John Calipari is preparing for an emotional return to Lexington as he makes his first trip back since leaving Kentucky last spring.
His Arkansas Razorbacks will face the Kentucky Wildcats next Saturday night in a highly anticipated primetime matchup.
“There will be some emotion walking into that building and really being in town.”
Arkansas falls to Oklahoma 65-62 tonight. Next up for the Razorbacks is an anticipated trip to Kentucky.
Here’s Coach Cal’s full answer on his return to Lexington. #WPS pic.twitter.com/9Fpr99kdWN
— Jacob Morris (@JacobMorrisTV) January 26, 2025
“There will definitely be some emotion walking into that building,” Calipari admitted. “And just being in town again. I’ll probably catch up with some friends. They’re playing really well, and we’ve got our hands full. Let’s see what happens.”
Although Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky didn’t end on the best terms, his accomplishments are undeniable. During his time with the Wildcats, he guided the team to six SEC Tournament titles, six SEC regular-season championships, four Final Four appearances, and one National Championship.
Calipari also left a lasting legacy by becoming one of only two coaches in program history to achieve over 400 wins, the other being the legendary Adolph Rupp.
As for the game itself, Kentucky will likely enter as heavy favorites. Arkansas, with just one SEC victory this season, recently suffered a major setback with point guard Boogie Fland sidelined by a season-ending injury.
Meanwhile, Kentucky, now under head coach Mark Pope, has had a strong start to the season and currently sits at 14-5.
The Arkansas-Kentucky clash is set to tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday night and promises to be an intriguing matchup, blending history, emotions, and fierce competition.
