UNC Foe John Calipari Leaves Kentucky For Arkansas

Calipari made a shocking move late last night.

Longtime Kentucky head coach John Calipari made the decision to bolt for in-conference rival Arkansas. Although he and the fan base had been at odds over the last few years, this was a surprise. While in Lexington, Calipari battled North Carolina in many classic games.

Starting Fresh

After years of reported conflict between Calipari and Kentucky’s fan base, he decided to make a change. Many of the Wildcat faithful complained about a lack of postseason success. In his 15 seasons, Calipari won a national title and took the team to four Final Fours.

Careful What You Wish For

Although a lack of tournament success has plagued him, Calipari has been incredible in other aspects. The program was 410-122 during his time there. To go along with that, he was a force on the recruiting trail. Kentucky has been a top-two most attractive school for 5-star recruits since his arrival in 2009. They have the most players in the NBA, and that in itself is a recruiting tool.

Battles with UNC

North Carolina and Kentucky played in classic matchups while Calipari was in Lexington. Who can forget Luke Maye’s shot to send the Tar Heels to the Final Four in 2017? Or the two going to the wire in Rupp Arena in 2011, with Anthony Davis blocking a UNC buzzer beater? That blue-blood rivalry may lose a bit of its spark, depending on who is hired.

Where does Kentucky go from here?

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