Roy Williams shares what to expect in John Calipari’s emotional return to Kentucky

[ad_1]

John Calipari will embark on a supremely unique experience Saturday night. After a glorious run at Kentucky, where he won a national title and coached in four Final Fours, Calipari will return as the leader of Arkansas basketball.

There haven’t been many coaches in the history of college basketball with that kind of success at just one stop, and even fewer who leave and have to eventually face their former employer on their home floor. Bob Huggins at Cincinnati and Rick Pitino, also against Kentucky, are other emotional returns.

Roy Williams never had to go back to Allen Fieldhouse, but he did coach against Kansas three times after a 15-year run with the Jayhawks. That’s the same amount of time Calipari spent at Kentucky, and both coaches are in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, but Williams left Kansas earlier in his coaching career. He returned to his alma mater, winning three national championships with North Carolina.

Williams spoke with the Southwest Times Record last week about the emotions of coaching against a former school, and what Calipari can expect Saturday night with the Razorbacks (12-8, 1-6 SEC).

To put it simply, Williams doesn’t envy what Calipari will endure this week.

More: Arkansas basketball recruits Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas named McDonald’s All-Americans

More: ‘I started fighting more’: How Zvonimir Ivisic increased his role with Arkansas basketball

“John’s going to have it much harder than me. I can’t imagine what it would have been like for me if I would have gone to Allen Fieldhouse,” Williams said.

“I just loved coaching there, and I have to imagine John loved coaching at Rupp Arena and how those people supported him for all those years, but those same people are going to hope that Kentucky beats the crap out of him.”

Williams believes the 48 hours prior to tipoff will be the most difficult stretch of the week for Calipari.

On his weekly radio show Monday night, Calipari said he doesn’t have a rear-view mirror and he won’t reflect on his time…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/roy-williams-shares-expect-john-100122187.html

Author : Ft. Smith Southwest Times Record

Publish date : 2025-01-29 10:01:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.