Tough draw for John Calipari with the 9 p.m. start for his Rupp Arena homecoming

It’s the worst-case scenario for John Calipari when he returns to Rupp Arena with his new team, the Arkansas Razorbacks. Calipari’s Arkansas will play one game against Kentucky in the 2024-25 regular season, and the Southeastern Conference put their one meeting in Lexington. Bud Walton Arena will not get a return trip.

The reunion worsened for Calipari on Thursday when the SEC assigned Kentucky-Arkansas the 9 p.m. time slot on Saturday, February 1. Calipari hates 9 p.m. games. We heard his complaints when Kentucky often drew late start times. And to be fair, the late games, especially midweek, can be a grind. Nobody prefers them.

[Tipoff times, TV assignments for Kentucky’s 2024-25 schedule released]

But in this case, Kentucky fans may welcome a full day of build-up for the biggest home game in many years, while Calipari has a full day of waiting. Generally, the opposing team waits in a nearby hotel room, but Calipari could sneak off for a distraction. He has several friends around Lexington. Who knows, he may even walk the old block or check on his old seat at Dunkin’ Donuts. Still, that will likely be an excruciating wait until game time in his old Kentucky home.

The Big Blue Nation won’t mind the wait. Kentucky fans can make a whole day of it before settling in with the resurgence of the Kentucky-Arkansas rivalry on a Saturday night in February. The SEC even found a Saturday without football, tucking its most anticipated college basketball game between the NFL’s conference championship weekend and the Super Bowl. Kentucky-Arkansas will be the biggest show in sports on February 1.

In downtown Lexington, it’s fair to say the Rupp Arena crowd will be a little more loose for a Saturday night rather than a noon tip-off. Rupp should be rocking for Calipari’s return, and the likelihood of him hearing a boo or two increased with the 9 p.m. start. It should be an atmosphere unlike many Rupp has seen, if any.

Certainly, the 9 p.m. tip is a bad draw for Calipari and the Razorbacks. The SEC did them wrong with that one. But the BBN welcomes the opportunity. It’ll be here in 114 days.

Go Cats.