John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats had another early exit from the NCAA Tournament.
Sixth-seeded Kentucky lost to third-seeded Kansas State on Sunday, 75-69. As a result, Kentucky will go home while the Wildcats will move to the bright lights of New York City for the Sweet 16.
Resentment for this Kentucky team and Coach Cal started early on in the season. The Wildcats didn’t meet their high expectations. Although they played exactly to their seed-line expectations in the NCAA Tournament, it’s not like that will advise anyone to not be irritated now.
Calipari, in particular, came under intense scrutiny after the loss as always.
“For all you folks under 20 that only know Calipari, it hasn’t always been like this,” All Things Kentucky tweeted. Yikes.
“Until Calipari gets shooters besides 1 guy and changes the offense instead of this old archaic stuff Kentucky will always fail in the NCAA TOURNAMENT,” one frustrated fan said.
Until calipari gets shooters besides 1 guy and changes the offense instead of this old archaic stuff Kentucky will always fail in the NCAA TOURNAMENT.
— Jon (@CSCastJ) March 19, 2023
Derek Terry outlined Kentucky’s brutal stretch: “Kansas State, Auburn, COVID, no tournament, Saint Peter’s, and Kansas State again. A terrible stretch of tournament play from Kentucky under John Calipari,” Terry tweeted.
Steve Berkowitz pointed out the drastic difference in contracts, too.
And Kentucky writer Aaron Gershon pointed out at the half that if Kentucky lost the game, “John Calipari deserves lot of blame.”
Does not sound like it’s going to be a great spring in Lexington for John Calipari.