ESPN likes the Tigers.
Cal likes the Tigers
ESPN hates empty arenas
Cal hates empty arenas.
Tigers play against top 20 talent teams and Forum is 3/4 full
Cal ain't so happy.
Tigers play conference games and the crowd is just about as large as your average micro soccer event.
Cal shakes his head.
Tigers have talent but reality is that unless Memphis is invited to a power conference - in two years one can expect ESPN to show only non-conference away games.
Cal is a realist.
NC State for all of its negatives plays in an exclusive new arena.
All conference games even against the lowest of the low are generally at capacity.
Cal is okay with that.
Team has reached the NCAAs five straight years.
Cal could do the same.
Easier to recruit players and tell them they are going to be on TV against Duke/Carolina/Wake/Maryland than on radio against UAB/Houston/TCU and whoever else is in the conference.
Cal likes that.
Tigers radio announce Dave Woloshin will not be traveling to Raleigh.
Cal is smiling.
Personally, I prefer Cal to stay with the Tigers.
I do think bidding wars are ridiculous and if I were RC I would hold Cal to his current contract. He signed it he should live by it. Isn't that what he is supposed to be teaching kids - be honorable.
Good luck to Tiger fans. No matter who coaches next year the Tigers should be great. Actually I wouldn't mind seeing Tommy West get the gig. I think he could get the most out of all of the players.

The ironical part is that a year ago many people were calling into radio talk shows and posting messages on the Internet that it was time to change coaches because Coach Cal wasn't worth all the money he was making. Amazing what a single Elite 8 season did to change perceptions. Now we are "doomed" if he leaves.

He is a good man, a great coach and we need him - I always thought so (and I don't think he will leave). I also think RC Johnson has done a remarkably good job here - those criticising him now are scapegoating fools in my opinion.

*IF* Coach Cal heads to Raleigh there is one reason and one reason only.

* John Swoffords raiding the Big East for VT, Miami and BC three years ago set in motion a seriest of events that pulled Cinci, Marquette, DePaul, South Florida and Lousiville away from CONFUSA to the Big East. CONFUSA was not able to replace those schools with any decent basketball powerhouses.

That will likely be the biggest factor in Calapari's decision. Does CONFUSA have enough basketball firepower to remain a major player? If Calapari thinks the answer is no, $$$ won't matter.