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[FONT=Tahoma]If I had a dollar for every [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Louisville[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] fan, negative journalist or picture of a person planking (okay, not really but planking?) that seems to be somewhat “up in arms” over Calipari’s extension, I’d be a rich girl. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]I read an article today where a long time newspaper journalist insinuated that it was useless to pay Calipari the money that the university is fronting for his extension. The comparison was made to Brad Stevens of [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Butler[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] and Shaka Smart of [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Virginia[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Commonwealth[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma], hinting that those guys don’t make nearly the money that Coach Cal does but they have been just as successful. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]Okay, I can see a twinge of a rational thought by comparing Brad Stevens but I don’t give an ounce of credit to the comparison of Smart. Sure Smart proved himself to be a great coach with an unbelievable NCAA run this season, but his overall resume, let alone that of VCU, does not compare. So let’s go ahead and drop him out of this equation. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]Now we are left with Brad Stevens. Stevens has amazingly taken his Butler Bulldogs to two national title games in a row. That is an amazing feat for any team, let alone a so-called “mid-major” such as [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Butler[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]. This [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Butler[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] team that has shined over the last two post seasons wasn’t a normal mid-major squad. They were a team with senior leadership, exceptional talent that seemed to fly under the radar, and team chemistry. Those qualities are hard to find year in and year out yet [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Butler[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] seemed to make it happen. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]Don’t get me wrong, I think Brad Stevens is the next big thing in college basketball, and within a few years he will probably be the head coach of a big time program. What bothers me is the insinuation that Stevens is doing it with less money and less advantage than that of Calipari. I want to see what this year’s [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Butler[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] team does after losing Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard. Will they be ready for another NCAA tourney run? No, I highly doubt it. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]Yes, what Stevens has done over the last several years and what Shaka Smart did in his post season run last year was above and beyond what was expected for teams of that caliber. Does it mean that all college programs should lower their coach’s salary and therefore they will have the same success? No. It simply means these men had great players and great runs at the perfect time. It has yet to be proven that it will be consistently great over several seasons. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]Once that is proven, and [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]Butler[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] has 7 banners, come see me and I’ll eat my words. [/FONT]
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