Tyreke Evans

[ChrisB60]

Apparently is going to be a Memphis Tiger.

Per, CNNsi.com

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080416_Source__Tyreke_Evans_likely_Memphis-bound.html

[TrueblueCATfan]

wasn't he suppose to sign with UL:shrug1:

[surveyor]

I'm guessing Louisville cooled on him following his publicized troubles.

Better he be in Memphis with the mafia don, anyways. :icon_lol:

[CatsFanUK2]

He choosing on ESPNU @ 3:30

[DCWildcat]

I think this is a bad choice for him skill-wise. He won't learn anything he doesn't already know.

[UK Fan via Memphis]

I'm guessing Louisville cooled on him following his publicized troubles.

Better he be in Memphis with the mafia don, anyways. :icon_lol:

Being an University of Memphis alum and a long-time UK fan, I felt the need to reply to all the apparent Memphis and Coach Cal blasting that I've been reading on this forum. I would guess that there's not a Kentucky fan anywhere out there who wouldn't be happy with the success that Coach Cal has had at Memphis the last three years. Also in regards to the so called "mafia don" at Memphis it is out of line and down right unfounded. Not only has Coach Cal done a great job coaching these guys on the floor and in practice at the game of basketball, but has achieved a lot more character wise than almost any coach in America could have achieved. A lot of the Memphis recruits probably would have fallen off and been in much more trouble at other schools, but under Coach Cal the only news worthy events you hear about is from the achievements on the court and in the classroom. Take a look at the graduation rate from the last four years and you will see guys who no one ever gave a chance to graduate who now have college degrees and a bright future ahead of them aside from basketball. So where many fans on here see a kid who makes a mistake while he is young and would never give him the time of UK day, Coach Cal and his staff see opportunity and have stood by their players and developed them into great basketball players as well as young men with solid character. It's time Kentucky fans stop turning their nose up at the success of others and give Coach Cal and Memphis their due.

[Louis Gossett Sr.]

Being an University of Memphis alum and a long-time UK fan, I felt the need to reply to all the apparent Memphis and Coach Cal blasting that I've been reading on this forum. I would guess that there's not a Kentucky fan anywhere out there who wouldn't be happy with the success that Coach Cal has had at Memphis the last three years. Also in regards to the so called "mafia don" at Memphis it is out of line and down right unfounded. Not only has Coach Cal done a great job coaching these guys on the floor and in practice at the game of basketball, but has achieved a lot more character wise than almost any coach in America could have achieved. A lot of the Memphis recruits probably would have fallen off and been in much more trouble at other schools, but under Coach Cal the only news worthy events you hear about is from the achievements on the court and in the classroom. Take a look at the graduation rate from the last four years and you will see guys who no one ever gave a chance to graduate who now have college degrees and a bright future ahead of them aside from basketball. So where many fans on here see a kid who makes a mistake while he is young and would never give him the time of UK day, Coach Cal and his staff see opportunity and have stood by their players and developed them into great basketball players as well as young men with solid character. It's time Kentucky fans stop turning their nose up at the success of others and give Coach Cal and Memphis their due.
Whoa, someone touched on a big huge nerve.

Not all UK fans turn their noses up at the success of others. I was one that was hoping for Coach Calipari to be our new coach before Billy came. I do, however, believe your screen name should be Memphis fan via Memphis. :icon_mrgreen:

[jkeller]

Count me as one that was not wishing for Calipari to come here. If you'll look closely at the successful seasons he's had, they've all happened while coaching in a one horse league in which his team was said horse. Before the mass C-USA defection to the Big East, his Memphis teams were perennial underachievers. Then suddenly, no Louisville, Marquette, Cincy, etc. and its no problem for Coach Cal to win 30 a year and stockpile talent for a system that allows them to do whatever they want because there's no real competition.

[UK Fan via Memphis]

Whoa, someone touched on a big huge nerve.

Not all UK fans turn their noses up at the success of others. I was one that was hoping for Coach Calipari to be our new coach before Billy came. I do, however, believe your screen name should be Memphis fan via Memphis. :icon_mrgreen:

I'll take the comment about the screen name as a compliment. I am a passionate fan of both teams and if anyone were to put down any of UK's coaches or players I would defend them in the same manner. I agree that not all UK fans turn their noses up at other teams, but it does touch on a nerve as you said when it does happen. Anyone that knows me however, knows that I'm a UK fan first and not the other way around. I was a Wildcat fan long before I went to The University of Memphis and will be decked out in Kentucky gear anytime the two teams meet. Go Cats!

[Art Vandelay]

UK Fan via Memphis, I appreciate your comments. I've always found the widespread disdain for Coach Cal among UK fans kind of puzzling.

I spend a lot of time in Memphis as a result of my Navy Reserve commitment. Coach Cal has won at Memphis and he's done it the right way, with no hint of cheating. He takes a lot of kids that come from troubled backgrounds and helps mold their character in positive ways. He doesn't have the ego of a Pitino and he and his players seem to keep things in perspective. In other words, they have fun playing baskektball.

If for some reason the Kentucky job were to open up at some point in the future, I would be happy to see Calipari coaching the Cats.

[westtncat]

I have no problem with coach cal no matter where he is but to be memphis fan and a UK fan? No way. That does not compute with me. Sorry

[Chuck Taylor]

Being an University of Memphis alum and a long-time UK fan, I felt the need to reply to all the apparent Memphis and Coach Cal blasting that I've been reading on this forum. I would guess that there's not a Kentucky fan anywhere out there who wouldn't be happy with the success that Coach Cal has had at Memphis the last three years. Also in regards to the so called "mafia don" at Memphis it is out of line and down right unfounded. Not only has Coach Cal done a great job coaching these guys on the floor and in practice at the game of basketball, but has achieved a lot more character wise than almost any coach in America could have achieved. A lot of the Memphis recruits probably would have fallen off and been in much more trouble at other schools, but under Coach Cal the only news worthy events you hear about is from the achievements on the court and in the classroom. Take a look at the graduation rate from the last four years and you will see guys who no one ever gave a chance to graduate who now have college degrees and a bright future ahead of them aside from basketball. So where many fans on here see a kid who makes a mistake while he is young and would never give him the time of UK day, Coach Cal and his staff see opportunity and have stood by their players and developed them into great basketball players as well as young men with solid character. It's time Kentucky fans stop turning their nose up at the success of others and give Coach Cal and Memphis their due.

Coach Cal and Memphis are winning games. I give them that.

When a coach has to say "his players are misunderstood" says a whole lot.

If Coach Cal ever does leave then maybe Bobby Thuggins could take over.

[Mountain Cat]

I suspect that Calipari is a cheater, and I would not want his sorry behind at UK.

[DCWildcat]

Is Cal a smart person? Absolutely
Is he a good basketball coach? Very much (particularly a good motivator)
Is he an excellent recruiter? As good as it gets

Does he knowingly break NCAA rules? He hasn't been found guilty of anything, so in my opinion there's no reason we should think he is. All we know of him are players we see and the occasional media bit. It's disingenuous for us to hold someone a cheater when we don't know a clue about him.

However, I still dislike him as a coach for other reasons. His offense bores me to tears tactically. His hair gel bothers me. Most importantly, 8 out of 12 of his players have been arrested in their times at Memphis, and none have been punished above the PR and NCAA-necessitated minimum. God knows what Allen must've done to earn a suspension for the whole Final Four.

He does have redeeming qualities (see the things I started with). And he stands up for his players in a very respectable way. If you were to apply the Kant standard--suppose he was every coach in college basketball--I wouldn't like it.