Warning: If you hate John Calipari and have any preconceived notions about what a dirty scoundrel he is, don't read this story. Or, better yet, maybe you should.

Calipari was in Stratford Wednesday night, not to recruit a player but to be the guest speaker at the St. Joseph's boys basketball banquet. Stems from his long-time friendship with St. Joe's coach Vito Montelli.

I'm not saying this is the greatest act of kindness ever performed by a college basketball coach (though it's not the first time Cal has done something like this). But let's face it, the head coach of the national champions didn't have to come from Kentucky to Stratford, Conn., on a Wednesday night to address a high school boys basketball team -- one which holds no potential recruits for him. Just a guy being loyal to his friend.

Not saying Calipari is a saint, but maybe he's not as evil as some make him out to be.

*** On another note, while sifting through my blog archives this morning looking for an old post, I came across this from April 9, 2009, just a few days after UConn had been beaten by Michigan State in the Final Four: Calhoun, through a press release sent out by the school, announced that he would be returning to coach UConn  the following season. Why? To nip all the rumors of his potential retirement in the bud, and as much as anything else, help the Huskies on the recruiting trail.

So when Calhoun says now that, with two years left on his contract, there's no reason for him to announce he's returning and that the only announcement would be if he's not returning ... well, that wasn't the case three years ago. Obviously, he wants to keep some doors open.