It Was Time For It To Happen - The John Calipari Era Is Over At Kentucky

There it is. It's official (basically). John Calipari is no longer at Kentucky. I no longer will be defending John Calipari as we get ready for March. I have no idea how to feel. That's my honest thoughts. I have no idea because it's time. I wanted to move on from Calipari the moment we lost to Oakland. It's clear he wasn't willing to truly adapt to college basketball in 2024, is a 64-year old man stuck in his ways and we'd be stuck in this Civil War among fans. 

But to Arkansas? ARKANSAS. I mean, thanks for getting us out of a stupid contract, nice of Tyson Chicken there. But ARKANSAS. That's what Calipari decided to do? I don't care if it's a good job. He chose a team in the SEC and has to come back to Rupp Arena. He has to play against Kentucky. That's the part I can't get over. I really thought he'd take a job out West or somewhere out of the Kentucky area, but he picked a rival. Okay, fine. I hope he gets booed to Louisville the moment Arkansas comes into Rupp Arena. Cal is now an enemy. Words I never thought I'd say, Cal is now an enemy. John Calipari is an enemy, he's no longer Coach Cal to me. 

Don't get me wrong, the first half of his run at Kentucky was awesome. I'll always thank him for the 2012 title. I'll thank him for John Wall and Brandon Knight and the 2015 team and Fox/Monk/Adebayo and Aaron Harrison hitting three threes to get to the finals. But then Wisconsin happened. That broke Calipari. Then Luke fucking Maye happened. That snapped Calipari. Then the collapse in 2019 and loss to Auburn happened. That cost Calipari everything he knew. St. Peter's and Gohlke were the final balls to drop. 

But we couldn't keep this. John Calipari was out of bullets. He couldn't point to recruiting classes when a title didn't come. He couldn't move around assistant coaches. He couldn't trick fans with what was next. Not when St. Peter's and Gohlke happened. We needed a divorce. We got it.

Now it's time for Mitch Barnhart not to fuck up. He fucked up before - look at Billy Gillispie. You need to make the right hire. The list is simple, you call Dan Hurley first and make him say no. I don't care if he hangs up on you, I want a wiretap to Hurley's phone to make sure that call was made. Then it's the group of Nate Oats, Scott Drew, Sean Miller, Tommy Lloyd and yes, Will Wade. And yes let me be clear. Rico Bosco is banned from anything Kentucky related if Nate Oats is hired. Can't have it, won't have it. 

All this because of Gohlke and SMU moving to the ACC. They moved on from Rob Lanier because of that, brought in Enfield which led to Muss going to USC. Now we wait and see. I will not rest until I see the names who we are looking at. It was time for Calipari to leave but he married the neighbor we fucking hate. I'm sure we'll lose the recruiting class, fine. It's time to win. That's all I care about. It's time to win. 

The John Calipari era is over.