For new Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball head coaches, the job really starts at the exact second that significant adversity is faced for the first time.

For Mark Pope, that moment came late Saturday night in a Rupp Arena filled by disappointment.

In a game against the immediate past Kentucky head coach, in which the Big Blue Nation desperately wanted to make a statement by winning, it was instead John Calipari and his previously struggling Arkansas team (13-8, 2-6 SEC) that delivered a message.

Outplaying and out-strategizing UK, Calipari and a Razorbacks team stocked with former Kentucky players and recruits hung an 89-79 upset on the No. 12 Wildcats (15-6, 4-4 SEC) before 21,266 fans.

“My guys were hurting, my guys were really hurting in the locker room,” Pope said afterward.

“They know what this building means, they know what this jersey means. They see everything and hear everything and they know what matters.

They’re getting an up hand, up close look at how much it means to the people they are playing for.”

The dominant question in the run up to Saturday’s “Calipari homecoming game” — whether or not Cal would be booed on his first return to the arena where he had coached for the previous 15 seasons — was answered long before the ex-UK coach stepped foot on Cawood’s Court. When ex-Cats-turned-Hogs Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic first came on the court for pregame warmups, the UK student section booed them heartily. Thus, it was no surprise when the eRUPPtion Zone and other UK student sections let Calipari have it, too, when he came out minutes before tipoff.

The booing of Calipari upset some of the coach’s buddies in the national college hoops media. However, the jeers seemed to come primarily from the Kentucky student sections and felt, to me, more like college kids raising some heck than actual malice.

Alas, if the pregame booing of Calipari was predictable, the rest of the night was filled with surprise.

As the Calipari coaching era at Kentucky went sour over its final four seasons, a common lament was that, strategically, the game had passed by the aging coach. So imagine the surprise that filled Rupp Arena on Saturday night when Calipari returned with a rapier-sharp offensive game plan for which UK — and Pope — had no answer. Recognizing that, merely as a matter of roster construction, Kentucky had no defensive counter for the 6-foot-8, 220-pound Thiero, Calipari kept putting the forward in isolation sets that allowed him to drive the ball downhill.

The result was 12 trips to the foul line and 21 points for Thiero. Arkansas also proved adept in two-man, pick-and-roll actions with guards D.J. Wagner and Johnell Davis working with the 7-foot-2 Ivisic. Wagner, last season’s starting Kentucky point guard, played his best game ever at Rupp with 17 points (all in the second half) and eight assists. Davis, the former Florida Atlantic star who had been one of this season’s biggest transfer portal disappointments, found his game in a big way with 18 points, five rebounds and six assists.

Meanwhile, Ivisic “popped” in four of seven 3-pointers en route to 14 points. “Coming back and playing this well — and we played well, we did,” Calipari said. “We made a lot of shots.” That might have been the biggest surprise of all. Prior to coming to Lexington, Arkansas had made 32.5% of its 3-point attempts in 2024-25. Against UK, the Razorbacks hit 13 of 25 treys, a scalding 52%. “We were definitely surprised at first,” Kentucky forward Ansley Almonor said of Arkansas’ long-range marksmanship. “That was really uncharacteristic of them, to come out there and shoot 3s.”

From the time of the rousing Rupp Arena pep rally that served as Pope’s introduction through victories this season over Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida and Tennessee, the new Kentucky head man had done nothing but put points on the board for the UK fan base. Losing to Calipari is the first time Pope has disappointed the BBN in something that really mattered to Wildcats fans. So now we will see how the former Kentucky big man handles the scrutiny, the second guessing and the criticism that engulfs a UK coach when something important goes awry.

The biggest test, of course, is to see if Pope can steer the Cats through the challenging situation injuries have created with the Wildcats playing rotation. Though Kentucky went on the road Tuesday night and beat No. 8 Tennessee without starting point guard Lamont Butler (shoulder issue), the former San Diego State star’s absence appeared to hurt the Wildcats on both ends of the floor against Arkansas. “I’m trying to figure out how to navigate, we have a bunch of guys that are stretching right now to figure out how to play out of position and to make it work,” Pope said of the UK backcourt. “… It’s almost like we started a new season. We are two games into a new season (without Butler) a little bit for our team and we are going to learn some new ways to attack this and we will get better at it.”

Calipari’s Saturday night surprise officially put Mark Pope on the clock as head men’s basketball coach at Kentucky. We’re about to learn a lot about the new man.

It finally happened.

Friday night saw the unofficial return of John Calipari to a Rupp Arena court where he was part of countless wins throughout his tenure as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program.

The Arkansas Razorbacks’ official Twitter account recorded the event, which also saw former Wildcats Tyler Ulis, Kareem Watkins, Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivisic, and DJ Wagner make their return to Rupp Arena.

You can see Cal’s return to Rupp below.

Kentucky basketball ripped a massive win on the road in Knoxville. How are they doing on the recruiting trail?

Kentucky basketball recruiting never lacks drama, and this past week was no different. With top targets making moves and current commits making waves, there’s plenty to talk about in Big Blue Nation.

Five-star forward Nate Ament, one of the top uncommitted prospects in the 2025 class, was in Knoxville for Kentucky’s thrilling road win over Tennessee. Ament, a versatile 6-foot-9 wing ranked in the top 10 nationally, has Kentucky among his top schools, and watching the Wildcats pull off a gritty win in that hostile environment had to leave an impression, even though it was a Tenneessee official visit.

Ament’s game fits the modern style—he’s long, athletic, and can stretch the floor with his shooting. He’s also a plus defender who uses his length to disrupt passing lanes. Kentucky would love to add him to their already loaded 2025 class, but competition is stiff.

As expected, Alijah Arenas, son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, made it official—he’s staying home. The elite scoring guard committed to USC, a decision that wasn’t much of a surprise given his deep ties to the West Coast. Kentucky had been involved in his recruitment, but the buzz around him joining the Wildcats never really picked up steam.

Five-star forward Caleb Wilson took an interesting approach when discussing his dream lineup for 2025 propspects. Wilson, a North Carolina commit, recently posted his ideal 2025 starting lineup—one that included three Kentucky commits (Acaden Lewis, Jasper Johnson, and Malachi Moreno) and one undecided prospect considering Kentucky (Nate Ament).

The move left Kentucky fans scratching their heads. If Wilson truly wanted to play alongside those guys, why not just commit to Kentucky? Instead, he chose UNC and then put together a hypothetical dream team filled with future Wildcats. Intentional trolling or just a weird coincidence? Either way, it certainly stirred the pot.

Despite missing on Wilson, Kentucky’s 2025 class remains one of the best in the country. Jasper Johnson is a dynamic scoring guard, Acaden Lewis brings elite playmaking, and Malachi Moreno is a dominant post presence. If they can land Ament, it would solidify Kentucky’s spot as the team to beat on the recruiting trail.

Recruiting is always unpredictable, but one thing is certain—Kentucky will be in the middle of the biggest battles until signing day. For full recruit list,

Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari will return to his former stomping grounds on Saturday when his Razorbacks square up against the Kentucky Wildcats. It represents his first time back at Rupp Arena since leaving last year.

Rick Pitino found himself in those same shoes earlier in his coaching career. After leaving Lexington and landing at Louisville, he faced an angry Big Blue Nation in 2001.

Pitino led the Wildcats for eight seasons, leading the program to three Final Fours and a national championship. He left to coach in the NBA before returning to college for a bitter rival.

At Louisville, he won another title before his controversial exit. He says the most difficult time in his coaching career came as a visitor in Rupp Arena.

John Calipari now expects to see a similar welcome when facing a Kentucky program he previously led to a title. The head coach experienced immediate success at the start of his tenure, racking up four Final Fours in his first five seasons.

Unfortunately, he was unable to sustain that success throughout the remainder of his time in Lexington. While the Wildcats were an annual NCAA Tournament team, they often struggled in the postseason.

A string of early exits to lower-ranked foes eventually led his relationship with the fanbase to sour. He chose to walk away from Lexington after 15 years, agreeing to a deal with SEC rival Arkansas while bringing a few Kentucky players with him. Calipari spoke on his upcoming return to Rupp Arena this week.

John Calipari anticipates that he’ll hear some boo birds ahead of tipoff. While it may not be as hostile as the one Rick Pitino previously experienced, you can bet Kentucky fans would take satisfaction in embarrassing their former coach.

Pitino reflected on his return, which came more than two decades ago. He begged Big Blue Nation not to boo Coach Cal as he walked onto the floor.

The Razorbacks and Wildcats are set to face off at 9 PM ET on Saturday night. Kentucky enters as the nation’s 12th-ranked team while Arkansas looks to right the ship after a 1-6 start in SEC play.

The welcome John Calipari receives will be a talking point throughout the night. We’ll see if the fanbase listens Rick Pitino’s pleas.

Buzzer beaters, clutch plays, and pure chaos—last night’s showdown had it all. Kentucky fans were biting their nails as their team eked out a heart-stopping 95-90 victory over No. 14 Mississippi State. This game wasn’t just another win; it had all the ingredients for a classic—plot twists, high drama, and a defining moment that fans will remember for years to come. And if you weren’t watching, it’s time to hit rewind, because this one had it all.

In the postgame show on the UK Radio Network, Kentucky HC Mark Pope revealed a pivotal moment behind Jaxson Robinson’s standout performance. According to a tweet by [@JDrumUK](JeffDrummond), Pope shared that “Jaxson Robinson told him he had been pressing over his shot not falling and worrying about his future. Pope said he was able to let go of that this week and totally changed his focus/approach. Paid off tonight.”

The Wildcats shot a solid 47% from the field, but that stat hardly tells the full story of what transpired. Kentucky’s shooting was spectacular, especially from beyond the arc, where they hit 50% (16-of-32) of their three-point attempts. The performance was a direct reflection of head coach Mark Pope’s game plan, one that turned his 200th career victory into an unforgettable night for the Wildcats.

But as anyone who watched will tell you, it wasn’t just the shooting that made the difference—it was a night where the Wildcats’ resilience and adjustments shone through, particularly when the stakes were highest.

Jaxson Robinson, a name that rang through Rupp Arena, took center stage when it mattered most. The sophomore guard had been battling a shooting slump, feeling the pressure as his shots just wouldn’t fall.

Robinson exploded for a career-high 27 points, going 9-of-12 from the field and hitting 7-of-10 from three. He wasn’t just scoring; he was controlling the game, especially when Mississippi State tried to mount a comeback. When the Bulldogs made a jaw-dropping six-point possession in the second half to briefly grab the lead, Robinson’s sharpshooting and clutch plays ensured Kentucky didn’t lose momentum. It was exactly what the Wildcats needed, and Robinson delivered in style, giving Kentucky fans reason to lose their voices.

It wasn’t just Robinson, though. The Wildcats showed poise and composure as a team. Ansley Almonor stepped up with clutch three-pointers, and the defense tightened when it had to. Even with the Bulldogs’ surge, Kentucky maintained control, using their sharp shooting and resilience to hold onto the victory.

This game wasn’t just about the stats—it was about the bigger picture. Robinson’s standout performance wasn’t just the result of a hot shooting night; it was a story of growth, mental fortitude, and stepping up when the team needed him the most. With Coach Pope leading the charge, this victory felt like a statement, a moment where Kentucky showed that they’re more than just a team—they’re a force.

If they can keep this energy going, who knows how high they can fly this season. With the talent, leadership, and grit on display, the Wildcats are just getting started—and they’re definitely a team to watch as the season heats up.

The big game is now only a few days away as the Kentucky Wildcats prepare to welcome the Arkansas Razorbacks to town. Obviously the return of John Calipari is the talking point, but the Razorbacks will also have three former Cats make their return to Rupp Arena as well.

For Mark Pope and this Kentucky staff, when they first got to Lexington and started to build a roster, Zvonimir Ivisic made the list of potential options, according to reports after the hire.

However, after conversations, Big Z decided to follow Coach Cal to Fayetteville.

During his pregame press conference on Thursday, Coach Pope was asked about the former players and had a little fun with the question.

“I talked with him a couple of times. He clearly didn’t like me as much as I liked him,” Pope said of Ivisic.

Big Z would have been a perfect fit for the offensive style that Pope runs and would have added some much-needed rim protection for this team. It’s no secret that Pope loves big men who can space the floor, and Ivisic can certainly do that.

The Croatian center shot 37.5% from deep as a freshman and has increased that to 40.6% on 3.4 attempts per game as a sophomore. He’s attempted at least four triples in three straight games and went 6/7 from deep in a non-conference win over Troy, so he’s fully capable of lighting it up if Kentucky doesn’t come prepared.

With Z now in Fayetteville, all we can hope is that he doesn’t have a breakout performance like he did against Georgia last season.

Every fan and media member, both on the local and national level, gave shared their thoughts on how they think former Kentucky coach John Calipari should and will be received when he returns to Rupp Arena as Arkansas head coach on Saturday.

During his weekly radio show Wednesday night, first-year coach Mark Pope was asked his thoughts on Saturday’s Rupp reunion.

First, Pope praised the former UK coach.

“We have been blessed at the University of Kentucky to have some of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game of basketball and, certainly, Cal is one of those. He’s a Hall of Fame coach,” Pope said.

“In his 15-year tenure, what he accomplished at the University of Kentucky was incredible. In some ways, he revolutionized the game of college basketball and left a legacy that probably won’t be ever reproduced in the same way that he did it. As a member of BBN and a huge fan of Kentucky Basketball, my whole heart is here and I love Cal. I love Cal for what he did for Kentucky Basketball and on a very personal level, he’s been so great to Lee Anne and I as a mentor and a friend.”

Now, as far as the reception that Calipari should or will receive? Pope was honest.

It’s complicated.

“It’s a little bit of a complicated relationship right now because he’s coaching the other team and so that always makes it complicated but I know BBN. I know our fanbase. There will be so much emotion because we care so much. So, there will be so much emotion in the gym on Saturday and as time goes on and circumstances change, there’s going to be a time where Cal walks back into this arena, he’s going to feel all the love that BBN possibly has to offer because that’s what we do with our family,” Pope said.

Saturday’s game will also serve as a homecoming for former Wildcats Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner, and walk-on Kareem Watkins, who followed Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas. Freshmen Karter Knox and Billy Richmond also signed with UK before following suit.

“We’ll see Saturday. Saturday is also a competition, right? So, it’s just going to be what it is. But I have a ton of love for Cal and I’m grateful for what he did here at Kentucky and grateful I get to be here and enjoy some of the fruits of his incredible labors here. I’m super appreciative of him and I know everybody in BBN feels the same way and I also know everybody in BBN wants to win this game on Saturday.”

Calipari, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2015, went 410-122 (.771) over 15 seasons as head coach at Kentucky with six SEC regular season championships, six SEC Tournament titles, four Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2012.

But after receiving a “lifetime” 10-year contract in the summer of 2019, Calipari went just 105-52 overall (.669), 1-4 in the SEC Tournament and 1-3 in the NCAA Tournament.

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, Kentucky had been a perfect 19-0 vs. teams seeded 14 or lower but dropped each of their last two with losses to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s in 2022 and and No. 14 Oakland.

The Wildcats didn’t fare much better in the SEC Tournament, going just 1-4 in its last five games, including its first-ever 3-game losing streak in the SEC Tournament dating back to 1933. After winning six in a span of nine years, Kentucky hasn’t won an SEC Tournament or even been to the finals since 2018.

All totaled, Calipari has lost 8 of his last 10 postseason games, didn’t advance past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2019, didn’t earn a No. 1 seed or advance to a Final Four since 2015.

Last season, Kentucky also suffered its first-ever 3-game losing streak at Rupp Arena dating back to 1976.

“But to walk in and, you know, the vibe, I don’t know how I’m gonna take it, to be honest with you. I mean, that was a special time in my life, in Ellen’s life and 15 years. We gave 15 years.

In April, Calipari met with Arkansas Athletics Director Hunter Yurachek and decided to leave Lexington for Fayetteville.

“I don’t even know how I feel because I’m not on it yet,” Calipari said this week. “But look, I had a great run there. Fond memories, love the people. Fans are great. You know, you got some of the crazies, but that’s everywhere. And the fans are great ’cause they care about the program. They love the program there. But it’ll be interesting. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to coaching.”

In his first season with the Razorbacks, Calipari is 12-8 overall and 1-6 in the SEC.

Pope, meanwhile, has the Wildcats ranked No. 12 in the country at 15-5 overall with six top-15 wins. Prior to this week, UK was ranked in the AP top 10 for 10 consecutive weeks, its longest single-season streak since the 2016-17 season.

The Wildcats and Razorbacks tip off from Rupp Arena at 9 PM ET on ESPN.

Kentucky men’s basketball suffered a 74-69 loss on the road to Vanderbilt. In their first year since 2008 without John Calipari coaching, the No. 9 Wildcats have kicked off their conference schedule with a 3-3 record against SEC opponents.

In a topsy-turvy affair, Kentucky trailed by 14 at halftime before going up seven points in the second half – only to lose by five. The Wildcats have boasted a top-five offense this season, but their No. 79-ranked defense gives up 76.0 points per game.

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Kentucky head basketball coach Mark Pope sends bullish message on SEC after Wildcats lose to Vanderbilt

BEN GRUNERT

January 26, 2025•2:03 am WAT

Kentucky men’s basketball suffered a 74-69 loss on the road to Vanderbilt. In their first year since 2008 without John Calipari coaching, the No. 9 Wildcats have kicked off their conference schedule with a 3-3 record against SEC opponents.

In a topsy-turvy affair, Kentucky trailed by 14 at halftime before going up seven points in the second half – only to lose by five. The Wildcats have boasted a top-five offense this season, but their No. 79-ranked defense gives up 76.0 points per game.

Stay

 

Duke’s Cooper Flagg Goes Off For 23 Second Half Points

ACC OFFICIAL HIGHLIGHTS

First-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope has endured some predictable criticism during his team’s recent stretch of three losses in five games. However, Pope is still embracing the challenges of competing in one of the strongest conferences in recent history.

“I think it (the SEC competition) makes us better,” Pope said. “I would choose this league the way it is this year every single year. It can rip you to pieces for sure, but our job is to keep finding a way to get better. I have a really good locker room of guys that are gonna keep focused on getting better, we’re not gonna lose our confidence … It makes us a better team. I think we’re really blessed to face this competition every year.”

Four of Kentucky’s five losses have come to unranked opponents. Their tale of two halves in the Vandy loss painted a perfect picture of their inconsistency.

Pope addressed the highs and lows of his team’s performance in his postgame presser.

“We were really disappointed with how we performed for parts of the game, and I was really proud of my guys for parts of the game,” Pope said. “We’re just hungry to get better.”

Vanderbilt has shocked the world this year with a 4-3 record in SEC play and a 16-4 overall record. The Commodores have now notched two top-10 wins in their last three games, taking down No. 6 Tennessee in dramatic fashion on January 18.

UK has its own matchup with Tennessee on the horizon. The Wildcats will hit the road on January 28 to take on the Vols.

Saturday night in Nashville, 8:23 remaining in the second half, Amari Williams makes a layup to push Kentucky’s lead to seven points, 58-51, marking the Wildcats’ largest lead of the game. They had just erased a 14-point halftime deficit through an offensive surge and solid defense. Kentucky had all the momentum and time on their side, silencing what had been a raucous crowd.

At that moment, fans in their living rooms turned to each other and said, “These next four minutes will determine the game.” If Kentucky could maintain a multi-possession lead until the under-four timeout, victory was assured.

However, less than two minutes later, the score was tied at 60. Two three-pointers by Carey and McGlockton cut the lead to one, at 58-57. The game then swung back and forth, but Kentucky ultimately lost their grip in this crucial four-minute stretch, allowing Vanderbilt to claw their way back into the contest. The result was a frustrating loss that should never have happened.

Three days later, Kentucky found itself in a similar position against Tennessee. After a free throw by Oweh, the score was again 58-51. Kentucky had once more come back from a halftime deficit, this time on the road, with impressive offense and a stingy defense. They had all the momentum, having quieted the home crowd, with Tennessee on their heels.

However, the situation was different this time, and not in Kentucky’s favor. They were facing a top 10 team, loaded with talent, who hadn’t lost at home all season and were coming off a heartbreaking defeat to the No. 1 team in the country. Additionally, Kentucky was without their top two point guards and starting forward Andrew Carr.

Here we go again. Another four-minute stretch that will dictate the outcome. But what unfolded over the next few minutes was a stark contrast to the game in Nashville. Kentucky matched Tennessee’s run with big shot after big shot.

The most pivotal moment came with 5:21 left when, after Tennessee cut the lead to five with a three-pointer by Igor Milicic, Koby Brea drilled a 24-footer just 13 seconds later, extending the lead back to eight and silencing the crowd in Tennessee orange. Kentucky held firm, not letting go of the rope this time.

The 78-73 victory was Kentucky’s sixth against top 15 opponents, matching the program’s historical best set by the 2002-2003 team. It was also their third consecutive win in Knoxville, all as significant underdogs.

With several more high-stakes games on the horizon, big blue nation is eager to see how much further this Kentucky team can evolve as they gear up for a significant March run.