Last April, John Calipari decided to “move away” from the University of Kentucky after 15 seasons; A day later, he joined the University of Arkansas.
Well, Calipari returned to Kentucky on Saturday evening, and despite a championship in 2012 and a percentage of victories of 0.771, Boos still managed to be strong on his return.
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Well, Calipari had the last laugh, while his razorbacks won an upset victory of 89-79 against the country’s 12th row team.
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Arkansas head coach John Calipari gives his team from the Kentucky match on Saturday February 1, 2025 in Rupp Arena in Lexington. (Matt Stone / Courier Journal / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Calipari admitted that it had taken a while to get used to it.
“It’s hard to win here. And I have to be honest with you, I looked up a few times and I thought we lost because I continued to look at Kentucky instead of Arkansas,” said Calipari . “I clearly indicated that it was a privilege and an honor to train here. We had 15 incredible years of a great race and support.”
With Kentucky, Calipari made the NCAA tournament all the seasons except two. The team of last year was eliminated in the first round at the top of the N ° 3 against Jack Gohlke and the No. 14 Oakland. In 2022, the Wildcats were upset by the No. 15 of Saint-Pierre, and they lost in the round of 32 in 2023.
Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari is held on the field before the Kentucky Wildcats in Rupp Arena at the Central Bank Center. (Jordan Prather-Imagn images)
Bobby Hurley of Arizona State sends the team to the locker room early after the opponent’s behavior, the ejections
Calipari went 410-122 (.771) with the Wildcats-The Arkansas team of this year is now 13-8 but 2-6 at conference.
The renowned temple coach is the most victorious active coach of male university basketball and has an 867-271 brand during his stops at Massachusetts, Memphis, Kentucky and now Arkansas. He had 248-26 at Rupp Arena and led the Wildcats to a 93-77 victory against Vanderbilt in his last home game in Kentucky on March 6.
It was not just a return for Calipari. Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner and Zvonimir Ivisic combined to score 42 points against their former team in Lexington en route to victory.
Arkansas coach John Calipari took the court before the Kentucky Wildcats match on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Lexington. (Matt Stone / Courier Journal / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
The Arkansas leading 46-45 at halftime, Thiero and Wagner combined for a sequence of 12-2 and an advance of 58-47 to start the second half. Thiero opened with a dunk and finished the race with a three, and the razorbacks never looked back.
