The House of Blue

Cal will be back, more great players will roll into Lexington, and UK will win another championship in the near future. So it is written...

May be a reason to hope they win it if the Celtics don't. So they keep Spolestra (sp?)

...so shall it be done ". :) !!!

I don't know there something in side of me telling me that Cal will one day be back in the NBA. When? I don't know, But I think he does want another shot. Plus he has to put up with the recruiting violation accusations and past BS every year. In the NBA all that goes away. If NY Knicks have an opening one day I wouldnt be surprised to see him at least look into and take a shot at it. He loves NYC and he loves being in the spotlight, and there is no bigger spot light than New York.

I think that if Cal wanted back in the league, he could have done so directly from Memphis. He didn't need to come to UK to get a boost. I believe that he is where he wants to be, for several reasons. First, he is well paid to be a college coach. Second, in just two years, he has taken UK from the downhill slide to nowhere, to the top of the mountain, again. He sees the fan support that this program has, and the media attention that it commands. As Pitino once said, this is Camelot, and Cal realizes that this job is bigger than even he realized when he took it. Last, he has tried the pros once, and had to deal with the egos, the front office, and the media. You think that Tipton, Goodman, and the like are tough, the local NY media really goes after a coach that they deem, "underperforming." One trip back to the pros, that is unsuccessful, and there is no guarantee that he would be successful, and his legacy is ruined, two failed trips to the pros, and two vacated final fours. If he stays at UK, he will win a championship, or two, and be remembered as a great coach. With the recruiting class that he has coming in, and the relationship he has with these kids, like Gilchrist, he is not going anywhere.

Pretty sure he might take the lakers job if they want him just my opinion though. To take over that team would be easy they are loaded and ready to contend. Id be very suprised if they want him though so I truly don't expect him to leave

He might be tempted, but part of Cal's greatness, as a college coach, is his ability to recruit. In the pros, it is strictly coaching, and I am not saying Cal is not a good x and o guy, but to succeed at that level he has to deal with the egos of players who make 3 or 4 times what he does. Plus, his talent and chemistry are usually dictated by the GM, not him. He has to play with the hand that is dealt him, whereas at UK, he goes out and gets what he needs. I just think that he realizes what his strengths are and remains a college coach. He was born to coach the college game, just like, heaven forgive me for saying this, Coach K.

I agree with this. One thing I would add and I think it's the biggest reason Cal stays at UK for a while. He knows he's at the top of the food chain as far as college basketball is concerned at Kentucky. He lost 5 underclassmen (4 freshmen) his 1st season and followed that up with a trip to the final four playing almost a completely different style. Yes it's all pretty much based around the DDM offense but we were more perimeter oriented this year than last. I think he understands that it's just a matter of time before he has the right combination of shooting from the perimeter and power in the interior. Then he might go on a run like we had in the late 90's.

All this would ultimately lead to his greatest desire in my mind; legitimacy and Hall of Fame credentials. He wants to escape and put to bed all the naysayers about his vacated Final Fours and inability to win the big one with such annual inexperience due to players leaving. He can earn a lot of respect back by staying at a place like Kentucky, winning a few championships, and not having any NCAA violations trailing him.

He practically can now pick and choose among the elite of the elite prospects in the country year in and year out and starting next year those elite players will start to blend with more experienced and talented players who haven't left after one or two years. He knows now that he can sustain what he's accomplished the first two years at Kentucky for an extended period of time which would then merit alot of the media's opinions about him changing. Some of their opinions will never be changed but the proof would be in everything he ultimately achieves at UK which would be alot if he stays.

If he bolts for the NBA this summer or before he wins a championshp or numerous final four trips he'll have the same baggage following along with him. The perception most people have of him will be cemented no matter what he achieves at the NBA level. I look for Cal to stay for a while and maybe even retiring from Kentucky.

Cal may or may not take another shot in the NBA, but I have a hard time believing he would leave before winning a NC here or at least giving it four or five years, especially with the classes he keeps bringing in...

Oscar Combs said on twitter he thinks Cal will go back to the NBA but it will be "2-3 more years." Not sure if he's heard that from someone close or just guessing. I like listening to his stories of the good old days but he doesn't strike me as super plugged into the day to day of the program.

I hope Cal is here for a long time, but the way he goes he has to burn out eventually. I really think he wants a national championship though and I think he'll win one before he leaves Lexington.

I think you are correct. I could see him walking away after winning a title or going to the NBA..but I think he gives it his best shot to bring some hardware home and get the monkey off his back. Next year is as good a time as any.

Yep, He will def be back next year.