Skip to main content

Watch John Calipari Celebrate a Victory in the Rupp Arena Locker Room

Nick-Roush-headshotby:Nick Roushabout 9 hours

RoushKSR

Arkansas head coach John Calipari, via Dr. Michael Huang, KSR
Arkansas head coach John Calipari, via Dr. Michael Huang, KSR

John Calipari has won quite a few big games at Rupp Arena. A couple of big wins over North Carolina immediately come to mind. There were also plenty over Louisville. He added another to his list on Saturday night. This time the victim was Kentucky.

Arkansas played its best game of the season. The worst shooting team in the SEC was 55% from the floor. The Razorbacks hit 13 threes and scored 89 points in a 10-point win.

Ahead of his Rupp Arena reunion, John Calipari said the first thing that came to mind was his players, specifically the three former Wildcats now dressed in red. Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner, and Zvonimir Ivisic each played their best basketball of the season, maybe of their careers. They combined to make seven three-pointers and score 52 points.

When the Razorbacks made it back to the Rupp Arena locker room, Calipari thanked his Arkansas players for getting the old Wildcats an emotional win.

“On behalf of DJ, Adou, Z, and ME (thank you),” they applauded.

Calipari admitted that he was confused a few times when he looked up at the scoreboard.

“I hate to tell you, a couple times I looked up and I thought we were down because I saw Kentucky-Arkansas,” he said. Thiero could relate.

John Calipari was a happy man, but he didn’t gloat too much publicly. In fact, he removed himself from the floor and did his postgame interview from the tunnel. He stopped responding to Alyssa Lang for a moment to holler at Billy Richmond.

Even after watching it all a second time, it’s still hard to believe Kentucky actually lost to Arkansas. This one hits different.

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.

Discuss This Article

Comments have moved.

Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.

KSBoard

2025-02-02