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As much as John Calipari understands the huge expectations that come with being Kentucky’s new basketball coach, it’s probably not possible to completely imagine all that awaits him.
If anyone could tell him how to navigate the challenge that’s in store, it would be Alabama football coach Nick Saban.
His advice?
Keep it simple. Focus on “the process” and leave the national title talk to the fans and the rumors to the Internet and talk radio. Recruit and develop talented players and you have a chance to succeed whether at a powerhouse program or a smaller school.
All the rest? It’s just noise.
Saban says the potential distractions are just a little louder and more pronounced at the traditional powers — like Alabama football and Kentucky basketball.
“People that have these kinds of jobs that can do that and not be affected by external factors probably have a better chance to succeed, because it can be very distracting,” said Saban, who frequently refers to the process for building and maintaining a program.
Saban was handed a record-setting eight-year, $4 million-a-year contract three years ago to restore a proud program to greatness — and put a few more championship trophies on the heavily laden shelves. The Tide went 12-2 and rose to a No. 1 ranking in his second year last season.
Now, it’s Calipari’s turn.
The Wildcats made the same kind of splashy, seemingly can’t-miss hire when they turned to the former Memphis coach who has a gaudy won-loss record and, like Saban, a reputation as a formidable recruiter. Even the dollars added up nearly the same.
Calipari is scheduled to make $31.65 million over eight years, a skinny 1.1 percent less than Saban’s $32 million over the same period.
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart feels the two hires are good for winning and for business.
“I know they’ve had obviously some really strong success on the football field, and off the field it has helped solidify the brand of Alabama football,” Barnhart said. “From a revenue perspective, from a brand perspective, from recognition, it has certainly had an impact in those areas of bringing them back to the forefront of where they want to be.
“That’s what we want to do with Kentucky basketball. We want to get back to the tradition and what people know us for, and that’s greatness in college basketball and being a great brand name for the league and college basketball.”
The impact was immediate at ’Bama. Saban’s first spring game drew 92,000-plus fans — for a glorified scrimmage.
Kentucky season tickets have been sold out for years, so Calipari’s immediate impact is harder to gauge. That said, highly touted recruit DeMarcus Cousins of Alabama recently pledged to join him and fans snapped up 700 Calipari T-shirts from UK’s online store in the first two hours they were on sale.
All ’Bama fans needed to know was that Saban had won a share of the national title at LSU before heading to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Wildcats fans are hoping the success Calipari had at Memphis and Massachusetts, guiding both programs to the Final Four, will transfer to Kentucky.
The Wildcats went 22-14 last season, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991. The program hasn’t been to the Final Four in 11 years, the longest drought between national semifinals in school history, and the most recent title came in 1998.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
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