John Calipari on his return to Rupp Arena
Contrast that success with Calipari’s first Arkansas team, which needed six tries to notch its first SEC win of the year, and Kentucky fans figure to have plenty of ammunition Saturday. The Razorbacks are just 12-8 overall, and their 1-6 start to SEC play has them looking like a long shot for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Calipari returns to Kentucky for the first time Saturday when the Wildcats host Arkansas. The Razorbacks (12-8, 1-6) have this week off but No. 12 Kentucky (14-5, 3-3) has a huge game tonight at No. 8 Tennessee (17-3, 4-3).
Ignore the hype. Ignore the noise. Ignore the circus that is sure to surround the return of John Vincent Calipari, who in a 15-year run as the UK coach took the Wildcats to four Final Fours and a national championship before his Big Blue express ran out of steam.
John Calipari knows all too well how passionate the Kentucky fan base is, and so he's not naive about what Saturday night could be like.
John Calipari and the Arkansas basketball team have a big one this weekend as they be hitting the road to take on #12 Kentucky. Calipari was obviously the head coach of the Wildcats last year and had been the head coach since 2009.
The coaching contract details for Mark Pope at Kentucky and John Calipari at Arkansas ahead of Saturday’s SEC basketball showdown in Rupp Arena.
John Calipari won more than 400 games during his 15 seasons leading Kentucky basketball. Many of those wins came in Lexington. These five stand out.
If you drew up the seed list for the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels might be an 11. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi had North Carolina down as an 11-seed on Tuesday morning — hours before the Tar Heels lost at Pitt, 73-65.
John Calipari's legacy in Lexington extends beyond what his Kentucky Wildcats did on the court. Kentucky residents share meaningful moments for them.
Here's a scouting report and prediction for Arkansas basketball's road game against Kentucky, marking John Calipari's return to Rupp Arena.
Notable notes, stats that stand out, and emerging trends as college basketball closes out the month of January.