John Calipari keeps the “for sale” signs that makes Memphis fans angry, once staked in his yard in his garage. He has them as reminders that even when times are good, there were plenty of years when fans wanted him gone.
Calipari was shocked when it was reported that he was the master of the quick fix, a coach able to turn around programs with a few prized recruits, some slick strategy, and then kick back and enjoy Final Four runs.
Calipari has built Kentucky into a championship program again, not a mere solid one that lagged in prestige and Final Four counts in the final years of the Tubby Smith era and then under Billy Gillispie.
Calipari was shocked when it was reported that he was the master of the quick fix, a coach able to turn around programs with a few prized recruits, some slick strategy, and then kick back and enjoy Final Four runs.
Calipari has built Kentucky into a championship program again, not a mere solid one that lagged in prestige and Final Four counts in the final years of the Tubby Smith era and then under Billy Gillispie.
Patterson is described as a rare contributing holdover from Gillispie’s rocky tenure. Calipari hit the recruiting trail hard and landed DeMarcus Cousins as his first high-profile recruit last April. John Wall soon found his way to Lexington. In only one season, Calipari built a roster of players who know nothing but big SEC wins and NCAA tournament romps.
While he Wildcats are on the brink of reclaiming their position as the king of college basketball, West Virginia wants to stop the coronation.
Top-seeded Kentucky and No. 2 West Virginia have escaped the wild upsets that have knocked out two other No. 1 seeds and a few other Final Four favorites. They will play on Saturday, with the winner heading to face Indianapolis. Butler, the team’s leading scorer, said he shot well in practice and the injury won’t affect his play.
They looked a bit out of rhythm running their half-court offense without Bryant, however, and played one of the ugliest first halves of the tournament Thursday night.
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins returned to his alma mater with a Final Four in mind. He wants that second trip. Calipari has beaten Huggins before, and a win Saturday night would be the sweetest victory yet. Calipari is still trying to get to a Final Four that counts.
Calipari has downplayed expectations and loves to point out that Kentucky is one of the most inexperienced teams left in the field. The Wildcats start three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior, but any tournament jitters have long vanished.
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