Kentucky fans will "welcome" John Calipari back to Rupp Arena Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
This is the start of John Calipari Week.
The former Kentucky coach will bring his Arkansas Razorbacks to Rupp Arena Saturday night in a “must win” game for most Kentucky fans.
Kentucky has lost two straight games going into Tuesday night’s game at Tennessee where the Cats will definitely be an underdog in Knoxville.
Kentucky is 3-3 in SEC play going into that game in Knoxville. Arkansas does not play again until it gets to Lexington but Calipari’s team is now 1-5 after losing 65-62 at home to Oklahoma Saturday.
Kentucky does have six top 15 wins despite its recent woes but Calipari’s team has struggled all season.
Calipari was asked about coming back to Kentucky after the loss to Oklahoma. Here’s what he said:
“I’m still on this game but, yeah, there will be some emotion walking into that building (Rupp Arena), and really being in town. (I’ll) probably get together with some of my friends,” Calipari said.
“”They’re playing good. We’ve got our hands full and let’s see what happens. They’re a good team. Mark’s doing a good job with them.”
Arkansas was 11-2 in non-conference play but started SEC play 0-5. Former UK signee Boogie Fland was averaging 15.1 points and 5.7 assists per game for Arkansas but is out for the year with a thumb injury.
“We just gotta keep going, keep fighting, keep figuring this out,” Calipari said after the Oklahoma loss. “What does this team look like? What do we have to play like?”
Former Cats Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner and Zvonimir Ivisic will be making their return to Rupp Arena with Calipari. Freshmen Karter Knox and Billy Richmond had both signed with UK before following Calipari to Arkansas.
Calipari was 410-122 (.771) in 15 seasons at Kentucky and won six SEC regular season championships, six SEC Tournament titles and a national championship in 2012.
4 Responses
I just hope the man doesn’t get BOOOOed. He saved Kentucky over 50 million dollars. He could have walked away from basketball as a hall of gamer and been a commentator and probably done a phenomenal job hearing what he talks about during the game. The last 5 years at Kentucky were to much for cal. You have to have the passion and the energy and he doesn’t have it anymore. Kenny Payne is a prime example he was in his late 50s took a job that he loved had the whole city behind him but just didn’t have the energy to get the fans and team on board then here comes Kelsey a nerdy but energy filled fellow who knows how to bring the energy and his team feeds off of him. Your team is a reflection of the coach. Look at Buzz Williams and Bruce Pearl there teams play with there energy that’s why they are always going to be good teams as long as they don’t lose there passion. Its even harder to keep passion noadays with NIL and if a player and a coach don’t agree instead of working out the difference the player just transfers schools. That doesn’t teach anyone anything in life except to run from your problems. The NCAA is a mess. Another thing players don’t feel like they need cal to make millions now. People make more in NCAA basketball then they do in the NBA
Well said Terry
Cal will get BOOED loudly!! I dont think the former players will get Booed?! I just want to win & yes thank you Cal for saving us the millions!! GodBless GO CATS!! Later on if Cal continues coaching will not get Booed as bad!!
He saved us millions after trying to extort more money from us and it didn’t work out.