John Calipari should know an internal scandal when he sees one.
The Kentucky head coach didn’t offer fans much reassurance during media day Thursday when he attempted to sidestep questions about where his program stands amid the FBI’s investigation into corruption throughout the sport. Other than confirming the NCAA has yet to contact Kentucky, Calipari said the situation was unpredictable and grew defensive when the media kept asking for the answers he didn’t have.
When one reporter refused to let up on the issue, Calipari returned the heat, making it clear he wanted to talk about his team.
Beat reporter Jerry Tipton wouldn’t take no for an answer and, with microphone in hand, informed Calipari — who’s been famously punished for violating NCAA rules with recruits while at the University of Massachusetts and Memphis — he had another. When Calipari tried to shoo him off and pick on another person in the crowd, Tipton announced his rights as a credentialed reporter.
“This is a media day, not coach day. I am entitled to ask a question. You can then not answer it,” Tipton bluntly told Calipari.
Reluctantly granted the opportunity to ask his question, Tipton referenced a recent report that the FBI was expanding its investigation to target all schools sponsored by Nike, which would include Kentucky. Calipari likely sensed a rumor spreading and immediately shut it down.
“Well again, you’re acting like you know something that I don’t know,” he responded.
When Tipton reiterated the news had been “reported,” Calipari responded, “Oh, that makes it true.”
Calipari’s name so far hasn’t surfaced in the controversy that cost Louisville head coach Rick Pitino his job. The FBI exposed the Cardinals for allegedly bribing a recruit’s family with $100,000 through an Adidas executive, and the university placed Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich on administrative leave soon after. On Wednesday, Louisville continued cleaning house, announcing it had parted ways with assistant coach Jordan Fair.
Since the FBI made its first arrests in late September and college basketball blew up before a game had even been played, the buzz has died down while the investigation continues. A recent Los Angeles Times report did suggest more arrests are coming, though.
Calipari has been at the center of NCAA controversies since landing his first head coaching gig in 1988. Under his watch, UMass was forced to vacate its record in the 1996 NCAA tournament when a player was found to have accepted $40,000 in cash and gifts from an outside agent. In 2009, the NCAA ruled Memphis must vacate the entire 2008-09 season, including its runner-up finish in the tournament, after then-Tigers guard Derrick Rose allegedly had someone else take his SAT for him.