When asked by the national media, or from someone outside the Bluegrass, the question always comes with a smirk.
“Obviously one of the things that makes your job tougher than some is the expectations that surround Kentucky,” a media member asked John Calipari in the press conference after UK’s 75-69 loss to Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. “Do you empathize with the sense of frustration that I’m sure some Kentucky fans feel right now about kind of where things are?”
High expectations? You bet. Eight national championships. Over 2,000 victories. An arena that seats over 20,000. A loyal and dedicated fan base that will travel to the ends of the Earth to watch its team play. A generous budget for recruiting and staff. A head coach who is paid accordingly at $9 million a year. And who has a “lifetime” contract.
