Calipari says UK's top goal was to get players drafted, not win title

[All State Baseball]

Thinking John Calipari publicly dismissing his interest in the New Orleans Pelicans jobwould be the biggest Kentucky headline this week?

Maybe.

But try this one: Calipari performed a speech and Q-and-A session on Wednesday at Rupp Arena for the Kentucky-based animal crop/livestock/farming/agricultural company Alltech. It held its leadership convention of sorts at Rupp. Calipari spoke, and near the beginning of his speech (audio below), he claimed that getting as many players into the NBA Draft was Kentucky's primary goal this season. It wasn't winning a national title -- it was putting guys into the draft. That was the objective.

"How do we do this? It all starts with players first," Calipari said. "Their dreams become our dreams. Last year we started the season with a goal. You may think that goal was to win the national title! Win al the games! It was to get eight players drafted. 'Well, how can you be about your team if you're worried about players getting drafted?' Well, we kind of work it the other way. What are you dreams? What are you looking for? What are you trying to get out of life? How can we help you with that?"

He also cited getting 26 Kentucky players into the NBA in the last six years, a rate that far outpaces any other college team.

"The winning, the losing, is not personal to me," Calipari added.

This mantra is not new. Calipari famously said the biggest day in the history of Kentucky wasn't winning any national title -- it was when UK put five players into the first round of theNBA Draft back in 2010.

 

Calipari says UK's top goal was to get players drafted, not win title - CBSSports.com

[All State Baseball]

This is why I don't like how he does...Yes he's a good coach and a great recruiter but he's too worried about the NBA....Let him go on to the NBA...

[75center]

He has a very specific audience in mind. I've got no problem with it.

[GrizzlyAdams]

[gametime]

This is why I don't like how he does...Yes he's a good coach and a great recruiter but he's too worried about the NBA....Let him go on to the NBA...

 

It is a recruiting sales pitch. Same as everything else that comes out of his mouth...

[Bluegrasscard]

[Randy Parker]

It is a recruiting sales pitch. Same as everything else that comes out of his mouth...

 

This

[uk#1fan]

Send him packing!

[uk#1fan]

I can't stand Calipari! I would rather have a roster full of 4 year players instead of one and dones trying to play college ball!

[sportsfan41]

I think Cal knew what that success in the draft would've translated to as far as prior success on the hardwood. As good as UK was all season I felt like Poythress really could have helped this team. If UK had 8 guys in the draft this year it would've meant they had another National Championship as well IMO.

[sportsfan41]

I can't stand Calipari! I would rather have a roster full of 4 year players instead of one and dones trying to play college ball!

 

And that sir is why people smirk at you're posts and Coach Cal could buy you're entire neighborhood...... Because he gets it.

[Michael Corleone]

I can't stand Calipari! I would rather have a roster full of 4 year players instead of one and dones trying to play college ball!

 

Which one of the old guy in Hoosiers are you?

[75center]

I can't stand Calipari! I would rather have a roster full of 4 year players instead of one and dones trying to play college ball!

 

Great, go root for Harvard.

[John Anthony]

Says the Coach who has Jamal Murray on campus...

[All State Baseball]

Honestly, it never even crossed my mind that it could be/is a recruiting pitch to get recruits to Kentucky..