Long before John Calipari's Hall of Fame coaching career began, he, like so many of the players he now molds, was chasing the same dream he helps his kids reach: to play basketball for a living.He would get shots up every day in the gym. At night, Calipari would jimmy open one of the doors to the high school across the street from his home in Pennsylvania and squeeze through a pair of chained doors.
Inside he worked on every aspect of his game into the wee hours of the morning. He worked on his ball handling, his shooting, his conditioning – everything.
Ultimately it led to a roster spot at UNC Wilmington, and later Division II Clarion University.
At 19, Brad Calipari can relate to his father in so many regards.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.
On This Day In UK Basketball History
- On March 19, 1966, Pat Riley joined the 1,000-point club. He did it in 54 games.
- On March 19, 1966, in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, top-ranked UK, featuring “Rupp’s Runts,” loses in the NCAA Championship game, 72-65, to Texas Western.
- On March 19, 1989, in the wake of an NCAA investigation, Eddie Sutton resigns as UK basketball coach.