<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">N.C. State officials' pursuit of Memphis coach John Calipari heated up Sunday. A private plane returned to Raleigh-Durham Airport from Memphis carrying N.C. State athletics director Lee Fowler, Chancellor James Oblinger and others, sources said. N.C. State also pursued Texas coach Rick Barnes, but sources have said he decided to stay at Texas and accept a raise from the Longhorns. -- Charlotte Observer While John Calipari reportedly surged to the top of North Carolina State's coaching wish list, University of Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson canceled a trip Saturday to remain in town and focus on reworking the contract of his most-visible employee . -- Memphis Commercial Appeal</div> Source
Why would he do that? He has Darius Washington Jr. and Shawne Williams two of the best underclassmen in the nation and they are almost a lock win the conference. Stay.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Why would he do that? He has Darius Washington Jr. and Shawne Williams two of the best underclassmen in the nation and they are almost a lock win the conference. Stay.</div> Well, why wouldn't he? Next year's team will be talented, but it won't be on the level of this year's team with Carney leading the show. Besides, Washington, Jr. and Williams are rumored to be testing the draft waters this June. Also, what's he going to do when those kids are gone? Memphis is not exactly a hot draw for recruits. It's a mid-major with little to no legacy and horrible academics, an off-campus arena, a fair-weathered fan following, and a pretty trashy campus. North Carolina State is practically everything Memphis isn't, so he'll be able to get much better recruits coaching the Wolfpack. There's also the money issue. If the Wolfpack can significantly raise his salary, you bet your ass he'd leave Memphis. Calipari's all about money.
You forgot to mention all the talent NC St. has left too, if Cedric Simmons stays they could be good. He'll be able to recruit more top notch players and he'll be able to play more top notch program. Why wouldn't you want to leave a sinking ship for one that is just leaving dock?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">You forgot to mention all the talent NC St. has left too, if Cedric Simmons stays they could be good. He'll be able to recruit more top notch players and he'll be able to play more top notch program. Why wouldn't you want to leave a sinking ship for one that is just leaving dock?</div> Well, it's true that Memphis is a sinking ship, but I wouldn't exactly say that North Carolina State is just leaving the dock. Evtimov and Bennerman both graduated this year, and Cedric Simmons looks like he's on his way out because Sendek's gone. I really like Brackman and their freshmen, but they're not exactly a top tier program at this point in terms of talent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, it's true that Memphis is a sinking ship, but I wouldn't exactly say that North Carolina State is just leaving the dock. Evtimov and Bennerman both graduated this year, and Cedric Simmons looks like he's on his way out because Sendek's gone. I really like Brackman and their freshmen, but they're not exactly a top tier program at this point in terms of talent.</div> Well when Lute Olson took over Arizona it wasn't top notch, how bout when Calhoun took over UConn? A simple changing of schools is how you get better recruits, you can attract players from even more regions. That's what Calhoun did at UConn, he got west coast guys telling them that they can come play Big East competition or Big time players from the East. I think Calipari will be able to get players from the South to come play in the ACC. It should be interesting how his first actual class looks like, looking forward to 07 now
Calipari has said he is not leaving Memphis: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">John Calipari apparently will accept a raise and stay at Memphis instead of accepting an offer to coach basketball at N.C. State, a source close to the Memphis athletics program said Tuesday. The next target for N.C. State might be John Brady, who led Louisiana State to the Final Four in the 2006 NCAA tournament. </div> Source: Charlotte Observer(yesteday) Looks like it is now John Brady, Billy Gillespie and Tom Crean in the running... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> It's unclear who N.C. State will target next. Sources have mentioned Louisiana State's John Brady, Texas A&M's Billy Gillespie and Marquette's Tom Crean as possibilities. Gillespie is under contract through 2012 and is supposed to meet with Texas A&M officials this month to discuss a raise, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Brady might be easier to recruit. Though a contract extension is in the works, he has said publicly he will listen if schools contact him. Brady is said to have a difficult relationship with LSU athletics director Skip Bertman. </div> Source: Charlotte Observer (today) Eh, I am defintely not high on Brady as a head coach. I think he got lucky this year. He sucks at recruiting(all his players fell in his lap and live within 60 miles of the LSU campus). I think NC State will be highly disappointed in him, unless he can learn how to recruit. I also dont want to see Gillespie get the job. As a future Aggie, he is the right man for A&M right now and to see him leave would be a huge step back for the program when they are making some giant steps forward.
