Weekend preview: John Calipari returns to Rupp! Illinois gets Pinnacle Bank'd; UNC NEEDS win @ Duke

[@fortnitebeast1539]

I’m a big blue fanatic, been that way for 40 years, been there in the ups and downs, cal deserves a standing O and a commemorative video of his time there, then when the ball tips it’s game on, thank u cal, and also thank you pope

[@jbrewer8941]

This needs an infinite amount of likes from true BBN card carrying members 👏 👏 Thank you for putting my thoughts into words for me

[@truck_it_23]

I agree

[@jdmurse88]

For real!!!

[@jodyyonts]

@@fortnitebeast1539 you’re the type that moans if you get rear ended by a Ford F150.

[@joireland]

Hilarious 31:32 when Norlander points out the legacy that GP left us!!! That late night comment from GP about Coach K in his farewell game at Cameron had me on the floor!!! Sorry I miss this live show today.

[@Hunter-y6h2e]

10:15 You guys can’t make it seem like only kentucky fans wanted him out when Calipari VIOLATED HIS CONTRACT when he went into talks to arkansas. He very much wanted out bc he couldn’t take criticism and couldn’t accept the facts that he didn’t hold the cards anymore. I love Cal but that’s the truth

[@dwphillips42]

As a Kentucky fan I hope BBN shows class. Cal loved UK and did great things. he deserves our respect. I hope BBN gives it to him.

[@LorrieC23]

EXACTLY!!!!

[@HarveyBlevins-i4h]

Cheering for the opposing general while ur in a war against him is silly.

[@jodyyonts]

@@dwphillips42 Cal didn’t ‘love’ Ky. He loved the recognition and paycheck from coaching at Ky. You don’t listen when he talks. He said time and again ‘I’m here to support and represent these players.’ Not the university or alumni that paid him 8m per year.

[@JB_BBN]

If we UK fans would take a moment to sit back and reflect on the excitement Calipari brought back to UK bball, especially after how bad it was during the end of Tubby’s run and the BG era, then there should be nothing but a standing ovation. Our society is all about what have you done for me lately (in some respects rightfully so) and rarely reflect as a whole. If I had tickets I would stand up and clap.

[@jbrewer8941]

"He who shall remain nameless" hahahahaha

[@jbrewer8941]

And I would stand and clap as well... Ik people ain't gonna like it cause it's what Cal made it ALL about, but jus consider the years of BBN Alum in the League we get to keep enjoying watch play and represent the Big Blue Nation... I pray they play a commemorative vid before the game... and as the other commenter said, "Before the game it's thank you Cal, then when the ball goes up, it's ON" and thank you Coachimus Popeimus Maximus!!" People talkin like they can't wait for Cal to come back and I'm over here like "When is College Gameday coming back?" I'm waiting on Greenberg to step back inside Rupp baahahahahahahahaha

[@HarveyBlevins-i4h]

U don’t cheer for the opposing general while ur in a war against him. That’s silly

[@joelspaulding5964]

Stand? Not yet. Clap? Absolutely.

[@jodyyonts]

@@JB_BBN it’s not him as a person, it’s not the community involvement, it’s the rug pull he did with the yearly bs just wait till next year rug pull he did. If he had left the program before signing the ‘lifetime’ contract there wouldn’t be such resentful bitterness.

[@clintsmith7]

He also talked down to fans on his shortcomings then took the whole team with him when he left.YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW IN LIFE.HE WILL HEAR THE BOO'S. GO BIG BLUE

[@ontariorazorbacks]

It was a mutual breakup though! & did you forget Cal could have forced the University to pay him out 30million and bankrupt the NIL fund for a reset. Kentucky got what they wanted and so did Arkansas. Calipari should get a standing O but I’m sure it will be mixed reactions. Either way I love both of these basketball programs for what they are and one day BBN will look back and cherish the Cal years! Great things to come as well because Mark Pope is doing a great job!

[@rblfrmthewstdwn]

I’m a die hard Kentucky fan for life…but…if I were able to be at that game tonight I’d stand and clap. Coach Cal will always be close to my heart. And yes Norlander, I’m terrified of that happening.

[@jasondeansmith79]

You don’t understand we couldn’t stand Cal. The majority of the fans, even when he was winning felt like he never cared about UK history. He only cared about his own self. He’s a me person we don’t like that.

[@dougtig2]

He will get the same thing as rick when he came back to RUPP when he was with loserville

[@jdmurse88]

I agree with Rick…Cal brought us back from the brink of ruin from the previous regime. For my cred…UK fan since 1981, graduate of UK in 1993 and again in 1999. I would applaud Cal. Cheer…maybe not but clap. So many good points Gary Parrish!

[@qwerty4126]

Finally, some much-needed UK/Calipari talk. 😂

[@ngarcia103]

I'm staying silent if I was going to Rupp. I think we booed Pitino because he was at Louisville. Notice UK fans backed off from doing so once he left UL. Here, Calipari might be booed not because he left, but because he left for another SEC team. So, like Pitino, Calipari might get his flowers after he leaves the SEC and isn't coaching for another rival.

[@jodyyonts]

@@ngarcia103 agreed

[@TragicHero42]

I'm still utterly confused why UNC is so close to the tourney with one decent win in UCLA and the amount of loses they have. They lost to Pitt and Wake who are further down the line in most projections. It's all name brand which is dumb.

[@timsallee7452]

He's the Arkansas coach we boo the other coach

[@jimmyjames6882]

i think that was pitino's way of pushing the fact that he's back on the good side of BBN and cal is NOT lol seriously, think about it, pitino doesn't like cal lol and no matter what they've said to media about each other, there is no love between the two of them.

[@Sunuvagunner312]

Definitely a stealth jab lol

[@charlesnback519]

Silence. Complete silence. Hand out a "newspaper" to the crowd with the headline "New Hope With Pope". When Cal is announced the crowd should be silent and hold the newspaper up as to be reading it. Completely ignoring him would be like torture to his ego. Get in his head and hopefully have some affect on the game. Can you imagine walking in to Rupp, 20,000 strong, and hear nothing? Just my rambling opinion. Cheer...Boo..Silence. The results at the end of 40. minutes is what matters. UK by 12 (86-64) Get LOUD, Be PROUD, and no Excuses ALOUD!! BBNWW

[@ngarcia103]

24:46 - I'm nervous about this game in the same way that I'm nervous about EVERY game. Sure, we should win, but you never know when the next upset is going to happen.

[@mulchies]

Why is Pitino acting like he hired the guy or made Pope’s hire “OKAY”. These goobers think WAYYY too much of themselves. Its KENTUCKY basketball, no matter which scummy snake oil salesman they have previously hired. This program is bigger than any one person and Pope realizes that when previous coaches, clearly, do not. If I could afford tickets I would absolutely clap for Calipari. He brought a lot of good players and memories. While I also want to boo Arkansas because they are coming into Rupp! What Jay Williams said about Matt Jones was completely off base and he continues to over step. A guy who gets paid for his commentary gatekeeping another professional about his opinion/ job? GTFO Jay!

[@jdmurse88]

I must say as a student we booed Arkansas in the mid 90s…the Scotty Thurman, Corlis Williamson era…

[@mountaineerleverlove]

You have to realize outside of the student section, all of the seats at Rupp are long time season ticket holders and faculty.

[@jodyyonts]

There’s just something unsettling about Rachel Maddow doing sports previews. 🤷‍♂️

[@Sunuvagunner312]

Y’all goofy with your bad takes!

[@cenewton3221]

If I were going to be at the game I'd cheer or be silent, but people can make their own choices. My concern about the game itself is I don't like being a heavy favorite (-11.5 last I saw). Yes they have sucked a lot this year, but we have too a few times & this strikes me as one of those "please just don't lay an egg today" games. So yeah, I'm a bit weary. Losing to him/them if they were good wouldn't be the end of the world, but doing so with them stinking up the SEC this season as they have been would be absolutely terrible. So let's tell Cal thanks for everything, and then beat the brakes off of them.

[@kentuckyking4343]

This pisses me off. Try to speak for KY. Ignore us, put words in our mouth then it's look how mean they are. I was 15 when Pitino left n went to U of L. Of course he deserved to get it, we l9ved Rick. And the bald guy saying why dont u boo random coaches then? Bc it will get under Cals skin and it won't a random coach u dork 😂 quit trying to put KY fans in a box.

[@Markusdmac1996]

War Eagle 🦅

[@KjStrat62]

you just dont walk away from Kentucky.. with a life time contract. For that. get it KJ

[@banjospacecart]

y'all really spent 30 minutes on a man walking into a building

[@EduardoAguirre-y4q]

I swear Gary Perrish hate Arizona 😂

[@katherinemarine838]

such dis for my Az Cats- eat some humble pie

[@jayi100]

No one cares what you guys think they should do. The best thing to do is nothing. Be silent. Don’t feed his ego with cheers or boos.

[@herkyswings]

#MoreOfUs

[@steveo44100]

Calipari returning to Rupp should not be worth 25 minutes. Could see Norlander getting bored.

[@steveshame]

Thank the Gods for Norlander, he really knows the sport and loves it. He's not just trying to entertain like and make it about himself or OCD. So glad you can FF on KZbin !

[@steveo44100]

@@steveshame Yes, I appreciate the producer putting time stamps. It's really helpful.

[@vanjones4110]

WOW! Respectfully! For being College Basketball AFICIONADOS…. You have absolutely NO COMPREHENSION or CLUE of what KENTUCKY BASKETBALL is! You both are IGNORANT! To borrow a Quote from AL MCGUIRE: “Kentucky Basketball is the King of College Basketball! They were the Gold Standard before you were born, they are the Gold Standard while you are here, and KENTUCKY BASKETBALL will be the GOLD STANDARD long after you are gone!” You two should stick with what you think you know: UNC vs DUKE! They deserve you!

[@mikemcmahon7624]

Look I wouldn’t boo Cal if I was at the game on Saturday but a lot of this conversation is condescending and irritating. I think Cal will get a mix of boos and cheers, probably more cheers but the boos will be more passionate. I’m tired of outsiders lecturing us on how we should react to Cal’s return to Lexington. To be clear, I mostly appreciate the way you two handled this conversation and don’t think it was unfair.

[@brandonwalker4098]

Stay silent