How will Kentucky welcome John Calipari in return with Arkansas after uneasy divorce?

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Around the state of Kentucky this week, the water cooler speculation has centered almost entirely on the reception John Calipari will receive Saturday night when he walks into Rupp Arena wearing the Arkansas Razorbacks logo.

Nearly 10 months after one of the most awkward sports divorces in recent memory — one that has, to this point, worked out far better for Kentucky than its former coach of 15 seasons — even Calipari does not expect to be welcomed warmly right now.

“My guess is I’m going to get booed,” Calipari said this week on his weekly radio show, with a sarcastic laugh that betrayed his discomfort. “But that’s all part of it. Shoot, you get booed. I’ve done this so long, I’ll tell ya, I’ve got bazooka holes in my body. So when you shoot arrows, it doesn’t even hit skin. But it’ll be interesting. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to coaching, but to walk in, the vibe, I don’t know how I’m going to take it to be honest with you.”

Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari smiles during a preseason scrimmage against Kansas at Bud Walton Arena.

But there’s one big reason why Kentucky fans should try their best to be magnanimous, and it has nothing to do with the 2012 national championship he brought them or the four Final Four trips or all the NBA stars of the Calipari era who are forever associated with Kentucky.

If Calipari had simply returned for his 16th season, Kentucky would not be ranked No. 12 and enjoying its Era of Good Feelings under Mark Pope, who has leaned all the way into the unique and sometimes overheated relationship between this basketball program and Big Blue Nation.

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Instead, Kentucky would look almost exactly like Arkansas does now: A team languishing at 1-6 in the SEC, almost certain to miss the NCAA men’s tournament, with a defiantly aloof coach trying to…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kentucky-welcome-john-calipari-return-110745054.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-31 11:07:00

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