Calipari, Davis, Cousins together?

Coach adamant that he won’t join former Wildcats

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins is reportedly headed to New Orleans, where he will play with former UK national champion Anthony Davis for the Pelicans.

Just don’t expect their former UK coach to be joining them.

“Not happening,” UK coach John Calipari said Monday morning in an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show when Patrick asked if he could start the rumors of Calipari coaching Cousins and Davis for the Pelicans.

While Patrick’s question was in jest, Calipari went on to claim none of his former UK stars want him to coach them in the pros.

“I’ve held every player I coached back, if you ask them,” Calipari said before telling a story of watching Karl-Anthony Towns take four consecutive 3s in an NBA game because Calipari would not let him take those shots at UK.

“I’d rather be in the situation I’m in to be help, to be a mentor, whatever they need me to be,” Calipari said.

Calipari reiterated his oft-repeated claim he will not coach long enough at UK to “die in the seat,” but he left little doubt about his current career goals.

“What moves me now at my age is we’re creating hope for people and kids,” he said.

While Calipari shot down any speculation he could join Cousins and Davis in New Orleans before it could really start, he does expect big things from the duo playing together eventually.

“(Cousins) and Anthony are going to have to figure it out together, and it takes time,” Calipari said. “It’s just not gonna happen in a week. It just doesn’t. … They’re two players that want to win, that like each other.”