WATCH: John Calipari previews Kentucky return with ESPN from Rupp Arena

John Calipari is back in Lexington, making his highly anticipated return to Rupp Arena — this time as an Arkansas Razorback, coaching against the Kentucky Wildcats after leading the program for 15 years. Ahead of the chaos set to take over the college basketball world on Saturday, Coach Cal checked out his old stomping grounds with ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes to reminisce a bit on his time at UK and the move to Fayetteville.

“We had a heck of a run,” Calipari said in the 17-minute interview, staring up at the rafters to his 2012 national championship banner. “First of all, it was an honor and a privilege to coach here. I appreciate the school giving me this opportunity, I appreciate the fans supporting me, I appreciate the players I was able to coach. That their mothers and fathers entrusted me with their son and his future.”

Calipari said ‘it’s not time to look in the rearview mirror’ and ‘at Arkansas, I want to do the same for those players that I did for these players.’ That didn’t stop the nostalgia from creeping in, though, celebrating the good times spread across that decade and a half in Lexington. He singled out Anthony Davis’ block vs. North Carolina, John Wall’s buzzer-beater vs. Miami (OH) and all of the Louisville wins as his favorite Rupp Arena moments.

“Nothing is erased here for me,” he said. “What we did in that span of time, you can’t erase. It’s history, it’s written, it’s done.”

How about the reception Saturday? He understands if fans boo — he is the opposing coach, after all — but he’s gonna feel the personal emotions either way.

“Probably as we get closer to game time, I know the emotions will build. The fans should be able to do what they want,” Calipari said. “If they want to boo, they can boo. If they want to cheer, they can cheer. I’m not expecting an overwhelming reaction because, at the end of the day, I’m an opposing coach. I’m not coming in here to lose this game. I get it. It’s a big game for the fans — ‘We’ve got to crush Cal and Arkansas,’ all of that. I’ve done this long enough. I always say, if I go to an opponent’s court, I almost expect it. I’m not looking up and seeing (who is booing), you just coach the game.”

Watch the interview in its entirety below:

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