Indeed, Pearl Is Believed To Be High On Memphis’ List

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A couple of days ago I wrote that if John Calipari took the Kentucky job, there was a chance that Memphis could make a run at cross-state rival Tennessee’s coach.

Now, according to The Memphis Commercial-Appeal, it’s believed that Bruce Pearl is “high on the list”

It is also believed that Memphis has already contacted Louisville’s Rick Pitino to gauge his interest.

Memphis “super donor” Alan Graf told the MCA that the school is intent on making a “wow” hire.

“We’ve asked for a lot of permissions (to speak with coaches) and we’ve gotten them.  Some of the names (being considered), if people heard them, they’d say, ‘Wow.’”

First of all, Memphis has the money to bring in the best of the best.  Second, you know they don’t want to see the program Calipari built turn back into a pumpkin.

But it takes two to tango, as they say.  Just because big names are on the Memphis list doesn’t necessarily mean the big name guys will want to head to a program that might lose half its roster to Kentucky.



As for why I thought Pearl might interest Memphis:

1)  He’s gone toe-to-toe with Calipari in his four years in Knoxville and he’s done it with less talent.

2)  Pearl is as much a national media darling as Calipari is.  Thus, he would keep Memphis in the headlines and on ESPN.

3)  And this could be the biggest reason — Memphis hates the University of Tennessee.  Tiger backers have a serious inferiority complex when it comes to the big state school and they would love nothing more than to steal UT’s coach and make the statement, “WE have the best program in the state.”



(Sidenote — to those of you Memphis and Tennessee fans who emailed me to say I was an idiot for raising this possibility on Monday… I accept your apologies.  I’m sure they’ll be pouring in any second.)