ESPN had four of its writers break down the four coaches in the Final Four this year, Eamonn Brennan wrote about Coach Cal and here is what he had to say.
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][I]It ain’t easy being John Calipari.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][I]Oh, I know: Every coach in the country would volunteer his left pinkie for the star-studded lineup Calipari assembled this season, a glittering collection of NBA lottery talent. And most coaches would love to be the Official Governor of Big Blue Nation, spurred on by the devoted love of a state full of dedicated basketball maniacs. Calipari sits atop one of the few thrones in the sport, and he has worn the crown with style and pomp. Life in the Commonwealth is most definitely good.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][I]But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][I]In fact, the advantages of Calipari’s job can frequently double as its drawbacks. That insane talent only raises expectations, expectations which create in fans not hope but demands: win or else. Every move on this team is scrutinized by a local media corps year-round, 24/7, 365. The position Calipari has put himself in with this team is enviable, sure, but it is also tenuous; there is absolutely no margin for error.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][I]Which only makes the coaching job he’s done this season all the more impressive. First, Calipari had to assemble this juggernaut (recruiting is often overlooked in coach-of-the-year discussions, but why?). Then, he had to solder disparate talented parts — the kind of top-end AAU stars who might easily bristle against diminished roles — into a basketball team even better than the sum of its parts. Then, he had to guide that team through the maelstrom that is basketball season in Kentucky, particularly a basketball season in which nothing but a national title can be considered a success.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][I]The Wildcats are very nearly there. Does Calipari have the best talent in the country? No question. Are Calipari’s problems of the high-class variety? Oh yeah. But high-class problems are still problems, and no coach in the country — through the media, through point-perfect long-view guidance, through in-season adjustments designed to maximize each player’s ability — manages them better than the Governor of BBN.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][I]Sure, sure: Saying Calipari’s job is hard is like saying driving a Maserati is too stressful. But the driver still has to hit his turns, and Coach Cal hasn’t missed one.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
For the rest of the article, click [URL=”http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/hot?id=7737660″]here[/URL].
