KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Describing himself as a baseball nut, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson proved it on Thursday by comparing Kentucky coach John Calipari to former Baltimore Orioles shortstop Mark Belanger.
To explain: "John Calipari will never get the credit from a lot of people for being a great coach," Sampson said.
Sampson's Houston team will square off Friday against Calipari's Kentucky in the NCAA Sweet 16.
Though Sampson described Cal as a "good-hit, no-field shortstop," his bringing up Belanger suggested he meant that instead as no-hit, good-field. The former ballplayer's reputation and stats were as an outstanding fielder and not much of a hitter.