John Calipari facing increasingly impatient fan base after 12th loss at Rupp Arena to unranked team

John Calipari suffered his latest loss to an unranked team on Wednesday night when Florida knocked off the Wildcats in Rupp Arena.

The loss was UK’s 12th to an unranked opponent in Rupp Arena since 2019, and 6th overall in the last calendar year, including 5 against unranked teams.

This time it was at the hands of Florida and Walter Clayton Jr., who made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:42 remaining in overtime and added 2 free throws with 16.4 seconds left as Florida prevailed over No. 10 Kentucky 94-91.

It was an entertaining affair as the game had 29 lead changes and 15 ties. Florida trailed by 10 late in the first half before the halftime score was just 41-36.

Fans appear to be increasingly impatient about a string of losses that include UNC-Wilmington this season, and earlier losses to South Carolina, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. In short, some of these losses may be explained away, but the sheer number is growing to be far too many.

Here’s a sample of the reaction:

Calipari is the biggest and best con artist I’ve ever seen, absolutely robbing the university of Kentucky for all that money lol,

— T. Seybold™️ (@Seybold24) February 1, 2024

Unranked losses at Rupp Arena from 2009-2019 (10 Seasons): 4

Unranked losses at Rupp Arena from 2019-2024 (5 Seasons): 12

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) February 1, 2024

We can’t keep defending calipari loss after loss. It used to be unheard of losing at home in rupp.

— retnigj (@JTGinter) February 1, 2024

Calipari get tons of blame is fair but let’s not forget about the 4-5 assistant coaches sitting there, not speaking a word of what to do. Not one of them thought to say “just foul the guy!”

— Tyler B (@T_Bloyd) February 1, 2024

At this point, Calipari has to figure it out. Home losses later in season to unranked teams simply can’t happen. He has to figure it out. Time and excuses are running out

— John Ashby (@jashby23) February 1, 2024

Kentucky fans would have not eaten for 2 days after a loss in 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, etc. Now, it’s try to rationalize every terrible loss. Premier teams don’t lose at home to that unranked Florida team and UNC Wilmington. Making excuses for that loss..?

— John Seravalli (@John_Seravalli1) February 1, 2024

Not demeaning. But this is Kentucky. We shouldn’t lose two games at home to unranked teams https://t.co/adT1djyIJS

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 1, 2024

Calipari has now lost 10 times to Florida. Kentucky was ranked 10!!! Lmao

— Scripted picks (@Scriptedpickz) February 1, 2024

The Gators are now 6-65 all-time on the road against AP Top-10 opponents.

Four of those six victories have come at Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/bWGNNc0gn4

— CBS Sports College Basketball ? (@CBSSportsCBB) February 1, 2024

John Calipari on not fouling at end of regulation: “There was a little more time that we wanted, but everything that we were doing was to make them shoot some two(-pointer).”

Instead, Florida’s Walter Clayton nailed a three-pointer to send the game to overtime.

— John Clay (@johnclayiv) February 1, 2024

Kentucky was missing guys, but the talent gap is so big that there’s just no excuse to blow games like that at home.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) February 1, 2024

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.