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Calipari to Kentucky?

By Mike Rutherford

This is going to be hard for me to admit, but I'm on the same page as Katman 2000: I want Tubby Smith out of Lexington.

The difference is Katman wants him gone because he hates him, and I want him gone because I don't hate him enough.

I've tried and I've tried, but I can't get past the fact that Tubby Smith seems to be a truly good human being, and knowing this takes away an ever so small portion of the perverted pleasure I get from watching Kentucky lose. Don't get me wrong I will never, never cheer for the Cats, but when I feel even the slightest bit of pity for them after a loss it means that something needs to change.

Needless to say I was beyond ecstatic when I saw this piece from the Mobile Press-Register saying that John Calipari has been contacted and questioned about his interest in the UK job.

Should Tubby Smith decide he's had enough of the bear that is the Kentucky basketball job, don't be surprised if UK goes hard after Memphis coach John Calipari.

A source close to Calipari said Friday that an intermediary has already contacted Calipari to gauge his interest in the Wildcats' post, should it open after the season.

Calipari flirted with the North Carolina State job last spring before deciding to remain in Memphis. Calipari, who has had previous head-coaching stints at Massachusetts and with the NBA's New Jersey Nets, is also considered a target of interest if the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies make a change after the season. The Grizzlies hired Tony Barone as their interim head coach on Dec. 28, 2006.

Considering my lust for loathing, here are my top five coaches who I'd love to see take over at UahKay:

  1. Tom Crean
  2. John Calipari
  3. Billy Donovan
  4. Bob Huggins
  5. Bobby Knight
If this list had been devised six or seven years ago then Knight and Huggins would have been one and two, but now they're both in the Big 12 which makes it seem like (even if it's not true) that they don't care anymore, and beating someone who has lost a lot of their passion just isn't as fun.

Crean, Calipari and Donovan would all bring an "I will not stop until this program is the greatest in the history of mankind" mentality to Lexington, and since I despise all of them already it would make each a perfect fit.

Let's do this Mitch, drain the Tub so I can hate with peace of mind. While you're at it, Rich Brooks seems far too nice so I'm going to need you to get Schiano or Fulmer on the sidelines of Commonwealth ASAP.

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