During Monday’s radio show, Calipari kept his eye on the ball, so to speak – making it clear he remains committed to seeing the Cats return to a higher standard of performance, despite a team he currently described as “hurting” from their season-ending loss in round one of the NCAA tournament.
"I'm not changing. 24/7... let's go. Whether it's recruiting, all this stuff we've got to do. That is the commitment I give to the fans," he said. "Let's come together and let's go do something. Let's do something special. We've done it. Let's do it again."
As for what to expect in the upcoming season, Calipari hinted that some current players might stay on, though he avoided specifics. He also said a new emphasis on rebuilding UK’s defenses would be a job for the offseason.
The radio appearance took place ahead of a formal sit-down with UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart, expected as early as Tuesday. The meeting between Coach Cal and Barnhart happens at the end of every season, but this year it’s surrounded by new tensions as players, fans, and the whole program are still stinging from the early exit in Pittsburgh to 14-seeded Oakland.
Calipari signed a decade-long $86 million dollar contract with UK after the 2018-19 season, meaning a premature exit for Cal would put UK on the hook for more than $33 million.
