Arkansas coach John Calipari isn't expecting a hero's welcome Saturday at Rupp Arena when he takes the Razorbacks to play at No. 12 Kentucky in his first game back at UK since his 15-year run leading the program ended.

The Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team will be in Lexington, Ky. for a matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats this weekend, marking the first time John Calipari will return to his former stomping grounds at the Rupp Arena since leaving the university this summer.

Ignore the hype. Ignore the noise. Ignore the circus that is sure to surround the return of John Vincent Calipari, who in a 15-year run as the UK coach took the Wildcats to four Final Fours and a national championship before his Big Blue express ran out of steam.

After 15 seasons as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, John Calipari announced in April 2024 that he would be leaving the program, leaving a school where he led the SEC powerhouse to one championship in 2012 and four Final Fours. The day after announcing he would leave Kentucky, Calipari was named the head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

John Calipari and the Arkansas basketball team have a big one this weekend as they be hitting the road to take on #12 Kentucky. Calipari was obviously the head coach of the Wildcats last year and had been the head coach since 2009.

How should ex-Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari be honored Saturday in his return to Rupp Arena? Vote before our poll closes Friday at noon.

John Calipari expects boos from the Kentucky faithful when Arkansas visits the Wildcats at Rupp Arena Saturday night. It’ll be the first time the head coach visits the arena as an opposing man on the sidelines since he left Kentucky.