Memhis Coach John Calipari the Anti Bob Knight/Dakich?

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:52 pm

http://tinyurl.com/6zxgcc
An interesting read on Calipari's "dribble-drive motion that has been killing teams all year. I think Calipari may be doing something similar to what Knight did in the 70's and 80's, coming up with a revolutionary offensive strategy. What Memphis runs appears to be the motion offense of the future as Bob Knights version passed away a long time ago. Calipari's and Knight/Dakich's coaching styles and schemes appear to be almost polar opposites at least from reading the article.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:58 pm

I appluad Calipari's brilliant strategy of "having the 5 best athletes on either team on the floor at the same time all the time".

That's a bold move, Cotton - let's see if it pays off for 'em.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:04 pm

It is also not Calipari's own offense, per se. There was a great article in SI a few months ago about the prevalence of the dribble drive motion. Calipari apparently implemented it after discussing it at length with a lower division college coach. It was a really good article about the nuances of the offense.

That said, I do think this shows a little bit of "anti-Dakich/Knight" simply in the fact that he was willing to talk with another coach and adapt his style of play to something he thought would help him. This is not the same system that Calipari has used all his career. Instead he adopted this because he thought it would be a system that kids would love to play in and would help him land top flight recruits to Memphis.

Needless to say that it's worked, and has made J4H's point possible. Calipari has brought some amazingly talented players into Memphis, and that is a damn good team. I had them beating Kansas in my bracket, so if they can pull it off I'll win some money. For the past 3-4 years Memphis has been one of my favorite teams to watch. They've finally added a superstar caliber PG to take that team to the finals. Hopefully they pull it out.

Also I wish the Cavs could somehow find a way to land Rose. I'd trade every player on the team not named LeBron and just let the two of 'em play 2-on-5, I'd like their chances. Unfortunately they're yet again too good to land a top flight player in the draft, but not nearly good enough to really win a title. They really need LeBron to get hurt for a season so they can pick in the top 5 like the Spurs did...

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:44 pm

hammb wrote: They really need LeBron to get hurt for a season so they can pick in the top 5 like the Spurs did...

Damnit Hammb. If we end up tossing away the 2008-09 season because Lebron tore his ACL, I'm holding you personally responsible.

Tricky_Falcon · Post by **Tricky_Falcon** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:56 pm

BG has the championship wrapped up next year. One shining moment.

always a falcon · Post by **always a falcon** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:06 am

......Calipari has brought some amazingly talented players into Memphis, and that is a damn good team.......

But what about his graduation rates? They are so low. And what about these talented players several years from now? I I hope that this very good coach is also as good a human being and makes sure his guys go to class and actually proceed toward a degree. And that they get them.

Reading the article about the last Memphis team was it 1985? 83? and how many of them are dead or in bad situations just made me sad. I realize a lot has been done for athletes since then.

But not to cast stones, as we have our own problems in football it seems. Geez.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:45 am

always a falcon wrote:But what about his graduation rates?

Graduation rates don't matter, with all those players going pro and dropping out early.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:59 am

always a falcon wrote:
But what about his graduation rates? They are so low. And what about these talented players several years from now? I I hope that this very good coach is also as good a human being and makes sure his guys go to class and actually proceed toward a degree. And that they get them.

I've met Cal, and I know some people who are tight with his family (he's from Moon, about 10 minutes from me). Biased opinions of course, but from everything I've gathered he does care about his players' educations. He's no saint, like all college coaches, but he seems to be more concerned than your average big-time coach.