There is technically, reality, and vacated.
Technically, John Calipari is not listed in the NCAA letter alleging major violations against the University of Memphis basketball program, including “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on the SAT of a player, believed to be Derrick Rose. The NCAA has enough evidence to think that something untoward happened on Rose’s test. It does not have evidence to suggest that Calipari, now Kentucky’s coach, had knowledge of or anything to do with whatever it thinks happened on that test.
But the reality is that this story, a major story about major NCAA violations — academic fraud always ranks at or near the top — feeds into the long-held perception by many that if Calipari is not a cheater, he at least skirts the rules, doing it well enough to get great players and not get caught at whatever he does to get great players.
Consider these comments from the Twitter community:
- What? John Calipari’s sketchy? No way!
- “Even though I’m not at risk, I will fully cooperate with the NCAA hearing,” Calipari said in statement. can you say ‘got out of dodge?’
- Not surprised about Calipari.
- Not a surprised that Calipari cheated at Memphis.
- Calipari dirty!!!!!! I’m shocked
And, as Stephen Bishop sang, on, and on, and on.
Then there’s this: If the NCAA finds Memphis guilty, the Tigers will surely have their 2008 NCAA Final Four appearance vacated, making Calipari the first coach to have two separate Final Four appearances at two separate schools vacated.
Technically, Calipari was not named in either the Umass case of 1996, or this case with Memphis.
But “vacated” is never a good thing to have on your record.
Here, now, the story shifts to Kentucky.
Did Mitch Barnhart and Lee Todd know about the NCAA letter, dated Jan. 16, when they hired Calipari on April 1? At the time of Calipari’s hiring, the university said it checked with the NCAA extensively about Calipari’s record and was satisfied there were no problems. But did the NCAA give out details of the pending investigation? When interviewed for the job, did Calipari inform Barnhart and Todd what was coming?
If so, did UK, a school whose basketball program has been on probation numerous times, decide that this was all no big deal? Or was last night’s news as big a surprise to the Big Blue powers-that-be as it was to the rest of the basketball world.
Memphis apparently thought it was no big deal. The school was informed last September that the NCAA had information questioning Rose’s test. It received the official letter in January. Yet it still entered into a bidding war with Kentucky to keep Calipari as coach.
That, too, is reality.
I thought that Todd and Barnhart had looked into all of this and assured us there was no baggage following Calipari. Another bang up job Mitch. I am blown away by his recruiting work he has done for UK, but would not a safe ascent with Travis Ford been better in the long term when everyone’s common sense told them this was a danger. All we need is to bring back the idea that when UK wins UK cheats.
Travis Ford? He’s a jerk, and even more, he’s a mediocre coach who would not win at UK. Even if he were to become a good coach someday, it will take years…years of the Kentucky program continued to be run into the ground and being ok with ncaa appearances and not final fours. Give me a break!