Pitino and Calipari both refuse to deny they are leaving
 

On Thursday, Rick Pitino was asked about the rumors of him going to Arizona. He responded by refusing to say he wouldn't leave:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/co...na_rumors.html

"I wouldn't answer any other job because it would be disrespectful to the University of Louisville," Pitino said when asked about his interest in a job that he has been linked to since Lute Olson retired last October. "Any time a coach says he's not interested in a job, he's dead interested in a job. So you know, I don't mislead you. All I can say to you is for eight years I've given every ounce I've had to the University of Louisville. I will continue to do that."

...

"The only job I've thought about for a 24-hour period since I've been at the University of Louisville was Providence College last year," said the 56-year-old Pitino. "Because of the personal things I went through at Providence, I wanted to sit down and talk with them about the job to see if I did want to come back because of personal reasons that were very deep to me. I sat down with them and realized Louisville was the place for me. Outside of that, for eight years, I haven't thought about any job except the University of Louisville, and that's answering you the honest way."

Then on Friday, Calipari used nearly the same sort of carefully chosen non-answer when he was asked about Kentucky:

My transcription from video below:

Reporter: "kentucky, the rumors are already starting to fly, can you comment on that?".

Cal: "no, I want to be here, this is where I want to coach, my name will be tied to every job that's open, our fans have gotten used to it, but I'm so tired... (avoids followup questions by moving quickly away from the topic)"

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Compare both of those to Billy Donovan's response, which was a bit more direct and certain:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...-florida_N.htm

"In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible, " Donovan's statement said. "I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here."

UK moved on after that, and Grant accepted the Alabama job, which was the final evidence that there will be no BD at UK.

Pitino and Calipari are trying not talk about their interest in leaving UM and UL, but they don't want to lie either. Both are doing a good job of hiding it, while leaving the door open. Something Les Miles couldn't find a way to do right before the national championship game.

I doubt he goes, but I see nothing in his statement thsat would preclude Donovan from leaving UF. His statement is just as carefully worded as the others.

And for all the talk about Grant not taking Bama , for now the UF job isn't open. Not everyone wants to return "home" (see Bill Self).

Eh, they're both doing the smart thing.

By not flatly denying interest they are setting themselves up for a nice raise.

BD is the only one who made a commitment to their current school. And did so in a formal, statement. And Grant waited until after this statement to accept the Alabama job. In the world of anything could change, BD could end up at UK still, but his response was a different sort all together from both Pitino and Cal.

That's always part of the story, no doubt.

travis ford is getting the uk job.

The Wildcat Delusion, by Richard Dawkins

BREAKING: John Wooden has refused to deny that he is leaving. I saw him on TV and he said something about how great his teams in the 70s were, and you could see in his eyes that he was strongly considering the Arizona job!

Also, someone on an internet forum took a quote out of context, so you can pretty much bank it.

eh, they listen to an offer and then take the offer to their AD, get it matched. It's like an automatic raise.

But they could both be lying!

That's the point, they aren't lying. They are speaking in the present.

Do they mist the Tucson air with drugs, or something?

"I will continue to [give everything I have to Louisville]."

That's the present tense? He's going to continue giving everything he has... for another week?

"[Memphis] is where I want to coach."

Not much chance to do that if he's not here next season, is there?

This is exactly right...
The biggest hurdle anyone faces is that Memphis has created a contract structure that any athletic department with more than one sport as a priority (ie, every major BCS school) can't match.

Cal's has to (and was earlier in the year) willing to take less money.

Memphis has to over pay, no one else does.

Arizona will pay market rate, but not Memphis rate.

The UK opening changes the landscape for Cal->Arizona. No doubt.

But it's not a given that Cal is staying at Memphis. He's ready to leave, it comes down to the money involved and the program.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Yes, exactly. Maybe beyond, but definately for the next game +.

I want and I will are not the same thing. That's the point.