Many fans will not want to hear this but it will not be easy to replace John Calipari at Kentucky.
Many folks have their eyes on the likes of Jay Wright, Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan but it’s highly unlikely we see any of them on the UK sidelines next season.
Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News has put together a list of Kentucky’s best (and most realistic) coaching candidates.
Here is an excerpt:
1. Mark Pope, BYU head coach
Kentucky has produced some magical players through the past few decades, but only a few who became coaches, fewer still who took charge of high-major programs. But here is Pope, a key member of the greatest team in college basketball’s modern era, working and winning at a high level.
In his fifth season as Cougars head coach, but the first in the Big 12 Conference, Pope led BYU to a 23-11 finish and No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. BYU has won at least 19 games each year Pope has been in charge, and he’s gotten to the 20-win mark six of the last seven years, including his time at Southern Utah.
2. Sean Miller, Xavier head coach
It can be too easy to overlook how outstanding Miller is as a coach because he never has reached a Final Four. But let’s hope the Matt Painter experience has taught everyone something. You may not be a Final Four coach until you win the four consecutive games that get you there, but that doesn’t mean you’re not terrific.
Miller has reached the Sweet 16 seven times 12 career NCAA appearances. Considering five of those appearances came at Xavier, and four of those were when the Musketeers were in the Atlantic 10, that’s an excellent record.
Miller loves his circumstance at Xavier, but this is a call he could not decline.
3. Rick Pitino, St. John’s head coach
If Pitino were 61 and not 71, the deal might be done by Monday morning. In this case, there might be others to consider, but he’s one of the few people equipped to do the job on every level.
4. Lamont Paris, South Carolina head coach
Paris re-upped at South Carolina when it seemed like he might be able to leverage his success this season with the Gamecocks into something better. But who knew there’d be a position opened that would be this much better?
