John Clay's Sidelines

Three notes from John Calipari’s meeting with media before Kentucky takes on Austin Peay on Saturday at Rupp Arena:

• 1. Before Calipari met with the media, UK sports information director DeWayne Peevy told the media that Calipari would address Bob Knight’s comments from the night before. But Peevey wanted to “clear up” a couple of items of misinformation. He said that UMass was never on probation after Calipari coached there. And that the NCAA ruling on Memphis is under appeal.

• 2. When Calipari did meet with us, he tried as best he could to shrug off Knight’s comments. He said that he and his staff even went to Lubbock and spent time at a Texas Tech practice and how helpful that experience turned out to be. He talked about his respect for Knight and his coaching accomplishments. It was a “take the high road” response with a dash of “he’s been nice to me” thrown in.

• 3. Cal was asked a couple of Kngiht follow-ups and deflected both with a quick “next question.” He spent the rest of the time talking about how Saturday would be a tough game, and how badly his team has practiced this week. The team backed that up by saying one day Calipari allowed them to practice as a group on their own, without the head coach’s supervision. It didn’t get so well. Josh Harrellson said the team “went wild.” When Calipari saw the tape he hit the roof. On a scale of 1-10, Calipari’s anger was a “10,” said Eric Bledsoe. (That might have been Calipari’s real reaction to Knight’s comments, but he ain’t saying.)

Here are the videos:

Update: Gary Parrish says this is the way it’s going to be for UK fans. Get used to it.

Some Twitter reaction on the Bob Knight-John Calipari throwdown:

• @Bo memiles86er: “bob knight gets punished for his coaching style, the schools coach cal coaches get punished and cal gets off the hook” (mike and mike)

• @thskidmore: Good for Bobby Knight. I love that he called out John Calipari. NCAA should punish coaches like Calipari for rules that the coaches broke!

• @jschlitt: Bobby Knight called out John Calipari for having to vacate two Final Fours? He’s now my favorite person on ESPN not named Erin Andrews.

• @radar1408: @GreenyAndGolic really, Bobby knight questioning somone’s integrity(John calipari). He’s at least made me laugh 2day

• @PaulKatcher: Bobby Knight chides John Calipari in speech. And he’s right. Coach Cal illuminates the hypocrisy that is college hoops http://bit.ly/7LOIPC (expand)

• @VanillaVelvet: is wow… Bob Knight said Calipari doesnt have integrity.. i guess Calipari has to choke players and throw chairs to get integrity!!

• @petekoutoulas: Bobby Knight blasts John Calipari’s “lack of integrity.” My granny would say that’s like the pot calling the kettle black.

Continue reading ‘Twitter reaction to Knight calling out Calipari’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

In case you missed it, Michael Marot of AP on Bob Knight knocking John Calipari: “‘We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching,’ he said. ‘You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky (John Calipari), who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.’”

Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger on Knight’s cheap shot: “There was a time when I had some respect for then Indiana coach Bob Knight, but not now.”

USA Today asks if Knight is really a good messenger: “Many people will applaud Knight for his honesty both during his career and in his assessment of the game’s present state. During the speech the Hall of Famer also criticized the NCAA and players who don’t attend class. But there are others who feel that Knight cheap-shoted Calipari and that the problems at Memphis and Massachusetts should not all be laid at his door.”

Kentucky Sports Radio on Bob’s blast: “Interestingly enough, his point regarding the questionable integrity of college basketball could have been better made had he said the last two national champions were a team on probation (Kansas) and a coach (Roy Williams) partially responsible for them being there. But, Calipari continues to be a convenient scapegoat a la BTI.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Reaction to Bob Knight’s “cheap” shot at Calipari’

(AP photo/Tom Strickland)

Update: Here’s story from the Chicago Tribune news service.

This is just over the wire via AP from Bob Knight’s talk at a fundraiser for the Indiana Hall of Fame.

The ex-IU coach took a shot at John Calipari.

Excerpt:

“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching,” he said. “You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”

Here’s Michael Marot’s full story from the AP on Knight’s speech.

(Hat tip to Mary Jo Perino and WLEX’s sportscast.)

College hoops links for Friday:

• ESPN.com’s Pat Forde writes on Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio. Forde: ” Between flaps, Prosser is probably telling everyone that he knew Gaudio could do this. He knew Gaudio could coach at the highest level of college basketball, if he finally got a chance at a place where winning isn’t impossible. The tragedy is that Skip Prosser had to die for his friend to get that chance. The healing postscript is what Dino Gaudio is doing with that opportunity.”

• At FoxSports.com, Ian O’Connor tells Bob to call it a Knight. O’Connor: “Knight isn’t just a dinosaur; he’s an angry dinosaur. Any college administrator who wants to scare off America’s blue-chip recruits by hiring Knight would gain rock-star popularity in the homes of rival coaches, athletic directors and chancellors desperately seeking a competitive edge.”

• In USA Today, Sal Ruibal writes that Gary Williams has hit rough waters at Maryland. Ruibal: “But now, with his team’s mediocre 14-8 record after Tuesday night’s 108-91 loss at North Carolina, “Garyland” is not a happy place. The Terps are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in the past five years and the “halo effect” of his championship season is fading. Williams is not the first coach with championship credentials to face hard times, just the most recent.”

• In the Cincinnati Enqurier, Shannon Russell reports on Xavier’s continuing roll. Russell: “Raymond’s stellar defense and perimeter fireworks were major forces behind No. 9 Xavier’s 21st straight home-court win over an A-10 foe. The Musketeers’ depth and intensity on both ends of the court paved the way for an 83-74 victory over Temple Thursday at Cintas Center. Raymond scored 24 points and made five 3-pointers. Derrick Brown chipped in 13 points and a team-best eight rebounds, Jason Love added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Brad Redford contributed 12 points for the Musketeers (20-2, 8-0 A-10).”

• At SportingNews.com, Daniel Blocks looks at the national over and underachievers. Blank: “Tennessee and Arkansas squared off for this designation Wednesday, and the Razorbacks (13-7, 1-6) get the nod after losing in Fayetteville. While the Vols aren’t playing at the level expected of them in the preseason, they’re at least starting to hoard league wins. Not much was expected of the Hogs until they beat Texas and Oklahoma (still the only team to do so) in the span of a week. In early January, Arkansas was considered a contender for the league crown. But the young Razorbacks have collapsed in league play, with their only win coming against Alabama following Mark Gottfried’s departure. The only way Arkansas gets into the tournament now is with four wins in Tampa.”

Continue reading ‘HL: Dino, Knight the dinosaur, and underachievers’

Updated at 8:20 a.m. with Kevin Brockway link with Donovan’s thoughts on Knight.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Georgia would be foolish to hire Bob Knight.
• Also in the AJC, others say Knight would be a good fit in Athens.
• At CBS Sportsline, Gary Parrish writes that Georgia should avoid bad recruiter Knight.
• Dick “Hoops” Weiss  of the New York Daily News believes Georgia should pass on The General.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun has Billy Donovan’s thoughts on Knight.
• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen reports that Bruce Pearl believes now that Tennessee’s non-conference schedule was too tough.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Dan Fleser reports on Oklahoma’s win over the Lady Vols, denying Pat Summitt her 1,000th win. For now.
• The Clarion-Ledger reports on a video that shows the arrest of Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy.
• In The State, Ron Morris writes that confidence is helping South Carolina basketball.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports on the Alabama coaching search.
• In his SEC blog for ESPN, Chris Low reports that LSU is atop the national football recruiting rankings.
• In the Birmingham News, Ray Melick writes that nothing is certain in recruiting until the name is on the dotted line.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu writes that Florida needs a strong finish to secure a Top 10 class.

SEC links for Sunday:

• In the AJC, Furman Bisher writes that Bob Knight is interested in Georgia job.
• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen reports on Tennessee’s lopsided win over Florida.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes on Florida’s loss in Knoxville.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Strange writes that Tennessee fits in absolutely nuts SEC.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith reports on the Volunteer win.
• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Wally Hall writes that Arkansas’ cameo couldn’t spoil LSU’s win.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, columnist Rick Cleveland writes on Ole Miss’ win over Mississippi State.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Vandy catches Auburn napping.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Gentry Estes reports on Alabams’s win in the battle of the interim coaches.
• In the Birmingham News, Kevin Scarbinsky writes on football madness.