The last time Rick Pitino took to Twitter to address Kentucky fans was after Mark Pope was hired when John Calipari left for Arkansas, a message that went a long way in getting fans on board with the surprising hire.
On Saturday night, he’ll be introduced as head coach of the visiting team, the Arkansas Razorbacks. UK fans have not had to cope with anything similar since Rick Pitino — himself a UK national champion — brought archrival Louisville into Rupp in 2001.
If Arkansas beats Kentucky on Saturday, I can see a movie in the works: Call it "The Calipari Redemption," with speaking roles for Morgan Freeman as trail-blazing basketball coaches Nolan Richardson and Orlando "Tubby" Smith.
Here's a scouting report and prediction for Arkansas basketball's road game against Kentucky, marking John Calipari's 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.
The hobbled No. 12 Wildcats, down starters Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr, show grit in tense win vs.the No. 8 Volunteers
How Mark Pope’s Wildcats and John Calipari’s Razorbacks match up at each position for Saturday’s SEC men’s basketball showdown.
Granted, Kentucky was a longtime blue blood in the world of basketball and Arkansas’ climb to success had come during Sutton’s 11 years as the head coach. He laid a foundation that Nolan Richardson used to add a trophy room that included the 1994 national championship.
John Calipari expects boos from the Kentucky faithful when Arkansas visits the Wildcats at Rupp Arena Saturday night. It’ll be the first time the head coach visits the arena as an opposing man on the sidelines since he left Kentucky.
Last season, Zvonimir Ivisic was a constant storyline for UK basketball. How has Ivisic fared this season at Arkansas?
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.