WATCH: John Calipari calls out Auburn over importance of matchup
Kentucky head coach John Calipari addressed Auburn’s fans rushing the court after defeating his Wildcats 80-71 Saturday. Some Tigers fans were trying to say their game against UK wasn’t a big one — their ticket prices contradict that.
“But they charged the court, shirts off and it’s not a big game? Okay,” Calipari said on his radio show Monday night. “I’d hate to see them when they play a big game. Take [their] shorts off, maybe? I don’t know.”
Calipari pointed out that Auburn fans were buying standing room-only tickets for Saturday’s game — for $250 a pop. If that’s not a ticket to a big game, someone is getting scalped.
“But, you know, I’m not being disrespectful in that everybody that plays us, it’s everybody who plays us,” he said. “We’re in that environment every time we play.”
Calipari makes a good point. Whenever teams host “blue blood” programs like Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, etc., the building is more than likely sold out. It gives the opposing players even more motivation knowing they can knock off a historically great program in front of their home fans.
Last Tuesday Kentucky went down to College Station to take on a then-15-2 Texas A&M squad and the most fans in the history of TAMU’s arena showed up.
Teams also host special events when blue bloods come to town. Staying with Kentucky, Notre Dame retired ESPN analyst LaPhonso Ellis’ jersey at halftime when UK came to town. LSU renamed their court after their all-time great coach during the Wildcats roadtrip to Baton Rouge as well.
These types of things don’t happen against just any program. There’s a reason why UK dubs itself “The Greatest Tradition.” Their history can back it up.
Auburn beating Kentucky solidified the Tigers season as legitimate national championship contenders. Two days after the win, Auburn earned the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in program history.
Auburn is one of, if not the best team in the country with wins over some of the SEC’s finest. Their one loss came to a ranked UConn Husky team in double overtime, but their Kentucky win is the biggest of the season, still.
The Wildcats were having their best stretch of the season thus far heading into the Auburn matchup and the Tigers staked their claim as the SEC’s best Cats. As Calipari illustrated, it was a big game and an even bigger win for Auburn. The win not only improved the Tigers to 7-0 in conference play, but they jumped up to a two-game lead over Kentucky in the SEC standings heading into the final stretch of the regular season.