How did it occur? Kentucky’s Calipari is the brand new Arkansas coach

Nothing like a bombshell information drop on the eve of the nationwide championship recreation.

John Calipari is leaving Kentucky and headed throughout the SEC to Arkansas, finalizing a five-year deal to switch Eric Musselman in Fayetteville.

No one may have foreseen this chain of occasions when SMU fired Rob Lanier after simply two seasons, resulting in the Mustangs poaching Andy Enfield from USC and Musselman departing Arkansas for the Trojans’ emptiness. Arkansas took a few early swings at Ole Miss’ Chris Beard and Kansas State’s Jerome Tang, however each coaches turned down the Razorbacks and returned to their respective colleges.

So, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek reassessed the search and got here out with a brand new title atop his goal record: Calipari.

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf react to the brand new transfer, together with what it means for the league and the colleges — and who may succeed Coach Cal in Lexington.

How did we get so far? What compelled Calipari to depart Kentucky?

Myron Medcalf: After a sequence of disappointing outcomes (9-16 in 2020-21; the 2022 NCAA event loss to Saint Peter’s; final month’s first-round loss to Oakland), Calipari now not had full management in Lexington. Slightly than give Kentucky’s brass one other yr to determine in the event that they wished to maintain him, Calipari did what some coaches do on this state of affairs: He left.

The enjoyment of teaching at Kentucky is the admiration, reputation and affect one good points from a large fan base and basketball model. However Calipari has misplaced that help in recent times. It had felt like Calipari and Kentucky had been dwelling underneath the identical roof however had been now not collectively. Calipari simply made it official Sunday evening.

Jeff Borzello: As soon as a coach will get to the purpose the place his athletic director must launch an announcement confirming his return as coach, it is exhausting to regain the belief of the fan base. And Calipari reached that time. The NCAA event losses, one Huge Dance win since 2019, refusing to embrace the switch portal and persevering with to construct freshmen-focused rosters — all of it added as much as a pissed off fan base. And so when one other college with enormous assets and a passionate fan base confirmed curiosity, Calipari jumped. Higher to depart than dwell on the new seat.

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Farnham: Calipari’s ‘contemporary begin’ advantages each Arkansas and Kentucky

Sean Farnham reacts to the information of John Calipari leaving Kentucky to grow to be the pinnacle coach at Arkansas.

What’s most tasty in regards to the Arkansas job?

Medcalf: Soccer is Arkansas’ past love, and it final gained a basketball nationwide title in 1994. It has an especially passionate fan base, however nothing rivals Kentucky’s Huge Blue Nation. Calipari will not face the identical pressures he endured in Lexington, however he could have entry to energy boosters (the Tyson Meals household, Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones and the Walton household) who will provide sufficient NIL cash to assist him entice elite expertise.

Borzello: Arkansas has loads of assets and is rising its NIL funds to deliver Calipari into the fold. The fan base is there too. When Bud Walton Enviornment is rocking, it is the most effective home-court benefits within the SEC. And Arkansas has a stranglehold on conserving in-state expertise house for varsity; there was a stretch from 2016 to 2022 when zero ESPN 100 prospects left the state of Arkansas for faculty.

What are the possibilities Calipari will get pleasure from the kind of success he had at Kentucky now that he is at Arkansas?

Medcalf: In 5 seasons, Eric Musselman had a greater postseason run (two Elite Eight appearances and a visit to the Candy 16) than Calipari did at Kentucky over the identical stretch. Calipari has at all times been a high recruiter; that will not change at Arkansas. He won’t get 4 or 5 McDonald’s All People yearly the best way he did at Kentucky, however Calipari will signal nice expertise — which he has carried out at each cease of his profession.

Borzello: Calipari can win a nationwide championship at Arkansas. All the pieces is in place to constantly compete on the high of the SEC and push for Ultimate 4 berths. Musselman did not fairly have the regular-season success to match, however he had the Razorbacks inside a recreation of the Ultimate 4 in back-to-back years. The important thing for Calipari is whether or not he’ll change his outlook on roster development. He’ll be capable of recruit at a excessive stage in Fayetteville, however Calipari cannot proceed to construct with just one or two transfers. There needs to be a mixture of excessive schoolers and veterans, and he’ll have the NIL funds to construct a roster in that method.

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Pete Thamel lists potential John Calipari replacements at Kentucky

With John Calipari on the cusp of a transfer to grow to be Arkansas’ coach, Pete Thamel throws out names of some potential candidates to switch him.

Is the transfer good or dangerous for Kentucky?

Medcalf: That is an advanced query. Calipari had the aptitude (and trace of conceitedness), persona and expertise to deal with the calls for of a rabid fan base that craved the success he had introduced in his first six seasons — together with a nationwide title. It is a distinctive function, one solely Rick Pitino and Calipari have excelled in over the previous 30 years. There isn’t a clear successor who can proceed to draw five-star recruits and future NBA stars. The brand new coach additionally should endure the expectations of a fan base that hasn’t witnessed a nationwide title run since 2012 however nonetheless expects to compete for a championship each season.

Borzello: It will be exhausting to reply this proper now. Whereas Calipari’s buyout was the most important obstacle to firing the Corridor of Fame coach, the shortage of a pure substitute was second on the record. Many of the logical successors both have enormous buyouts or will not make the transfer. If Kentucky has to dip down into its second- or third-tier candidate pool, it won’t be an important transfer for the Wildcats.

How will the transfer have an effect on the SEC?

Medcalf: It relies upon partially on the dominoes. Will Kentucky goal Nate Oats? Or will the Wildcats chase Jay Wright or Dan Hurley? Both method, Kentucky will not accept a subpar candidate. On the flip aspect, Arkansas, which hasn’t gained the SEC since 2000, is actually in a brand new tier with this hiring. Total, a league that can quickly add Oklahoma and Texas in all probability will enhance.

Borzello: It is landscape-shifting. As Myron talked about, the dominoes falling will have an effect. However this is not nearly Kentucky and what it does from right here. This instantly vaults Arkansas into the higher crust of the nationwide dialog — and due to this fact the SEC dialog. The Razorbacks all of the sudden have title-contending expectations each season. Kentucky will at all times have these, however the Wildcats won’t be the most important story within the league throughout the 2024-25 season.

What’s subsequent for Kentucky? Who ought to Kentucky goal for its opening?

Medcalf: Once more, there are not any easy solutions right here. However Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart ought to pull as much as Monday’s nationwide title recreation and ask Dan Hurley for the amount of cash it will take to lure him to Lexington — regardless that Hurley is completely happy in Storrs, Connecticut. Nate Oats would make sense, however he has an $18 million buyout. Jay Wright would not appear too thinking about leaving TV to return to teaching. If these choices all fall via, Kentucky will not have an apparent goal. That stated, the Wildcats do not owe Calipari his $33 million buyout as a result of he left, in order that they have the monetary backing to buy groceries.

Borzello: There are enormous obstacles to rent many of the names who would theoretically be the highest targets. I do not suppose Dan Hurley would go from UConn to Kentucky, particularly if he wins one other nationwide title on Monday evening. Does Billy Donovan actually wish to coach in faculty once more? Does Jay Wright wish to coach in any respect once more? Nate Oats has an enormous buyout. T.J. Otzelberger has an enormous buyout. Tommy Lloyd simply signed a brand new contract. Bruce Pearl has had related NCAA event struggles in recent times. Scott Drew might be probably the most lifelike goal, and he simply turned down Louisville. Whether or not Kentucky can rent — or at the least attempt to rent — Drew will seemingly be decided by the buyout in Drew’s new deal.