John Calipari’s former Kentucky players abandon him in favor of home
John Calipari’s former Kentucky players still have love for him but made it clear that Lexington is their home, even if he is no longer in the picture.
Following the departure of head coach John Calipari from the Kentucky Wildcats Division I men’s college basketball program after 15 illustrious seasons, many in Big Blue Nation naturally lost interest in the second-winningest coach the team has ever had, as he accepted an offer to take on the same role for the conference rival Arkansas Razorbacks.
Regardless of his choice, though, coach Cal’s former players have shown their appreciation and admiration for him. They did, however, also stress that, even in his absence, Lexington is their home.
John Calipari’s former Kentucky players abandon him in favor of home
Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader asked Rob Dillingham, Antonio Reeves, and Reed Sheppard—three members of the squad from the previous season—to select between Kentucky and Caliperari, and they planted their flag.
“I’m going to the match where they compete with each other. That would be equitable, correct?Laughing lightly, Dillingham declared that he would “for sure” go back to Lexington rather than see Arkansas and Kentucky play in Fayetteville.
Next season, Arkansas and Kentucky will square off in Rupp Arena at an unspecified time.
“And it wasn’t just (Calipari),” Dillingham said. “It was the fans. It was the teachers. Everybody there. I love Mitch Barnhart, the athletics director. I love all of them. So I really liked the UK experience, because they helped me as a whole, and they treated me like family,” he added.
“I’d say both [Calipari and Kentucky]. I played for him. So, of course, I’m going to cheer for him at Arkansas,” Reeves said. “And the fans at Kentucky — I definitely can’t leave them behind … And I came from Kentucky. I therefore can’t just put that behind me.
Sheppard was all smiles for Calipari and the Wildcats, but he is a basketball purist at heart because both of his parents, Jeff and Stacey, were standout players at the university level in Kentucky. Thus, his remarks could be a little skewed.
During the NBA Draft Combine last week, Sheppard said, “To me, he’s the best coach in the world.”
The players at Calipari obviously adore him, but their allegiance is to Kentucky and the program that allowed them to showcase their skills to a national audience.
