Coach K believes John Calipari would have won more championships at Kentucky with time

John Calipari sent shockwaves throughout the college basketball world when news broke that he would be leaving Kentucky in favor of the recently opened Arkansas job.

Many have chimed in on the unlikely move across the SEC, including fellow Hall of Fame coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K explained his initial thoughts on Calipari’s change of scenery after 15 years in Lexington.

“I think he did a great job at Kentucky,” Krzyzewski said on Sirius XM Sports Radio . “You know, the difference — It’s very difficult winning a National Championship. Connecticut seem to make it like it wasn’t these last two years, but a lot of times you’re one play away, or 30 seconds away. And I’ll bet if you could give John a minute — he would have won two more national championships.

“You know, I remember being asked one time, ‘What’s the difference between being a winner and a champion?’ And I said one play. I mean, I can be a winner but not be a champion because you hit the shot that I defended you on. But I’m proud of what John did, and I wish him the best at Arkansas.”

Calipari had not won a championship in Lexington for 12 seasons — and hasn’t been back to the Final Four since 2015. Not to mention UK hadn’t sniffed the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since before the pandemic.

Now, he’s going to try to recreate his early success right across the league, in Fayetteville where he’ll be playing the Wildcats on a yearly basis. Including a trip back to Lexington in 2024.

“That’s funny, you know to go within the league,” Coach K continued. “But who knows? Nothing right now is funny or surprising. Funny and surprising have left the room. You’re not — I guess — shock has left the room too. It’s like, ‘Oh, that just happened,’ or ‘Oh, that kid just transferred.'”

Calipari is going to have to hit the transfer portal hard while attempting to convince his No. 2 incoming recruiting class that he pieced together at Kentucky to follow him to Arkansas — as he has no players on his current roster.

Whether Calipari brings back some of the Razorbacks already in the portal, or others entirely, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek went on record during Wednesday’s introductory press conference saying he is extremely confident that Calipari can put together a winning roster in Fayetteville — and fast.