Vitale: "There's no way" Calipari Leaves

Over the last day or so, rumors have been swirling of John Calipari's interest in making a return to the NBA. Calipari leads the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats against Bob Huggins West Virginia Mountaineers on Friday for a chance to advance to the elite eight.

Should Calipari and the Wildcats achieve the undefeated milestone, would that entice the coach to make the jump?

Dick Vitale joined Armen and Levack to discuss the possibility of Calipari leaving Lexington, Kentucky for the NBA.

"There's no way," Vitale said, "I cannot see him leaving Kentucky."

"He's got that thing rolling. He has the number one class coming in again. He has a phenomenal place where he can get great players. They treat him like royalty," Vital said, "I just don't see that happening."

Should Calipari make the jump to the NBA, he would be leaving a school that when he took over had a mediocre program and turned them into the elite program in college basketball. This would be Calipari's second stint in the NBA should he leave, as he took over the New Jersey Nets in the 1996-97 season and was fired 20 games into the 1998-99 season after leading the team to a 3-17 start. His overall record in the NBA was 72-112.

The door will absolutely be open for Calipari come the end of the college basketball season to consider the NBA again and decide on his future.

"I would be kind of surprised," Vitale said, knowing John as well as I do, I would be very, very surprised."

Dick Vitale joins Armen and Levack every Monday and Thursday at 5:15p ET throughout the NCAA Tournament, thanks to McLane Food Service.