Stephen A. & Shannon Sharpe are SHOCKED John Calipari is leaving Kentucky for Arkansas | First Take 

Jimbo Fi$$$her stayed!

Perfectly said

Jimbo’s teams would be championship material if their schedule was simply 12 home games vs Bama

I think his way of recruiting wasn’t working. He tried to mix and match but he couldn’t do it right because he can’t coach very well. Can recruit the best but can’t put great teams together

Cal was loved in KY , but people hated the one and done . All he had to do was vocally say , “ I’m going to start asking for more of a commitment from my recruits” and it would have reassured a lot of people . Instead he doubled down and started looking around when Mitch asked him about it . Mitch had already confirmed Cal was coming back to UK . The pressure started getting to him and he took a way out with a check attached

Yeah, the bigger issue is that the NBA and college ball haven't been aligned in over 15 years. Most top recruits only stay for a year and then leave. And we've seen that teams made up mostly of freshmen rarely win it all or even go that far in the Tournament. And I think that's why interest in men's college basketball has decreased. It's hard to get excited about the top players when you know that their careers are essentially over at college.

That was his recruiting pitch to get young black athletes (not student-athletes, athletes) to sign their NLIs for Kentucky. He only won a national championship because that team's chemistry clicked from day one. Everywhere else he's been, he's come up short and left those programs on NCAA probation (which is impossible now since you can pay players legally). I got behind Northwestern and Yale this NCAA tournament because their coaches built their teams the right way.

if you ask the youngsters playing - that is THE job. Arkansas might have just hit the lottery.

At the end of the day. Any man capable of turning young men into millionaires is more of an achievement that a national championship. He could have influenced many guys to stay but he told them to go take care of their families and go to the league. He also got many of his players jobs in the realm of basketball if they didn’t make NBA. It’s more building successful lives for his players and not about himself. That is a accomplishment, not something he should be criticized for.

@@ZenigundamLOL

Malik monk was a problem in college. He still holds the Kentucky scoring record

Monk was better than fox at UK. Fox killed lonzo in sweet 16 but monk almost pushed them in the final 4. Also that game vs unc in December, monk killed the tarholes

@@davidlax5067 but they’re basing the credibility off what the players have done e in the league. Malik didn’t even get a second contract with the team that drafted him.

@JitoTantrum he went to the hornets. Except lamelo I don't remember a rookie getting a 2nd contract with them. Also there's just so many players that played for cal that ofcourse youll remember the first ones who got there, hence wall, cousins, ad

Fox, Bam, and Monk on one team...that team was legit. Refs killed then in the first half of that Elite 8 game against UNC though, so I don't really blame Cal for that one.

5 years nothing that’s not lately

They won’t say this about Iowa losing back to back championship games

Idk why he gotta scream in everything he says

​@MrMumblez32 dude it's Iowa!

I think he has a valid point but with Cal leaving I gotta think that’d probably lessen the appeal of Kentucky. Which would mean less high profile prospects.

That’s what we’re saying here at Kentucky

Player go there to get to the league.. Coach cal was getting players in the league…that’s the point of going to Kentucky

@@ljayydagoat7113Facts people don’t get or understand that. Recruits parents love him and trust him with their kids. When he’s with his guys on draft day he’s so happy to see them get to their nba dreams

If he didn’t win at all. Y’all would complain that he can’t win at least one. If he won two y’all would still complain that he didn’t win more

@@user-ud2nz4wo2b I actually wouldn’t care idk Kentucky sucks and it’s mainly because of him the guy you like

Yeah we though that was the answer too. Kind of got tired of new players every year. I hope it works out for you all he’s a great dude. No longer a good fit here.

@@fotografiasromero I mean you can't deny the success Cal has had and how he put the spotlight back on UK.

NIL has changed the landscape of College Basketball... You don't need to go to a major program to get paid anymore. We will see if players are gonna go to Arkansas for Coach Cal.

All the top recruits and no significant wins. Good job

News flash, that doesn’t matter anymore. In the past 4 years, cal brought us more than 10 guys that are playing in the nba right now and still couldn’t take us past the first round. Cal isn’t worried about winning anymore, he wants to go to Arkansas and cruise out his final coaching years. He’s not taking you guys anywhere I promise 😂😂

😂😂😂😂🎉

How?

Great hire that’s how!

We did?? Coach Muss took us further in the tourney these last few years than calipari took Kentucky

Now your team will be top 5 preseason and miss the tournament or lose first round.

They were mentioning players Calipari sent to high rank NBA positions....Pay attention son....don't worry, I have ADHD and forgot Tubby smith (which the fans...me being one, couldn't stand his slow game) getting to 3 or 4 final fours???? God Bless

Agreed!

The reason we are so passionate is because in Arkansas, the Razorbacks are all we got!😂 In Arkansas, there’s no pro sports teams and there’s not even another major division 1 college! We have an entire state coming together in our love for one team! We’ve been underrated in athletics for a long time now, cal about to remind everybody what Arkansas is capable of! Respect to you for the recognition!

@@Hogsby90 literally we have no big artists like other states so we love sports even harder. people act like we didnt beat purdue duke and gonzaga when they had GUARENTEED draft picks

Are you really trying to convince me that you're afraid of Cal after the last 5 years. Oakland wasn't, the peacocks weren't, twice laughed at by k state. Easiest coach to game plan on, he NEVER changes anything. Just run a zone and watch him crumble because he never teaches or practices a zone so he can't attack one and rarely has shooters. This year he had more shooters than ever and he refused to play them together lmfao ultimately pathetic all because he just had to Star his guys Wagner Edwards and Bradshaw no matter what. Arkansas fans are going to hate life when they KNOW for a fact the players that can win a game are sitting because the freshmen get the undeserving playtime while they are so weak they can't hold ground or hit a shot. He will shove the failure down your throat over and over and never adapt or change. I could go on and on it's atrocious. Without the looming NBA lockout and a senior KY Mr basketball he didn't recruit, along with a generational talent in Davis as well as Gilchrist he wouldn't have one title. He even tried to slow them down but they played on and won in spite of him against his horrifying stall ball habit at the end of games, like that 2015 game that proved he can't win with an all MBA team against a college foe, because he didn't and couldn't switch up anything. Facts don't lie.

Not with todays kids, they don't want a preacher.

@@NPAMike a preacher that like strippers

lol jay is flip flop type of dude you don’t know what type of answer you’re going to get

he’s a duke guy he wants to keep Kentucky down and out

@@tigerhoods7927i know every time hes gonna give a bs argument. guys an absolute moron

You do realize it's entertainment one person has to take the opposite side of the argument or there is no show

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 you’re drunk lil bro

Exactly

A lot of great coach’s like Saban just said the heck with this and retired.

NIL was not the problem but go off the value of the UK roster is around 5 million dollars. “oh it’s NIL and the portal” no it’s not the blue bloods carry the most NIL money causals 😂

@@scruffd0g193Saban is old and wants to enjoy life. keep thinking he left because of NIL

Most definitely UNDERACHIEVED at The University of Kentucky 😂😂😂😂 and I’ve been a fan of Calipari since he had D. Rose and that squad at Memphis

I think you’re forgetting how BAD Kentucky was before he got there. Watch how he’ll flip Arkansas’ future because if anything, Calipari is gonna have a great recruiting class. Kentucky was TRASH with Gillespie & Tubby didn’t have a tremendous amount of success for some years before he was gone too

I mean he does have a national championship not like any coach since Rupp done much Tubby Smith won 1 but he had some down years as well

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!

@@gregorydunston2952 Tubby Smith won a championship and got fired for much less compared to Johnny boy Calipari. Billy was a swing and a miss and is long gone and a bad hire by Mitch

They don’t know. They thinking about football I guess 😂

I'd say tennessee is second best job but Arkansas is a scrappy team always

@@dennismorris106 Arkansas has six Final Fours. Tennessee has zero.

Was that not Tennessee's first ever elite 8? So how would Tennessee be the 2nd best job in the SEC?@@dennismorris106

@@dennismorris106Arkansas is definitely a better program than Tennessee

Nah champions classic in 2015 UK beat Duke but that was the only time

The Murray-Ulis team in 2015-16 beat them, but that was the only time and both teams weren't that good that year

Bruh lmao.

I think the biggest part is 1st round exits to small schools. It happened too many times with Cal

Facts 💯

Kentucky has had loads of NBA players.

You spitting but MSU isn’t held in the same regard as UK ngl

Brah ain’t won a Natty since I was 9 years old. I have my own family now and he still ain’t won anything since 😂😂

If you can't produce, you aren't going to be wanted.

Kansas coach has won two and the Uconn coach could go back to back tonight...Also, Billy Donovan went back to back...Cal is a great salemen but a terrible coach. Should of had DJ on the bench and was playing the Harrison twins more did a true PG in Tyler Uluis..that could of been the greatest team of all-time

Coach K has 5 national championships

😂 That was a different time bro, players stay right now for five months at college to cash money in the NBA

Calapri needs to join Michigan State as a recruiter and let Tom Izzo coach!!

​@@DonGivaniOnly the majority of 5 star recruits. The teams that won championships before and after Calipari arrived had a combination 4 star veterans with one or two 5 star freshmen. Only 2 teams in the last 15 years, UK(2012) and Duke(2015) had won a title with mostly freshmen, but they still had veteran leadership on those squads. Since the landscape has shifted to the transfer portal and NIL, now you're starting to see more 5 star recruits stay a little longer because they're compensated now.

And watch as they get beat in the first or second round because Cal refused to make mid game adjustments.

Apparently he’s good friends and golfs with one of its boosters so maybe he was told that he could bring some hype to Arkansas without the pressure Kentucky gave and maybe an even better salary

@@tainankingyea and he might just mess up and win a championship there. Arkansas has good recruits in state

@@Sambam1981 and he better keep em there too

@@Sambam1981 as good as Kentucky is as a program, not much talent in state. He got Demarcus cousins from Mississippi and he was recruiting the south heavy getting a lot of sec guys away from their state.

@@tainanking good point

👀

No diversity hires please.

​@@Diggyace14one of the best basketball minds, who is a UK alum, who has been considered for NBA jobs is a diversity hire? Wow you bigots are sold bold

Interesting…

Let’s just say top 15 at LEAST. Stephen A needs to refresh his memory on who Arkansas is.

Its not

@@SomebodyBanThatGuy that used to be true. Can your school guarantee 6-8M a year for NIL just in basketball? That username is fire.

​@@aidanwatson910thats a lot of money for cal to waste.

@@jimmyjames6882 stay mad

He was still a Number one pick under Cal

​@BarryBlockZay617 Not at Kentucky that was the subject. Who he had at Kentucky. Let's open our ears and listen and not jump on the defense. Ok!

@@tiardrabrown8388 he definitely mentioned Derrick Rose

@@tiardrabrown8388 but it's Also about his legacy and the top picks he's coached 🤣

@BarryBlockZay617 Yeah but recruiting isn't developing players. He can only recruit and most his players over the years got better once they were in the league not in college. He's the best at that.

Exactly! Cal is a good coach. The one and done has got to stop for UK

Nah screw that. UK fans are just losers and they will never be happy with whatever they get. Bunch of ignorant ppl that dont know basketball. Can't handle some slow yrs. I dont care about those stats stephen talking about. You win some you lose. Im a UK fan. Our fanbase is trash. He left bc of death threats and talking bad and attacking his family every chance they get. UK won't rebound for a long time. For sale signs in his yard. But that's on UK fans.

Anthony Davis

@@keykeyblazeroyce1742 exactly!!!! Murray

Could you imagine that a blue blood programs only hope would be to make the tournament? Especially doing nothing in basically the last nine seasons?

Try 22 coaches in their history. KANSAS on the other hand is probably the program you're thinking of. KU total of 8 head coaches. Get your facts straight before spewing it all over the net.

FACTS!!

Me too 😂

Jay is to emotional man

Do you think Shannon needs anger management.

@@annjohnson7315 I'm not sure if it's anger. It's not animation or passion either 😂

😂😂😂

😂I bet Stephen A. and Shannon have already been.

She is terrible what are you talking about?

He’s the one responsible for the one and done, he left because people wanted him to keep players around for more than one year.

He’s the one recruiting one and done players. He’ll do the same at Arkansas it’s what he loves to do.

@@jaredlynch8020 agreed.. but that’s what I’m saying. Maybe he’s over that way of thinking. Once you become known for something it’s hard to change things up. Arkansas gives him a fresh start to do what he wants. Players go to Kentucky to go to the NBA. Not to compete for NCCA championships

@@billy306 after the meeting With UKs AD , he literally said he didn’t think he could stop the “ one and done” . He doubled down , even though the school , and fans wanted him to get more of a commitment from the players . No one liked the one and done at KY. UK loved Cal and hated the one and done . My guess is Arkansas is willing to put up with it for the 4-5 star recruits .

lol jay Williams don’t care about that

Facts but even coach k had seniors and sophomore’s

Facts, as soon as Coach K got that young talent, he won.

Facts

He's going because he was unhappy and underperforming at Kentucky. He is actually making 500k less at Arkansas. Its a fresh start

UCLA, Indiana, UConn, Kentucky, Kansas, Mich St, Michigan, Villanova, Duke, North Carolina, Florida, NC State all have better basketball history then Arkansas

Louisville and Cincinnati too

If freshmen keep on leaving after five months, nothing will change. You will still get beaten by 25 years old post senior graduates

bingo

Coach K didn’t go out first round either! You must play in the league since you don’t like him doing his job 😂😂

dam crazy that instead of retiring, he’ll still be on tv making more in one episode than you do in an entire year 🥴

Coach k has won more than cal ever dream of clown 😂

Cal is just leaving for an easier job. UK is a top profile job, and it comes with a lot of fame and scrutiny. Plenty of coaches have the egos to want to be the next UK coach. It was just a marriage that had gone south for too long. This UK team was super talented and athletic but had 0 defensive awareness. That is just unacceptable and all on the coaching.

You mean Derrick rose?

They have been bad for a while with him. It is 70 losses in the last seven years. In that time, he missed the tournament once, lost in the first round twice, and zero final four appearances. Why do you want to excuse that because he had mid teams with 5-stars?🤣😂🤣