Memphis Bounces Back After Losing Calipari

John Calipari had built an elite program at Memphis, and had a fantastic recruiting class coming in 2009. His 2009 senior class had left the school with one Sweet 16 appearance, two trips to the Elite Eight, and one national championship appearance. But Calipari couldn't reject Kentucky when they offered him an eight year contract, worth $31.65 million. Calipari's top-notch recruits were able to slip out of their commitments to Memphis, and either follow him to Kentucky or go to a different school. Shortly following Calipari's departure, Memphis hired unknown 31-year-old Josh Pastner as his replacement.

In addition to losing Calipari's top recruits, Pastner lost Memphis' top four scorers including Tyreke Evans, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. The young coach got a break when Duke guard Elliot Williams decided to transfer to Memphis to be closer to his sick mother. Due to his mother's illness, the NCAA allowed Williams to play this year.

The sophomore Williams has led the Tigers in scoring with better than 20 points per game, and the team's record stands at 4-1 through the first five games. Number-one Kansas handed Memphis that loss in a two-point victory for the Jayhawks.

Pastner's team doesn't look like it'll play deep into March, but they could have a solid season. What the young coach is really looking forward to, though, is next year. ESPN ranks the Tigers' recruiting class as the best in the country. ESPN ranked four of their seven incoming freshman as top 100 recruits. The four players were ranked fifth, 21^st, 24^th, and 54^th. Hauling in the top ranked recruiting class in the nation is an impressive accomplishment for any coach, let alone for a no-name 32-year-old in his first season as a head coach.

It may sound a little crazy, but it may not have been a bad thing that Calipari left Memphis. Even if Calipari remained at Memphis, he would have demanded a deal similar to the one he was offered at Kentucky. His contract at Kentucky pays him nearly $4 million a year. Pastner's contract will pay him a salary of under $1 million a year. Memphis will be forced to vacate their NCAA-record 38-win season, which included their national championship berth, due to NCAA violations during Calipari's tenure. Calipari's success may be tough to replace, but under Pastner, the team still has a bright future, and a less-expensive, clean coach.

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