The saga of John Calipari leaving the Kentucky Wildcats for SEC rivals Arkansas is one of the most explosive bits of news in the dying embers of the 2023-24 NCAA season. This sudden departure—regardless of the reason behind it— will not only have a great effect on the Wildcats but also on the rest of the college basketball landscape.
While the two parties are moving forward separately, it’s hard to deny that Calipari’s 15-year stay with the Wildcats has been one of the most successful college basketball coaching stints in the 21st century. He transformed the program into one of the most storied teams that blue-chip high schoolers want to go to.
This piece will dissect Calipari’s impact on the Wildcats roster and what he’ll be leaving after a successful 15 years in Lexington.
John Calipari brought a national title to the Wildcats in his third season
The crown jewel of Calipari’s fifteen-year reign as Kentucky head coach was his first national title in only his third year with the Kentucky program. His Wildcats enjoyed a fantastic 2011-12, only dropping two games in the regular season and going unbeaten in the SEC.
They crushed most of the opposition they faced in March Madness, with their Final Four duel against Lousiville being the closest game they played throughout the tournament. Other notable programs they took down in their legendary run include Indiana, Baylor, and Kansas.
However, the most impressive thing about John Calipari’s team at the time was how young his entire team was. He only had one junior and two senior players on the roster as the team’s young core took over for the team. Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were the two most impressive players on the roster, and half of the team were drafted that summer.
The Kentucky Wildcats enjoyed an influx of elite talent under Calipari
The Wildcats may have faltered over the past couple of seasons, but Calipari’s ability to bring over many talented high schoolers through the door is the key reason why Calipari managed to retain his position at the top of Kentucky basketball.
The seven Kentucky players that got drafted in 2012 is only one instance of John Calipari’s ability to prepare college hoopers for the NBA. Aside from Davis, Calipari had the pleasure of working with the following players who cut out an impressive NBA career:
- John Wall
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Enes Kanter
- Brandon Knight
- Julius Randle
- Devin Booker
- Jamal Murray
- De’Aaron Fox
- Eric Bledsoe
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Tyler Herro
- Tyrese Maxey
These are only some of the players who found success in the pros thanks to Calipari’s contribution to their preparations. Such an ability to bring plenty of players into the NBA is a clear edge that the Wildcats will miss with his departure from the program.
What’s next for Kentucky and Calipari?
The 2024-25 men’s basketball season will be interesting for both Kentucky and Calipari. Due to Arkansas also being in the SEC, their reunion will be quick. It’s not hard to imagine the Wildcat fandom welcoming back their former head coach with the loudest boos they can muster.
However, the success of their post-Calipari years will also depend on the man they’ll replace him with. There are already interesting names being thrown around, but whoever they decide to bring over will determine how their first year away from Calipari will pan out.
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