The Weak in Review: The John Calipari Edition

And then, reality arrived on Saturday evening in the form of the West Virginia Mountaineers.  This is not to discredit the efforts of the masterfully-coached West Virginia team.  They are a talented bunch that really get after it on the defensive end.  Their coach is probably one of the 10 best in college basketball.  They play aggressive, and they play tough.

However, they also don't have five future NBA lottery picks on their roster.  In fact, they probably don't even have one.  If you don't follow the NBA draft, superstar Kentucky PG John Wall is the consensus top pick in this year's draft.  Shortly thereafter, C Demarcus Cousins is supposed to be taken in the top 5.  Furthermore, PF Patrick Patterson and PG Eric Bledsoe are expected to be lottery picks as well.  Finally, freshman PF Daniel Orton, who didn't even start, is projected by some to the lottery based on his physical tools alone. 

So, Mr. Calipari, with all that NBA talent you managed to get into the Elite Eight with an easy draw.  Let's be honest, your two first round matchups were no-contests from the beginning and when Cornell pulled a couple of upsets it became glaringly obvious you would roll on into the Elite Eight.  Sure, you did it impressively.  But that isn't surprising.  What would have been surprising is if you struggled against those teams.

I feel foolish for falling for your trap, Mr. Calipari.  I feel foolish for forgetting that while you're an A+ recruiter (or as the Beatles would sing it), you're a C- minus coach.  Need we drum up your team's performance in the 2008 National Championship?  Your Memphis Tigers were firmly in control of that game and just minutes from a title when your lead eroded and your team missed free throw after free throw after free throw, even giving one of your biggest fans material for the ESPYs.

Not surprisingly, the same problems plagued your team this season.  You've hardly learned from your mistakes.  Its as if you believed that stacking your roster with enough talent could surely overcome your absolutely pathetic inability to make adjustments and teach your players basic fundamentals.  That's weak, Mr. Calipari, weak.

So why did I, and lots of other people, buy into the hype?  Because your players looked good doing it.  When John Wall raced from baseline to baseline in less than four seconds, we watched in awe.  When Demarcus Cousins banged another undersized defender out of the way for another rebound, we marveled.  When Eric Bledsoe went Steve Kerr in the first round, we were dazzled.  And there you were all along, doing as much as me or any other fan... just watching and appreciating, while Bob Huggins was coaching you out the gym.