John Calipari to NBA? (2012 Edition)

In our three seasons of being in the Calipari era, three big questions always pop up as soon as a season ends.  1.) Which players are going pro?  2.) What big name last minute signee(s) will we get for the next season?  and 3.) Is Calipari going to the pros?

For the first two questions, we already know part of the anwers since we always lose big players to the pros and we usually always get some last minute big name(s) that we have been pursuing.  The third question is always a concern though since until the next season starts and Cal is giving his Big Blue Madness speech, we never quite know 100% if Calipari will be our coach for the next season. 

Rumors have started after the end of each season so far about Cal going to the pros and every time Cal comes out and assures fans he isn't going anywhere and so far he hasn't but that doesn't mean he hasn't been flirting with the idea.  Rumors already started today with a New York writer tweeting out that Cal is talking with the Knicks.  Cal quickly jumped out on coachcal.com and said he isn't going anywhere and we need to not worry and continue to enjoy the championship.  So we can relax right?  I wouldn't go that far.  What have we learned about Cal from so many interviews during the season?  Cal is a master of words and mind games.  Just like he will say his team isn't that great when they win every game early on, Cal knows just what to say in every situation to accomplish a certain goal.  Cal will never admit he is flirting with the NBA and if he ever leaves you can expect it to be a sudden announcement out of nowhere.  As it has been brought up numerous times, Cal told Memphis he wasn't going anywhere right before he was announced as our coach.

So what can we draw from all of this?  Well, you can't read too much into rumors about Cal going to the NBA since they pop up after season nor can you take too much from Cal coming out and saying he will be back right after another rumor comes out.  Cal may go back to the pros some day and if he does, you can count on it being a very sudden announcemnt and could even be a couple days after he just said he was staying here.  As Cal says when he tries to convince us he is staying "I don't know how I can make it any clearer", well he can't.  He may 100% mean he is coming back this time but that doesn't mean next time he says those words that he is.  Let's take a minute though and look at why he would leave or stay.

Why Cal would leave:
Cal might leave because he just accomplished some huge goals in college basketball.  He proved he is an elite coach, that he can coach x's and o's, that you can win it all leaning heavily on one and dones, and that he is capable of winning an NCAA championship.  Sure he can stick around and try to have an undefeated season like he said but that would be like icing on the cake for him as a coach.  Don't get me wrong, it would make history but isn't necessary since he has already proven himself and had a 38 win season.  He can also try and go for another championship or two but again as a coach he doesn't have to do that.  He got UK back to elite status and got us a championship which is what he was expected to do.  Mission accomplished.  Where Cal still may feel he has work left to do and where he needs to prove himself at now is at the next level.  He tried the NBA once which didn't go so well but he's older and a lot more seasoned now.  He may want to give the pros one more shot to redeem himself at that level and show his mastery of coaching at both levels.  Another big issue is the strain of being UKs coach.  There is no doubt this job consumes his life and while the stress may ease up a little for him, he is still the coach of a program that won't settle for just one more banner.  We'll always want another and never be satisfied for long.  Going to the NBA he could still make a nice paycheck without having to go all out like he does at UK and if he failed again he could just retire knowing he was a great college coach.  I'm not saying he wouldn't be stressed as an NBA coach, but I doubt the stress of being the coach of a team like the Knicks but be as rough as the stress of being UKs coach for him.

Why Cal will come back:
As Mitch Barnhart stated, this job was made for Cal.  He imbraces it and flourishes at it.  He just made a huge statement to the college basketball world and silenced a lot of critics.  A huge 'monkey' was lifted of his back even if he won't admit it and now he can just enjoy his job without the personal baggage of having to prove himself.  He is loved here and can build on the new legacy he has started here.  He has restored UK basketball and is UK basketball right now.  He has a legitimate shot at hanging a few more banners and making sure his legacy at UK is larger than his rivals Pitino's was.  Even if Cal doesn't get another championahip, you can count he will have 30+ win seasons and keep UK a serious contender every year.  Proving himself in the NBA may seem like a nice thought but he knows he is a fantastic college coach and can retire some day knowing he built himself a huge legacy in the college basketball world.

In summary, the only one who ever knows if Cal will stay or go is him and his family.  Don't believe anything about Cal leaving OR staying until either you hear Cal say he is leaving or Big Blue Madness begins anew and Cal is still giving the speech meaning he is defintiely back for at least one more season.