GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Marcus Camby and John Calipari maintain a close relationship after all these years, but Camby admits it’s “a tough pill to swallow” that his former coach is now leading the team that beat UMass in the 1996 Final Four.
Asked Saturday after Knicks practice for his top March Madness memories, Camby said: “Probably the run we had going all the way to the Final Four and eventually losing to Kentucky. And now fast forward 20 years and Calipari’s coaching Kentucky, so it’s a tough pill for me to swallow.”
UMass’ 1996 Final Four appearance was vacated when it was discovered that Camby had accepted a reported $40,000 in cash and gifts from an agent.
Calipari later had his second Final Four appearance vacated at Memphis in 2008, but he won his first NCAA championship last year at Kentucky.
“I was really excited for him,” Camby said. “Me and Patrick Patterson was able to go over to the game in New Orleans and watch it so definitely happy for him.”
Calipari then came to Washington last month to see Camby and former Kentucky point guard John Wall when the Wizards hosted the Knicks.
“I talk to Cal all the time,” Camby said. “I just talked to him a couple day ago.
“He wants my advice. He always told me whoever retires first, the other one has to come work for the other one so he’s probably going to have a longer tenure than I am but it’s always good to see him and catch up.”
As for Calipari’s success as recruiter, which is manifested by a current group of five McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-Americans, Camby said:
“I just think the product that he puts out there on the basketball court and where his players end up individually. He’s always gonna coach first-rounders. He coached three of the top five No. 1 picks in the drat so I just think his body of work speaks for itself.”
Photo: Sporting News
