John Calipari says Kentucky's connection with BBN has "never been stronger"

Big Blue Nation is widely known as the most passionate fanbase in college basketball, for better and sometimes worse. When their beloved Wildcats are firing on all cylinders, the outpouring of support is endless. When things aren’t as pretty, they’ll let you know about it — while also fighting to pick up the team while it’s down. That’s what makes Kentucky special, different from the rest.

This season has been no exception. The highs have been increasingly high and the lows have been pretty darn low. That’s after a 9-16 finish in 2020-21 and a first-round exit in 2021-22.

If you’ve been inside Rupp Arena over the last few weeks, you know that feeling. Fans in every seat, waiting to explode on every made shot or defensive stop, building and carrying momentum each night. That support helped push the Wildcats to their best all-around performance of the season on Saturday in a 32-point blowout victory vs. Auburn.

John Calipari made that clear after the win.

“We’re just getting better. I’m happy for these guys. And you know what else? I’m just so happy for our fans that were promoting and pushing,” he said. “I mean, that building was packed. You don’t think that has an impact on the game? It absolutely does have an impact on the game.”

And it’s not just inside Rupp Arena, either. Big Blue Nation has continued to travel well, doing its part to make an impact on the road. Calipari noticed it specifically in the team’s trip to Gainesville, with the Wildcats leaving the floor to a chorus of “Go Big Blue” chants.

“So now we go to Florida, what do you think they’re yelling at the end of the game? Go Big Blue. Louder than their fans. And it’s our fans on the road. And I’m just happy for the fans who were so patient and were so supportive.”

It’s been a two-way street, with fans rewarded with a four-game winning streak for their continued support. And it’s come at a time Kentucky desperately needed it, during a season of ups and downs within the program. As the Wildcats slowly figured things out, BBN was there for the ride.

“It’s been a year where the kids have had to grow,” Calipari said during his call-in radio show Monday evening. “It’s been a process, but our fans have stuck with us. There’s been some outlying stuff, but the reality of it is they’ve never left. That’s what makes this school, this program, Rupp Arena, what it is.”

And that’s not to say the frustration isn’t there. Things weren’t great after the South Carolina loss at home or the Georgia loss in Athens. “I felt awful after those games,” he added. Fans did too. But from there, they helped lift the team up as it fought for its postseason lives — a winning fight.

“Our fans are engaged. You lose, they get mad. You win, they’re ecstatic,” Calipari said. “But there are those that follow us and watch the tape twice. That’s part of being a fan here. And the connection between this program and our fanbase has never been stronger.”

Now, the hope is his team continues to stack wins in March, using the early adversity as a learning opportunity for the final stretch.

“I’m proud of what this team is doing. I’m proud of these young men. And it’s not been easy,” Calipari said. “Like I’ve always said, this isn’t for everybody. Playing here is not for everybody. This is a hard road and you’re going to have to take the ups and the downs, take the lumps. I sent them a thing today about being uncomfortable with how you grow. If you try to be comfortable, you’re not going to get better.

“There are things that happen. There are mountains you’re climbing, things that fall in your way. You’ve got to stay up and keep stepping forward. This team has done it.”