CBS Sports’ ongoing series called Critical Coaches, where 100 coaches were polled, giving their opinions anonymously on certain questions about coaches in college basketball.
Today’s topic is [URL=”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/19767908/critical-coaches-who-is-perceived-to-be-the-biggest-cheater-in-the-sport”]”Who is perceived to be the biggest cheater in the sport?”[/URL]
Here is who made the list:
[LIST]
[*]John Calipari (Kentucky): 36 percent
[*]Scott Drew (Baylor): 34 percent
[*]Ben Howland (UCLA): 12 percent
[*]Jim Calhoun (Connecticut): 7 percent
[*]Tom Crean (Indiana): 3 percent
[*]Dave Rice (UNLV): 3 percent
[/LIST]
Surprise, surprise…John Calipari is at the top of the list.
I was hoping since these same supposed coaches also voted Calipari the most underrated that maybe there was a shot he wouldn’t make the list at all.
Here is one of the quotes that stuck about Calipari from an anonymous coach:
[QUOTE]
[B]On John Calipari:[/B][COLOR=#333333][FONT=arial] “Cal probably doesn’t have to cheat now as much as he used to, but he’s still the standard. The rest of us can’t even deal in his league. He’s the best.”
[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]
Gary Parrish also elaborated on the top 2 choices by the coaches.
[QUOTE][COLOR=#333333][FONT=arial]Or, if you’re Calipari or Drew, take offense — though after many conversations over the years with both men I don’t think either will be surprised to see their names at the top even if they’ll almost certainly find it frustrating. Calipari swears he does things the right way; Drew does, too. And it should be noted that neither has ever been charged with a major recruiting violation despite the fact that both men’s programs have been, at one time or another, thoroughly investigated by the NCAA.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=arial]
Still, coaches roll their eyes at Calipari and Drew.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=arial]
They just do.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[/QUOTE]
Until John Calipari is caught with his hand in the cookie jar, I guess all this will ever be is a perception.
