There's no mythical state title to wrestle over any more. The stakes have gotten real.
Bruce Pearl and John Calipari were compelling enough as antagonists who shared a gym and a spotlight one night a year then went their separate ways.
Now, they are colleagues in the SEC East. Now, they share a gym and a spotlight twice a year. Now, they sit in the same SEC meetings each spring in Destin, Fla. Now they show up at the same SEC Media Day in October.
Now, they compete for the same championships.
When Calipari left Memphis after last season to take over the Kentucky Wildcats, a historic rivalry took on a personal face not seen since the days Ray Mears and Don DeVoe battled Adolph Rupp and Joe B. Hall.
When Rick Pitino was generalissimo in the bluegrass he never had a worthy adversary at Tennessee. Now Pearl and Calipari have each other.
"It was the perfect hire, I said it at the time,'' Pearl offered as he prepares to take his Tennessee team to Rupp Arena for tonight's showdown with No. 3 Kentucky.
ESPN's College GameDay show has come to Lexington, just as it went to Memphis two years ago when Pearl's No. 2 Vols upset Cal's unbeaten, No. 1 Tigers in as exciting a college game as you'll ever see.
Kentucky folks wholeheartedly agree that the gregarious Calipari was the perfect replacement for standoffish Billy Gillispie. Calipari, for example, has more than 1 million followers of his Twitter postings. (Pearl has 13,243).
Besides, the guy can recruit a little.
The Pearl-Calipari contention was a natural from the day in 2005 when Tennessee hired Pearl. Start with the premise that UT and Memphis just don't like each other.
Throw in the history of recruiting wars in West Tennessee. Finally, add the passion and moxie of two coaches so alike in so many ways.
Pearl and Calipari split four games in a series Cal viewed as a nuisance. In 2006, they split a bitter recruiting battle for Bolivar Central teammates. Wayne Chism picked UT; Willie Kemp picked Memphis.
"The Memphis-Tennessee rivalry is one I didn't understand when I first got here,'' Pearl said. "I understand it more now.
"Amongst fans, it's kind of personal. Then there's a huge difference in the whole respect issue.
"I think now that he's at Kentucky, for me, it's a bigger rivalry because maybe I have more respect for Kentucky's program.''
Of Pearl, Calipari said last October:
"He was trying to take over the state. I wasn't going to let him. I conceded the rest of the state other than Memphis.''
Now they're both trying to take over the SEC.
Pearl is 3-5 against Kentucky, whom he acknowledges as the league's marquee program. Still, Pearl has made history. Tennessee is the first program ever to finish ahead of Kentucky in the SEC standings four consecutive years.
"I've said it many times,'' Pearl said. "And I guarantee you he's got it all over their bulletin board.
"It's not bulletin-board material. It's fact. We're proud of it.''
Then, with a chuckle, he added the epilogue:
"It's gonna be hard to finish ahead of 'em this year.''
When Kentucky hired Calipari, Pearl predicted his nemesis would elevate the program's talent level, which, except for Patrick Patterson, had become relatively modest under Gillispie. He had no idea how far how fast.
Cal's first recruiting class was dazzling, headlined by John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe.
"I'm surprised how quickly he could bring in three first-round draft picks, who all came there because of him,'' Pearl said.
"But he is John Calipari and that is Kentucky. And when you put 'em together . . .''
When you put 'em together you've got a juggernaut capable of winning a national championship. Tennessee, meanwhile, is in David mode tonight to Kentucky's Goliath.
During the past five weeks, the Vols have had to reinvent themselves since star Tyler Smith was dismissed. Somehow, they've managed to upset No. 1 Kansas and get to 18 wins.
"Hats off to Bruce,'' Calipari said this week. "Teams may give 'em games but they figure out ways of getting Ws.''
The hats may be off, but so are the gloves. A fine old rivalry is getting even better.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 30
Kobzilla writes:
Well written. Probalby the best article I read from the KNS all week! GBO!!! Lets "figure out a way to get a W"!
Fryinpansvols writes:
Going to be a tough game for our beloved Vols, but I always think UT has a chance to win no matter who the opponent is. If Chism doesn't play then our upset chance is very slim. Pearl will give his all for Tennessee to have our boys ready to play. Beat Kentucky and GBO!
byrd4vols writes:
I dont have espn....but I see alot of Ts
Futurecoach16 writes:
I hate Kentucky basketball more than I hate Florida football. And Calipari is probably my most hated coach of all college athletics. However, I can't wait for Pearl vs. Calipari weeks. These two easily are the best at PR and handling the press. I just hope Pearl and Co. can find a way to pull at a W against a very good Kentucky team.
DebKY writes:
ESPN promotes Kentucky basketball with every college game televised. Tell ESPN you are SICK of hearing about Kentucky.
Kentucky's #1 Vol Fan
abnermc writes:
As Kiffen said: "it's still Kentucky"
bobbytodd writes:
They have lost 1 game this year. Don't be a hater. It would be UNC if they weren't having a down year.......Sorry you have to live in Kentucky.
VOLINTN64 writes:
Go to espn360.com and I bet you can watch it streaming live tonight.I watched the Lady Vols beat Ole Miss last night on it and it was awesome.I never count the Big Orange out when Pearls at the helm.GBO!!!! and listen to Bernard King tonight let his motivation, strong will and past record be an inspiration to GITTER DONE !
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Calipari <joker> to Pearl <batman>: 'you.... COMPLETE me.'
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Just because I say this, the opposite may turn out to be true, but I don't see our guys getting "blown out." If they just remember who they are, and what they're capable of doing, they'll be fine.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Seems to me I remember how bad we were gonna get blown out in the Kansas game. Woe is upon us...how can we ever compete without all those players gone from the team?
Then, three walk-on freshmen and the rest of a highly motivated team put together one of the most complete wins in Tennessee history.
Yes, it will be tough...but it's not impossible.
doverton#635371 (Inactive) writes:
Calipari is definately a good recruiter. Buy as far as coaching abality,I think there are a lot of better coaches.With the teams he had @ Mempus, he should have won at least one NC maybe two.His poor coaching cost him the NC @ the end of the Kansas game two years ago.I also think his recruiting tactics will one day catch up with him. He seems to stay one step ahead of the law.If UT can keep it close look for Pearl to out coach Cal and pull out a W.It will be a tall order.UK has tons of talent.Don't count out CBP!!
GO VOLS !!!!!
cooper65#432178 writes:
Say what you want about Cal, but it was poor FT shooting by Rose and Douglas-Roberts, not Cal's coaching, that cost Memphis the NC. The idea that UM should have won 2 NCs is ludicrous, 1 yes, definitely not 2.
jzt writes:
Nothing would fuel this rivalry more than stealing a W in Lexington, work some magic Bruce.
dvols writes:
NIKE is a great recruiter!
wildcatbasketball writes:
As I have stated in previous posts earlier. I hope that UT-UK basketball becomes a rivalry like UT-FL and UT-AL in football. It is definitely set up for that to happen with Cal and Pearl at the helm.
Good Luck Vol Fans----This will be a FUN game to watch.....still think it will be closer than most think!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
As long as Calapari can stay ahead of the NCAA sheriff, UK will be AWFULLY hard to beat. You could take Wall and Cousins off of this year's team and they would still be top-10 material. There is no reason to believe they will not continue to reap the cream of the crop in recruiting every year. That said, anything can happen in one game. GBO!!! TCB!!!
doverton#635371 (Inactive) writes:
I said 1 NC maybe 2.I agree with the free throw shooting comment,but it was poor clock management by Cal that ultimately cost Mempus the game.
coachmull writes:
We will find out again that he can't coach in the big game. He has two top 5 NBA lottery picks right now. Can he close with a NCAA championship? I believe he will come up short again. The icing on the cake will be when he leaves for the Nets in the next season or two. Kentucky fans will then be crying the blues.
westennvol writes:
I hated Cal when he was a Memphis State, and now I hate him even more. Bobby Knight said it best...“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching. You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”
John Calipari is the Lane Kiffin of College Hoops! He sucks!
db11_cn writes:
Did anyone hear Calipari's side comment to Jay Bilas picked up by the open mike as ESPN cut to a commercial? Cal said, "We got a good seat for your brother." Classic.
dvols writes:
let the record state.....memphis was not in the final 4 remember, someone took Derrick Rose SAT for him and Calipari was out of the country? Calipari has never coached in a Final Four....according to rhe record!
nocleats writes:
I hate to say it, but KY 94 TN 61.. Thank You Tyler Smith and friends, plus all those former vols who got thrown out of school in the last 2 years.. Tn should be a Sr laden talented and deep team. Thanks alot guys.
swabjocky writes:
For Bobby Knight to say something about another coach and integrity is like the kettle calling the pot black. He got fired for his treatment of players. He has the dirtist mouth and the way he talks to male/female reporters should have gotten his butt kicked a lot of times. He cut and run from Texas Tech so that his son would have a job. He is the worst slime ball that pretends to be a coach
utucla writes:
Thank you.....I have to laugh whenever I hear people say that he has taken two teams to the Final Four....the record book says differently....
tnaseevol writes:
Good post, you are completely right on this one!
thebadsamaritan writes:
The best ending to tonight's game would be for UK to win by 40...and then at the end of the year it is revealed the Calimari committed recruiting violations. UK has to forfeit the entire season.
That would be sweet.
VOLFROMNC writes:
Woolridge is the worst player on the floor...anytime he's playing...we have got to keep the right people on the floor...williams???are you serious???is he still playing???
SuckTheseVols98 writes:
Wow that is saying something (considering your a loyal Vol fan)! The only thing I hate more than Florida football is USC football, Lane Kiffin and his @$$ buddy Orgeron! Coach Cal is a cheater, liar and dirty recruiter which will hopefully ruin kentucky basketball. And dont forget kentucky fans, if your happy with tonights win, we we have now dominated you for a 1/4 century in football haha!! Go Vols!!!
SuckTheseVols98 writes:
how about the Vols win by 40?? your on a Tennessee blog ya know??
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