John Calipari Leads Arkansas to Upset Over No. 12 Kentucky in Emotional Rupp Arena Return

The former Kentucky coach secured a pivotal 89-79 victory for the Razorbacks, reigniting NCAA tournament hopes after a challenging season.

John Calipari, in his first game back at Rupp Arena since leaving Kentucky, guided Arkansas to a decisive 89-79 win over the No. 12 Wildcats.
Former Kentucky players Adou Thiero, D.J. Wagner, and Zvonimir Ivisic played key roles for Arkansas, combining for 52 points in the victory.
The Razorbacks, previously struggling in SEC play, improved to 2-6 in the conference and bolstered their NCAA tournament prospects with the upset win.
Kentucky fans gave Calipari a mixed reception, with boos dominating, but the Hall of Fame coach emphasized his respect for the program and its supporters in post-game remarks.
The loss marked Kentucky's third in four conference games, raising questions about the team's trajectory under current head coach Mark Pope.