Some folks would have you believe that John Calipari just recruits a bunch of star freshmen each season, throws them a few basketballs in practice and watches them win.
It turns out that Calipari can actually coach the game of basketball, too.
SI.com conducted a study that illustrates how Coach Cal is more than just a talent scout.
The study looked at which coaches are the best at building elite offenses based on the following criteria:
We operated under a theory that there are five quantifiable components of college offense building.
1. Recruiting for Instant Impact: Bringing in freshmen or transfers talented enough to boost the offense in Year 1.
2. Recruiting for the Future: Players who will make their biggest impact in Years 2, 3 and 4.
3. Talent Retention: Having valuable players put the NBA draft on hold longer than expected—and avoiding transfers.
4. In-Season Development and Optimal Deployment: Having players exceed their projected performance (based on past stats and recruiting rankings) on a year-to-year basis, and structuring an offense so that the best players take the most shots.
5. Future Development and Succession Planning: Using rotation spots to groom younger (and often underrated) players who will remain at the school and assume bigger roles following key departures.
Here’s a look at the top 16 coaches in college basketball when it comes to Building Elite Offenses:
In case you are wondering, since he’s not in the top 16, Rick Pitino ranks No. 31 on the list.
