything incriminating about his activities and how they benefit the schools with which he becomes connected. The body that governs college athletics is a bureaucratic and bloated organization, slow to respond to questionable activities, sometimes failing to act even when confronted with concrete evidence.
But the NCAA is also comprised of competing universities who recognize a threat to their abilities to compete for recognition and championships, and the prestige and money that goes with these honors. They will not stand idly by while another university is taking advantage of unique relationships to gain a competitive edge — even if no rules are being broken or nothing illegal is occurring, changing the rules if necessary to eliminate any perceived threats or disparities.
Too much at stake. Kentucky’s opponents may eventually have the last laugh.
Lexington A Dark Alley For Louisville
One has to give the officials credit for trying to keep the ugly stuff in check during the Louisville-Kentucky basketball game. Problem was there was just too much of it. The poor officials, even when confronted with video evidence, still manage to make the wrong call in the Jared Swopshire-DeMarcus Cousins melee. Remember how basketball used to be the game of finesse? Those days are gone forever if John Calipari keeps winning ugly at Kentucky.
Kentucky’s Anger Keeps Louisville Close
Hate does strange things to athletes.
Had Louisville been able to hit the side of a barn in the first half, Kentucky would be bemoaning the end of a 14-game win streak. Someone had the UK players on edge, spoiling for a fight. The inexplicable, misplaced venom was the only thing that kept Louisville in the game.
The UK players wanted to administer severe pain to U of L as much as they wanted a win. If they had stuck to basketball, Louisville would never have posed serious threat. Offsetting their claims of superiority, UK suffers from a severe inferiority complex.
With his negative attitude and anger problems, Bledsoe will be lucky to see a sophomore season.
Perhaps understandable for a John Calipari-coached team in Memphis but not at a school that holds the all-time number of NCAA victories. If that’s all there is for the all-time leader, pity the rest of us. Bad example, UK, atrocious really.
Apparently the UK zealots have more than a little pent-up anger after two consecutive losses in the series. Probably has more to do with a Rick Pitino-coached Louisville team dishing out the losses to their heart throbs. Forgive and forget? Not in Kentucky fans.
Speaking of pent-up anger, what’s with Eric Bledsoe? An intentional foul in the first 20 seconds. Mouth running, veins popping, unable to stop jabbering, not even with John Calipari hanging all over him. That mouth is still running wherever it is. With his negative attitude and anger problems, Bledsoe will be lucky to see a sophomore season.
John Wall a decent player and a factor in the game, but not that big a factor. Most impressive perhaps about Wall, in this game, was that he wasn’t mad at somebody.
Maybe next season Samardo Samuels will be able to hit an uncontested layup, Preston Knowles a couple of twisting jump shots, Jared Swopshire a couple of clutch free throws, Peyton Siva one or two assists, and maybe Mike Marra will get off the bench.
That could be make a difference, playing decent basketball. One suspects Kentucky will still be insecure and angry for whatever reason.
Enough With The Basketball Obsession
A new football season is less than a couple of weeks away now. While expectations for University of Louisville football are tempered, there is some sense of anticipation. But just when a buzz gets going, bad news diverts attention to another sport.
– Rick Pitino’s involvement with a career home wrecker is exposed.
– John Calipari’s questionable recruiting practices result in red faces for two of Louisville’s arch rivals — Memphis and Kentucky.
As if people needed an excuse to talk basketball around he
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The obsession over basketball stems from the fact that some area teams have won some national championships while enjoying only fleeting success in football over the years.
One school even has a live TV show to announce a basketball schedule three months in advance? That’s sick, grossly unfair to the football program. A clear case of poor management, lack of perspective. Excessive.
Football is the premiere college sport. It is the most colorful, the best attended, the most challenging, the best revenue producer for most universities, and the activity that earns the most respect for a school’s overall athletic program.
The observer gets into basketball in season, don’t misinterpret. But the football experience, especially a winning one, is more enduring.
Toss the basketballs back in the equipment room for a little while.
Please.
