Rick Pitino urges Kentucky fans to give John Calipari standing ovation at Arkansas game

The last time Rick Pitino took to Twitter to address Kentucky fans was after Mark Pope was hired when John Calipari left for Arkansas, a message that went a long way in getting fans on board with the surprising hire. Ahead of Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena Saturday night, Pitino filmed another message for BBN, encouraging them to treat Calipari with respect. In fact, he wants fans to give Calipari, his former rival, a standing ovation.

In the minute-and-a-half-long video, Pitino reflected on his own return to Rupp Arena as Louisville’s head coach in 2001. The circumstances were slightly different, with Pitino leaving Kentucky for the NBA in 1997 and returning to college basketball to coach the Cats’ biggest rivals. Pitino was soundly booed when he stepped onto the Rupp Arena floor (entering from the home tunnel, not the visitor’s). He laughed it off at the time, but 24 years later, admitted that it stung. Even though he admits that he and John Calipari are not close friends, he doesn’t want Cal to have to experience the same pain on Saturday.

“Hello, Big Blue Nation I didn’t steer you wrong with Mark Pope when I sent out that last video, and I certainly won’t steer you wrong with this video. The toughest day of my coaching career at Louisville was when I had to walk into Rupp Arena. I tried not to show it, but when I went home, the reception, it tore me up in part because I love that place so much. And it’s interesting, because I was speaking to Ed Cooley just recently about Providence, and he said he almost was brought to tears because of the bad feelings he got going back there. But this is different.

“And as you all know, I’m not best friends with John Calipari. I respect him, certainly, but it was a mutual thing. The fans wanted a change. John read the tea leaves. He needed a change, and he really didn’t want to leave. But what did he do for you? He brought the best talent in the history of the game of any university in America to Lexington. He also won a national championship. His style of play was extremely entertaining.

“So he’s coming back on Saturday, and I want all of you to show the great class that you have. 23,000-plus people giving him a huge standing ovation. Show him what respect and admiration is all about. I know you have the class. I’ve always believed in you. Do it once again.”

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— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) January 30, 2025

Pitino on the boos in 2001: “They are not supposed to cheer me”

Pitino lost his first game back at Rupp by 20 points. It was Tubby Smith’s first win over his former boss. Fans not only booed, but had signs calling Pitino a traitor for coming back to Louisville. He said today he tried not to show how much the reception hurt him at the time. Based on the quotes from after the game, he did a pretty convincing job.

“It was funny, my son came running in, laughing hysterically,” Pitino said, via UK Athletics. “He said, ‘I wish mom was here, there was a sign out there that said, ‘We didn’t like you either, Joanne’ and I wish I could have that sign and bring it back to her.’ I think that’s the way we have to take it all, as a good-natured jest. There were comments tonight that we laughed about. That is what the entertainment of college basketball is all about – you have to be able to laugh. When I go home tonight, my house will not be haunted, I can assure you that.”

“I didn’t pay any attention to it,” Pitino said of the boos. “I am the Louisville coach. They are not supposed to cheer me. They are supposed to cheer Tubby. I get cheered in Freedom Hall. If they start booing me in Freedom Hall, then I am in trouble.”

Something tells me we’ll never know the reception Pitino would get at the Yum Center.