Kentucky fan boos John Calipari exiting plane ahead of Rupp Arena return

One of the most anticipated returns of a college basketball coach happens this weekend, when Arkansas head coach John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena, home of his former team, the Kentucky Wildcats. Many are anticipating plenty of animosity for the former Wildcats head coach. And Kentucky fans even showed up to the airport on Friday to make sure Calipari heard the boos on the eve of the showdown.

They are already booing at the airport pic.twitter.com/0DOz0cHj9q

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) January 31, 2025

John Calipari shared his thoughts on the game

On Saturday, Arkansas head coach John Calipari will make his first appearance as an opposing head coach in Rupp Arena since leaving Kentucky last spring. On the eve of the massive showdown, ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes sat down with Calipari and asked him how he expects the crowd to react to his return.

“I haven’t spent much time thinking about it,” Calipari said. “I was just locked into focusing on what we got to do and being at peace with what we have. Now, probably as we get closer to game time… Look, the fans should be able to do what they want.

“If they want to boo; if they want to cheer, they want to cheer. I’m not expecting like an overwhelming [cheer] because I’m an opposing coach and I’m coming in here not to lose this game. I get it. It’s a big game for the fans, you know, ‘We got to crush Cal and Arkansas and all that.’ I get it. I’ve done this long enough.”

College basketball fans across the nation have debated non-stop this week about how Kentucky fans will welcome Calipari back to Lexington. While many fans had a knee-jerk reaction to Calipari’s decision to leave, time has dampened the frustration of many members of Big Blue Nation.

It doesn’t hurt that Kentucky is having an excellent season without the 65-year-old head coach striding up and down the sidelines. The Wildcats are 15-5 this season and have six wins against Top-15 opponents.

“My focus will be right on these lines, right in there, and my focus is going to be my kids,” Calipari said. “How do I keep them going? Me coaching and kind of staying ahead of the game in this kind of game, and trying to drag them across the finish line if I have to. I’m hoping they drag me across the finish line.”

John Calipari and his Razorbacks will square off against Kentucky at 9 p.m. ET inside Rupp Arena. The game will air live on ESPN.

On3’s Grant Grubbs also contributed to this article.