Texas is currently the No. 1 team in the country until the new poll comes out and with Kentucky rolling through Arkansas,they will be on top of the polls. I don't have a problem with fans loving their school and thinking they are the best but I wonder at what cost do fans look past the character of players and coaches in order to have another banner raised in their gym?
The Salesman
Everywhere John Calipari has been the school or team has been left in worse shape than when before he got there. While at UMass, Marcus Camby received payments from an agent and the schools only Final four appearance was vacated. Calipari said he knew nothing about the payments but others feel otherwise. At Memphis, the school had to vacate all the wins in its most recent Final four run because of ineligible players as well as other wrongdoings by the school. Calipari drug out his leaving for the University of Kentucky by waiting several days to announce it. During his wait, he called all the recruits that were committed to Memphis and informed them he was leaving for Kentucky. The nations number one class fell apart, some went to Kentucky with John because of his promises. I don't fault him for going to Kentucky, he has a chance to be at a major university and compete with the big boys. The problem I have with him is that when he talks he is constantly selling himself and not the program. Its like listening to a used car salesman when he speaks and his actions seem to follow a car salesmen.Kentucky fans are all giddy that they have Calipari and his recruits, but in the end the school will probably have to vacate wins and any banners they get. Is it all the drama worth it to Wildcat Nation? They believe so.
The Un-Wildcats
John Wall and Demarcus Cousins are talented basketball players. Wall will be the number 1 pick in the NBA draft and probably could have skipped college. Cousins has decent size and some team will take a chance on him in the lottery. When I watch them play and what I believe will be the downfall of this Kentucky team is that these two guys play for themselves and not the team. On top of that, they both carry a lot of baggage. Wall has an arrest on his record and is not very disciplined. If you want to know about his character this says a lot. Roy Williams, coach of UNC did not recruit him and Wall lived in North Carolina. Duke was listed as a team that Wall was interested in but the school did not entertain him playing there even though they had a need at point guard. Some of the top schools stayed away because of Wall's flash. A lot of flash but not a lot of substance. Cousins is a kid who has been hyped and hyped and truly just thinks he is above reproach. You can tell Cousins doesn't respect other people or coaches for that matter. I saw the Wildcats first game and Cousins was out of position on a few plays and then got two quick fouls. Cal pulled him from the game and Cousins started yelling at his coach and then pouted as he sat on the bench. The look on Calipari's face was what that of what have I gotten myself into. A coach's job is to try and help and improve a player. Cousins thinks he knows it all and is not teachable. In their rivalry game against Louisville, on a loose ball Cousins threw an elbow at an opposing player and didn't get caught. He should have been kicked out of the game and suspended by the league, but nothing happen to him. You need to play with and edge and a little swagger but these kids can cross the line at times and it becomes arrogance. Wildcat fans love Big Blue and want the program back on top of college basketball.
Memphis should be happy the don't have to deal with all the hype. At the end of the day, I would rather have a team full of guys that have good character than a tainted championship.
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