Calipari: 2014-15 goal was to get players drafted, not win a title
John Calipari coaches basketball for a living and makes a pretty penny doing it. But as a collegiate coach, his job is about more than just winning.
Given that Kentucky's quest for a perfect season ended with a Final Four loss to Wisconsin, one might think Calipari's star-studded team came up short of his ultimate goal.
But the 2014-15 season was never about a national championship, according to the coach.
"Last year we started the season with a goal," Calipari said Wednesday at the closing session of the Alltech REBELation conference at Rupp Arena. "You may think that goal was to win the national title and win all the games ...
"It was to get eight players drafted."
My "why" is to be a vehicle to help others reach their dreams, to be the stone that creates a ripple that goes on and on in their lives.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 20, 2015
Had power forward Alex Poythress not suffered a torn ACL in December, the Wildcats may well have sent eight players to the Association, as seven members of this year's team declared for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Devin Booker and Trey Lyles are all likely lottery (top 14) picks, while Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison and Dakari Johnson could also hear their names called at some point during the NBA's two-round draft.
After being criticized for his comments, Calipari stood by what he said in a series of tweets Thursday.
I hate to drive you traditionalists crazy, but I'll say it again: our goal at the beginning of the season was to have eight players drafted.
I'll be honest with you, at the time I may have said nine. My point when I said that was to have them all eat.
When they asked how we do it, I told them to do this you will have to be a selfless team, share & do historic things on the court. They did.
If Alex doesn't get hurt, 8 are drafted. We fell short of a national title but this season was not disappointing to me. Have a great day!
Calipari no doubt has his players' best interests at heart, but their success is also his - a history of sending top picks to the NBA, and the perception that their professional development is his top priority, will only help Coach Cal recruit future stars.
- With h/t to Kentucky Sports Radio