Kentucky vs. Arkansas is the biggest talk of the week, right? But it’s not the players, lineups, or predictions that are dominating the conversation—it’s all about John Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena, the place that was his home for 15 years. However,  now that the coach has moved to Arkansas, the fans aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for him on Saturday.

Ahead of his highly anticipated return to Lexington, Calipari sat down with ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes, giving us a sneak peek into how he’s feeling about the whole situation. When asked about entering Rupp Arena, he said there’s going to be a “rush of emotions.” 

You know, 15 years of blood, sweat, and tears poured into the program. It wasn’t just about basketball for him, he built relationships with people there and formed lifelong connections, and those are the ones he’s thinking about. 

But in a way, it wasn’t all about the wins or losses. He added, “What do I want my record on my Tombstone?” And then, he hit us with a little self-reflection. He said, “I’m a poor miserable sinner let me act. I have been blessed my entire life don’t feel sorry for me, you shouldn’t. Don’t pity me.”

What he meant was he has been through a lot in life, and he’s grateful for every blessing he’s had. He is aware of the good things in his life that go beyond basketball. He’s in a good place, and that’s the most important thing to him.

But when the game tips off at 9 PM ET, the head coach knows exactly what’s coming: the boos. But, he’s ready. He’s not sweating it. “The fans should be able to do what they want,” he said, adding that he knows what to expect. He’s been in this situation before.

“If they want to boo. If they want to cheer. I’m not expecting an overwhelming [response] because I’m an opposing coach and I’m coming in here not to lose this game. And so I get it. It’s a big game for the fans.” According to the coach, he has done this “long enough.”

He’s not focused on the crowd. His eyes are on the court, and his attention is fully on his team. “My focus is going to be right on these lines, right there,” Cal said, pointing to the court. “I’m going to focus on my kids and keeping them going.”

But it is surely going to be rough. Kentucky’s coming into this game at 15-5 and ranked 12th in the country under new coach Mark Pope. Arkansas, on the other hand, isn’t in the same spot. With a 12-8 record and just one SEC win, they’re struggling.

Can they still surprise everyone?

What can John Calipari & Co. do to pull off the unexpected?

Coach Cal knows that fans are fired up and want nothing more than to see the Razorbacks fall. Because a win over the former coach would be a nice little feather in Kentucky’s cap. But Razorbacks men can shatter it all if they play their cards right. 

First off, Arkansas can’t afford to lose momentum. They can’t let the crowd get to them, especially early on. The Hogs need to stay within striking distance in the first half, keeping it a tight game. If Kentucky jumps out to an early lead, it could quickly turn into a blowout, and that’s the last thing Arkansas wants. 

It’s crucial to avoid a slow start and ensure that they don’t dig themselves into a hole.

Second, Arkansas needs to lean on their former Kentucky players. Adou Thiero, D.J. Wagner, and Zvonimir Ivisic all followed Calipari to Arkansas, and you know they’ll want to show out in front of their former. 

Ivisic can stretch defenses and be a major factor on both sides of the ball whether it’s hitting a few big shots or protecting the rim. Thiero, on the other hand, needs to be more aggressive, especially when it comes to getting to the free-throw line.

Arkansas has had trouble scoring in games where they’re not drawing fouls, so it’s essential for him to get to the charity stripe and keep the scoreboard ticking. Also, Arkansas needs to dominate on the glass. 

They’ve struggled all season with rebounding, and that’s cost them in games. If they can control the boards and limit Kentucky’s second-chance points, it’ll give them a much better shot at staying competitive.

So, will the Razorbacks rise to the occasion? Will the crowd in Lexington be as brutal as we expect? And more importantly, will John Calipari’s squad be ready for the challenge? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.