Adaptation Required For Calipari To Be More Than Splashy Hire

Former Kentucky coach gets new chance to show that he can adapt to changing landscape of college basketball

Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari yells to the team during their game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Rupp Arena / Clare Grant / Courier Journal / USA

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As the aftershocks of the biggest earthquake in college basketball in recent memory subsides, it becomes apparent the Razorbacks might have a problem coming along with former Kentucky coach John Calipari to Fayetteville.

Make no mistake, it's a good problem. The Razorbacks will have a war chest of resources at the very least on par with what Calipari had at Kentucky, something that Hogs fans have not had at such in the NIL era.

However, the stats are what they are. Calipari has had one NCAA tournament win in the last four years and isn't far removed from finishing the season 9-16 in 2021. His predecessor had eight tournament wins in the same period. Eric Musselman embraced the transfer portal, Calipari, by and large, did not.

Considering how at least a portion of the fanbase turned on Musselman after his 16-17 season this year, this is the best hire athletics director Hunter Yurachek could have made.

SI's own Pat Forde issued a scathing report card of Calipari's final years at Kentucky, one in which he had plenty of success, just not in what ultimately is the sticking point for college coaches, winning games in late March.

"He became more carnival barker than actual coach, selling NBA draft success as the coin of the realm instead of actual college basketball glory. Those 35 first-round draft picks didn’t hang a commensurate number of banners."

- PAT FORDE

This is Calipari's golden ticket to reset the narrative without the baggage at Kentucky. He gets to prove he's not one of the first coaches brought up in a different generation to overstay his welcome in coaching because of the transfer portal. It can be done and it probably should be. Just look to his predecessor for inspiration.

HOG FEED:

• Calipari hire catches all off guard, even most seasoned veteran reporters

• Hire of Calipari reaffirms Arkansas as national power

• Massive earthquake hire rocks college basketball world with new Arkansas hire

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