It might be fun to dream about John Calipari as Michigan basketball head coach. But it’s nothing more than that, an insane pipe dream that will never come true.

Trilly Donovan, who has become one of the most trusted insiders in college basketball, dropped a rumor about Calipari reporting that he would “listen” if “Michigan offered him everything he wanted.” That’s the problem though, Michigan basketball can’t make a serious offer to a coach like Calipari.

It’s like the Michigan basketball fans throwing out the name of Jay Wright. Why not call Coach K? See if he’ll leave retirement to coach the Wolverines. That’s as likely as Calipari becoming Michigan’s head coach.

Rumors about Calipari and Michigan basketball don’t make sense

Why? For starters, Michigan isn’t going to pay a basketball coach $10 million. It just won’t. I would be shocked if they paid a big buyout to hire the head coach from Iowa State, let alone paying what they would need to in order to steal Calipari away from Kentucky, a true blue blood.

Beyond that, Michigan doesn’t have the NIL to compete with Kentucky, Duke, UConn, Kansas, and the true powers of college basketball. Chris Balas reported on Sunday that Michigan basketball NIL was “miles behind” Northwestern. Freaking Northwestern. That tells you all you need to know.

Michigan couldn’t even steal away Chris Collins if it wanted because it refuses to do what is necessary to compete at the highest level. Sure, there is talk that will change and that money “won’t be an obstacle” but we have heard that before, and it’s never been true.

So don’t scoff at Dusty May. He’s probably the best option. There might be a better one, but it’s likely coming from a Mid-Major and talk of adding a coach like Calipari isn’t based in reality.

It’s a ploy by Calipari to get more support. Nate Oats used potential Michigan interest to get a new deal, so why wouldn’t Calipari try to get boosters worried (and commit more support) by teasing interest in Michigan?

Michigan is a big enough name to draw attention, but not invested enough in hoops or being an elite athletic department to consider hiring a coach like Calipari, Wright, or even T.J. Otzelberger. Or “giving him all he would need to compete.”

If you think any of that is realistic, you haven’t been paying attention.

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