Despite the piddling conference record that Arkansas brought to the court vs Kentucky, a sold-out Rupp Arena crackled with the energy of a blockbuster heavyweight fight on Saturday night.
For sure, plenty of jabs were thrown throughout. A few Kentucky basketball fans, seizing an opportunity to kick John Calipari while he was seemingly down given the Hogs’ dismal conference record, wore shirts featuring Calipari’s face drawn with a clown nose.
Calipari, upon entering Rupp Arena for his first game coaching there since he took over the Arkansas basketball job, met a cascade of applause and boos coming down from the rafters.