Hard Sell -- A Master Salesman, Sure, but Some Aren't Buying Calipari As Tactician

Summary

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In assessing the University of Memphis' NCAA Tournament hopes Monday on ESPN's sportswriter gabfest "Around the Horn," Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke ultimately dismissed the Tigers with seven damning words.

"John Calipari," Plaschke said, "can't coach a big game."

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Hard Sell -- A Master Salesman, Sure, but Some Aren't Buying Calipari As Tactician

It took Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan, who watched Calipari turn Massachusetts into a national power in the 1990s, to defend the Tigers coach.

"What's wrong with John Calipari's coaching?" Ryan demanded. "He is not only a great recruiter, he's an excellent coach."

"Game coach?" Plaschke responded. "No, you're wrong. You're wrong."

While shows such as "Around the Horn" depend on such disagreements to fuel their bid for ratings, that exchange between Plaschke and Ryan captured the apparent public divide over Calipari's merits as an in-game tactician. Although no one ...

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