John Calipari implied on Twitter that playing in Gonzaga’s 6,000-seat home arena would automatically mean a loss for UK. (Jeff Houchin Photo)
This has been a near-perfect offseason for Kentucky basketball after the stunning loss to Saint Peter’s in the NCAA Tournament.
Coach John Calipari has seemed to say and do everything perfectly, including Tuesday night’s telethon that raised almost $3 million for eastern Kentucky flood relief. During the event, Calipari and Gonzaga coach Mark Few also announced a home-and-home series starting with a game Nov. 20 at Gonzaga.
That created quite a buzz in the college basketball world with Gonzaga expected to be one of the nation’s best teams again next year and Kentucky a potential top five team. It also raised the level of UK’s non-conference schedule and will give UK fans a marquee home game early in the 2023-24 season.
But then came word that the game would not be at Gonzaga’s 6,000-seat on campus facility known as “The Kennel.” Instead, the game will be at 13,000-seat Spokane Arena.
Nothing wrong with playing in the bigger arena to give more fans from both teams a chance to attend. However, Calipari didn’t exactly explain the game location that way.
Calipari initially tweeted he was “disappointed” the first game would be at Gonzaga but he was willing to do that to have the series take place. He even said he thought there would be both UK and Gonzaga fans “who will sneak in the game this year because there’s more seats.”
That’s all true but Calipari couldn’t let it go. He obviously knew some, especially national media members, were criticizing him for not playing in “The Kennel.” Now remember a year ago Alabama and Gonzaga played in Seattle — and Alabama won. In previous years Texas, Texas A&M and Creighton all played in “The Kennel” and all lost.
“Anybody that wants us to play in a 6,000-seat facility, wants us to lose! And I get that. I tried to look back and find the last time UK played in a true regular-season road game with 6,000 or fewer fans. I stopped looking after the 70s,” Calipari posted on Twitter.
Quickly the Gonzaga Kennel Club tweeted that “Coach Cal is scared of us” and has given Gonzaga extra motivation.
Not saying Calipari needed a do-over here but I don’t think UK fans want Calipari saying UK can’t win in The Kennel. That’s not how a national champion talks, and why couldn’t Kentucky win in a 6,000-seat arena.
It’s one tweet Caliipari would have been better off not making.
5 Responses
Regardless what the media or our and Gonzaga fans think we need take it as blessing that match up is taken place. Think about it cat fans it the same weekend that our football team plays Georgia can’t ask for a better weekend.
Going to be a great matchup. Cal just got a little carried away with what he said this time
Yes he did Larry!
Calipari steps on his message repeatedly, not just this time. If UK is the gold standard, if UK is capable of taking on all comers, anytime, any place, then that must include this place at that time. I don’t think Calipari appreciates the significance of his unwise statement.
However, I agree with setting up this series as he did, in a larger venue, more fitting for the magnitude of this match-up. I also agree with his decision to start this series at their place given the nature of UK’s on-going scheduling with UL and UL coming to Rupp this season.
I think this game will give UK and Gonzaga and early season reading on their true post season prospects.
I know season ticket holders want more home n home and I don’t blame them, but playing true road games does little to help ur seeding or prepare u for the tournament. Winning at friendly Rupp isn’t nearly as impressive as a neutral site win, either.
So, personally, I wish all big games were on a neutral floor – it is a better measure of ur team