Kentucky’s skid continued with an 89-85 loss to Gonzaga on Saturday. John Calipari’s Wildcats have now lost four of their last six games since starting the season 14-3.
After the game, Calipari told critics to point the finger at him rather than blaming his players.
“You know you’re going to have some of the negative Nellies out there attacking and that’s fine,” Calipari said, per Kentucky Sports Radio’s Tyler Thompson. “I told them the other day, I hope they just attack me and leave you alone.”
John Calipari knows fans are upset. He says to take it out on him, not the players.
“You know you’re going to have some of the negative Nellies out there attacking and that’s fine. I told them the other day I hope they just attack me and leave you alone.”
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) February 10, 2024
Saturday marked the first time Kentucky has ever lost three straight home games at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats previously allowed 197 combined points in consecutive SEC defeats to Florida and Tennessee.
“When you walk into this building and it’s been packed like it has been for three games, we just normally come out on fire,” Calipari said, via the Associated Press. “And we haven’t.”
Despite trailing by 10 at halftime, Kentucky pulled ahead in the second half. The game was tied at 75 with four minutes remaining, but Gonzaga prevailed with 50 points in the paint.
Kentucky, which ranked No. 6 five weeks ago, will likely drop from No. 17 in the next AP poll. Yet Calipari asked fans to keep the faith.
“I want to tell our fans how much I appreciate what they are doing for this team — or what they are trying to do,” Calipari said, per The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker. “I would just say stick with them.”