A painful loss for Kentucky to Coach Cal.
The Kentucky Wildcats returned to Rupp Arena this evening as they welcomed the Arkansas Razorbacks and John Calipari back to Lexington. Well, the nightmare for the BBN came true as Coach Cal and the Razorbacks headed back to Fayetteville with the win, FINAL
The hype for tonight was intense, that is no secret. But I don’t think any of us could have guessed how the first 20 minutes would have played out. Arkansas has struggled to score all season…they dropped 46 points in the first half. They struggle to shoot from three… they hit nine 3s.
Rupp Arena was popping, but the Razorbacks came out and responded. Luckily, the Cats had some answers themselves to keep this one close as they headed to the locker room down 46-45.
Coming out of the half, the game plan didn’t really change for the Cats, and Arkansas took full advantage. Kentucky struggled offensively, and the Hogs played the best game of their season.
This is a bad loss for this team. No way around it.
The Cats will now head to Oxford for a date with a very talented Ole Miss team. Time to see how they respond once again.
Box Score
Game MVP
We have to give this one to Amari Williams. The fifth-year senior finished the game with 22 points on 9/13 shooting. He also added 11 rebounds and three assists.
Tonight was fairly bleak offensively outside of Williams and Jaxson Robinson. That continues to be a trend, that has to change if the Cats want to make a run. However, for the moment, the norm seems to be that those two are going to have to help carry this team to the finish line in conference play.
Kentucky vs. Arkansas Twitter Reactions
Here come the Hawgs (and boos). pic.twitter.com/tswA5zR9zd
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) February 2, 2025
The Tyson family is in the building pic.twitter.com/E7lZBzatY9
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) February 2, 2025
John Calipari takes the floor at Rupp Arena pic.twitter.com/brR9ii67q8
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) February 2, 2025
— No Context College Basketball (@ContextFreeCBB) February 2, 2025
No such thing as a home whistle at Rupp Arena…
Just can’t buy a call.
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) February 2, 2025
Karter Knox hitting step-back threes? pic.twitter.com/Gj3GcAXZdX
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) February 2, 2025
Three. Point. Volume.
Kentucky wins the percentage battle (70% to 50%) but is goes -6 from the three-point line due to volume. Down at half because of it.
A bad shooting team is pouring them in. Kentucky needs to adjust. Can’t let them make 15 threes.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) February 2, 2025
Tubby Smith is the Y @BBNTonight pic.twitter.com/xz4EUJw60g
— Maggie Davis (@MaggieDavisTV) February 2, 2025
This is the best whistle John Calipari has ever gotten at Rupp Arena.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) February 2, 2025
Can we just play our best 5 please
— Barstool Kentucky (@BarstoolUK) February 2, 2025
John Calipari’s teams are their best when they have ‘nothing to lose.’
That’s the case tonight and they’re playing outstanding.
Cats have just 9:45 left to avoid a gut punch and Quad 2 loss.
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) February 2, 2025
Almonor doesn’t close out on the Z three and then a lazy pass by Brea and that may be that
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 2, 2025
— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) February 2, 2025
Pretty bad job by Pope tonight
— Anna Maria Tarullo (@tarullotweets) February 2, 2025
First real dud of the Pope era
First Half I thought both teams played well
But in the Second, the Arkansas guys wanted it more, Cal got the “Floppy action” going and UK made no adjustments on either end of the floor
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 2, 2025
Arkansas’ Adou Thiero on John Calipari getting the win at Kentucky: “He’s always had his back and tonight I feel like we had his.”
— John Clay (@johnclayiv) February 2, 2025
Mark Pope beats all of the really good teams and loses to a lot of the bad ones.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) February 2, 2025
“235th career win at Rupp Arena” pic.twitter.com/LZfUYMnUWa
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) February 2, 2025
That’s a bad loss. Period. You have to beat bottom of the league teams at home.
First loss that ACTUALLY hurts Kentucky. Quad 2 home losses are no good.
Generally, just about every team has them though. It feels worse because it’s THIS ONE…but if it’s JUST this one we will be…
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) February 2, 2025
Well, I’m glad it wasn’t GameDay now.
— Mike Willis (@michael_willis1) February 2, 2025
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