Rick Pitino asks Kentucky basketball fans to give John Calipari a standing ovation

St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino posted a video on social media Thursday asking Kentucky fans to give John Calipari a standing ovation when the former UK coach brings Arkansas to Rupp Arena on Saturday.

In the video, Pitino referenced his first trip back to Rupp Arena in 2001 as coach of the Louisville Cardinals. Pitino had coached Kentucky for eight seasons, taking the Wildcats to three Final Fours and a national title, before leaving for the NBA’s Boston Celtics. He became U of L’s coach before the 2001-02 season and was loudly booed before his Cardinals lost 82-62 to the Wildcats on Dec. 29, 2001.

Calipari left Kentucky after 15 seasons, including four Final Fours and a national title, to become the coach at Arkansas. He was replaced by Mark Pope, a captain on Pitino’s 1996 national title team at Kentucky.

“Hello Big Blue Nation,” said Pitino in the Thursday video. “I didn’t steer you wrong with Mark Pope when I sent out that last video and I certainly won’t steer you wrong with this video. Toughest day of my coaching career at Louisville when I had to walk into Rupp Arena. I tried not to show it, but when I went home the reception, it tore me up apart because I love that place so much. And it’s interesting because I was speaking to Ed Cooley just recently about Providence. He was almost brought to tears because of the bad feelings he got going back there.

“But this is different. As you all know, I’m not best friends with John Calipari. I respect him certainly, but it was a mutual thing. The fans wanted a change. John read the tea leaves. He needed a change. He didn’t really want to leave, but what did he do for you? He brought the best talent in the history of the game of any university in America to Lexington. He also won a national championship. His style of play was extremely entertaining.

“So he’s coming back on Saturday and I want all of you to show the great class that you have, 23,000 plus people people giving him a huge standing ovation. Show him what respect and admiration is all about. I know you have the class. I’ve always believed in you. Do it once again.”

Kentucky plays the Razorbacks at 9 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN.

This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 1:26 PM.

John Clay

Lexington Herald-Leader

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John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys. Support my work with a digital subscription