"He's one of my best friends, too," Daly said of Calipari. "I tried to get him the Arkansas job before Pelphrey was even mentioned, and you have a good one here (at Kentucky). Coach Cal is the best. I couldn't ask for a better coach in both of those guys."
Daly said both coaches share a similar style and likes the way Pelphrey and Calipari approach the players on and off the court.
"They coach the same, they're hard on the team, hard on the guys and get what they want to get out of them and they're winners," he said.
Daly said it won't take Calipari long to return Kentucky to national prominence. He predicts a quick rise for the Wildcats, who haven't won a national championship in 11 years. It's also been more than a decade since Kentucky has reached the Final Four.
"I think in three years, Kentucky will win a national championship," he said. "I'll bet on it, that's for sure."
What makes Calipari successful? Daly said the answer is simple.
"He's a hell of a recruiter and he's a good player's coach," he said. "It's not about liking a coach, it's about respecting him. Every player who has played for coach Cal respects him and they work their butts off. He gets the best out of them, not just on the court, but in school, too."
Fellow PGA Tour member J.B. Holmes, who defeated Daly 1-up in an exhibition match Sunday at Mahan Manor Golf and Hunt Club last weekend, is equally excited about having Calipari at Kentucky. Holmes played collegiate golf at Kentucky and is a native of Campbellsville.
"Who isn't excited," he said with a smile. "He has brought in a great class (of recruits) and I think they're going to be good this year. The season hasn't started, but he's done everything to put things in place to win so far. He's done a great job so far and I think the team's going to be really good this year."
Holmes hasn't met Calipari yet, but like Daly, he's expecting big things from the Kentucky coach.
"Hopefully they'll win the national championship," he said. "They have some great players, so we'll just have to wait and see what they do."
