John Calipari reacts to Kentucky retiring Tubby Smith's jersey

Last night, Mitch Barnhart announced that Kentucky will raise Tubby Smith’s jersey to the Rupp Arena rafters prior to the game vs. High Point on December 31. As expected, John Calipari was asked about Tubby during today’s Media Day press conference. Calipari told reporters he couldn’t be happier for the former Kentucky coach, who won a national championship during his ten-year tenure in Lexington.

“He and I talked today. He and I have talked about this for a while, as a matter of fact. I called him about, you need to get back in here. Really happy the university saw fit to do this for him. But I had one thing I told him. ‘I’m going to tell you now, I’m going to be really ticked if your ovation is bigger than mine.’ That’s what I told him jokingly. And he laughed.”

Calipari recalled how the Big Blue Nation embraced Joe B. Hall when they asked him to perform the “Y” on his birthday several years ago. He hopes Tubby can have a similar moment with fans in Rupp.

“I don’t think Coach Hall understood how much he was loved here. When he went on his birthday and he did the Y and everyone went absolutely bonkers. They did the statue for him here and now he can bring friends to show them. He understood how much he was loved here and I want Tubby to understand. I said, Tubby, when I mention your name — I’m going to be in Louisville tomorrow and I will mention his name — it’s like a standing ovation. I said, ‘Tubby you are loved here.’ And the more that time goes by the more people respect the job he did and how he did it. I’m really happy for him. He deserves it and we’ll be so honored.”

Calipari said the plan is for several of Tubby’s former players to come to Lexington the night before the game for a celebration.

“I think we’re going to have a bunch of them where they come back and honor him together because he was loved. I put it out last night, his players loved him. Loved playing for him.”

In case you missed it last night, the moment Barnhart told Tubby his jersey was being retired is the best thing you’ll watch this week.

WATCH: The emotional moment Tubby Smith learns his name and jersey will be hung for the world to see inside Rupp Arena

All the feels, #BBN 💙💙💙 pic.twitter.com/a6poWvgvmm

— BBN Tonight (@BBNTonight) October 20, 2021