Scott Drew Talking With Kentucky Just Hours After John Calipari's Resignation, Others Being Discussed:Report

A few hours after John Calipari announced his resignation as the Kentucky head coach, a national championship winning coach is being linked to the opening. 

It has been reported that Baylor head coach Scott Drew is discussing the position with Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart, according to Adam Zagoria from NJ.com. This would turn into a solid hire to replace Calipari if the two sides were able to come to an agreement. 

After winning the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Scott Drew's stock has continued to rise within the college basketball universe. Drew's relationship with Barnhart could make this an easy transition, if it were to come to fruition. The Kentucky administration knows that it needs to get this hire done within a certain timeframe, because of the ongoing transfer portal and rebuilding a team that can compete next season for a title. 

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 22:  Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts to a play in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Colgate Raiders at FedExForum on March 22, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Names of potential replacements that have been mentioned over the past 48 hours range from Nate Oats, Billy Donovan and even Dan Hurley. The likelihood of Donovan taking the Kentucky job, if offered, comes at a bad time for the Chicago Bulls head coach, who also led Florida to consecutive national titles. As for Nate Oats, he took his name out of the running before Kentucky technically had an opening, releasing a statement on social media. 

So, can Mitch Barnhart pull-off the quick hire? Absolutely, especially since he's had time to prepare for this situation. There was a lot of chatter after the NCAA Tournament loss to Oakland that the Kentucky brass was ready to move on from Calipari, but ultimately kept him for another season mainly due in-part to the $33 million buyout owed. 

But now that the school is off the hook for any expenses related to John Calipari, the basketball program has more than enough money to invest in the future, especially with a coaching staff and NIL. One of the more beneficial results from Calipari leaving is the impact it will have on donors, who are not having to pass the offering plate around to obtain enough money to buy Calipari out of his deal. 

John Calipari Officially Announces Resignation, But His Exit From Kentucky Was One Big Troll Job On Way Out

Now, that money can go toward getting the next head coach setup with enough financial backing outside the athletic department to put together a talented roster up to the standards of Kentucky. 

"We are working diligently to hire a proven, highly dedicated coach who embraces the importance of this program to our fans and the state of Kentucky," Cats' AD Mitch Barnhart said after Calipari's resignation. 

The past few weeks have taken a toll on the Kentucky athletic department, and fans across the country. If Barnhart can land a coach like Scott Drew to inject new life into the basketball program, it would be considered a home-run hire for the Wildcats. 

The grand-slam hire would be Dan Hurley, and you can bet Kentucky is already trying to gauge his actual interest, with a lot of zeros at the end of that check. 

After all the subplots over the past few days, we all know the Wildcats are swinging for the fences, along with landing a coach who has at least advanced past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament in the last five years.