On Thursday, March 23, NCAA tournament brackets worldwide were shaken when the 14th-seeded Oakland Golden Grizzlies upset the third-seeded Kentucky Wildcats. As a current senior at the University of Kentucky, I shared the disappointment felt across campus and beyond, recalling the electric atmosphere in Lexington during past March Madness victories. The sentiment that was commonly echoed on campus and within sports commentary such as CBS Sports was “one and three.”
That figure represents Kentucky’s tournament record over the past four years, dating back to 2022. During this period, we’ve only secured one victory while experiencing first-round eliminations twice. Notably, Coach Cal (John Calipari) and Kentucky failed to qualify for the tournament in 2021. A Final Four appearance in 2015 and the 2014 title runners-up team were the last times they’ve come close to a championship, with their last title coming in 2012. This once-legendary basketball program is now starting to show significant signs of decline.
Photo Cred: The Courier-Journal
Before I dive into critiques of my own team and head coach, let’s take a moment to highlight the significance of Oakland’s victory. Simply put, it was well-deserved. Despite my personal bias and frustration towards the team I support, I couldn’t help but admire the opposition’s performance. They played with intensity, displayed remarkable shooting accuracy from beyond the arc, and Jack Gohlke delivered a standout performance.
The Wildcats attempted to stop them defensively, but they struggled to keep pace. Every time UK seemed to gain momentum and looked like a three-seed, the Golden Grizzlies came soaring back with a decisive response. In an interview, Gohlke himself dismissed the idea that they were the Cinderella story that everyone pegged them to be. I wish he had been speaking the truth—it would have softened the blow of Kentucky’s loss to eventual champions.
Now turning to my team, this defeat may serve as the catalyst behind the end of the Calipari era in Kentucky. While there’s no denying his greatness—he was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame nine years ago in 2015—this loss will just add to the mounting pressure he’s facing. Across his nearly 40-year career, where he had stints at UMass, Memphis, and even the New Jersey Nets, Calipari has consistently showcased his coaching talent.
Photo Cred: Spectrum News
With all that being said, it might be time for a change. The introduction of NILs (name, image, likeness) has fundamentally altered the landscape of college basketball. Many college athletes are now returning to school enticed by the new financial incentives. This shift almost goes against Calipari’s traditional approach/philosophy, which has relied on bringing in top-tier talents as freshmen before they go to the NBA (“one-and-done“). However, the departure of Scoot Henderson, one of the top recruits in the 2023 NBA draft, to the G-League instead of attending college is one of the biggest examples of this evolving dynamic.
Gone are the days of players like Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns elevating Kentucky to the Final Four. The program must now consider alternative strategies, just like other college teams, in order to build sustainable success. Consistency goes a long way, and it’s a trait notably lacking in Calipari’s teams. Recent reports have said that Calipari will, in fact, be returning as the head coach in 2024. While the news is not at all surprising, it is rather disappointing to me and many other Kentucky fans. There’s a great quote by Brad Pitt’s character (Billy Beane) in the movie Moneyball: “Adapt or die.” It’s time for John Calipari to adapt, or else Kentucky will need to pursue a new direction. One win in the last four March Madness appearances is not going to be acceptable.
Photo Cred: YouTube- Locked On Kentucky
