PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In late January, as John Calipari was getting ready to return to Kentucky for the first time since leaving the SEC school for Arkansas, Rick Pitino posted a video on X imploring Wildcats fans to take it easy on their former coach.
Pitino knew what it was like to get booed in his former home arena and was trying to lighten the animosity toward Calipari after being welcomed back himself to Lexington in October.
Calipari never saw the video, but he heard about it.
“It was nice of him. I would rather have a Christmas card, but that was nice of him,” Calipari joked on the eve of the West Region second-round matchup between No. 2 St. John’s and No. 10 Arkansas at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
John Calipari is pictured before his return to Rupp Arena with Arkansas on Feb. 1. Imagn Images
Rick Pitino addresses reporters during his press conference on March 21. Charles Wenzelberg
Calipari was booed by Kentucky fans, although his Razorbacks pulled off the upset.
The two Hall of Fame coaches have never been friends, and there was an icy relationship when Pitino was coaching at Louisville and Calipari was at Kentucky.
But both expressed a mutual admiration for one another in their respective news conferences Friday.
“I just thought they should really appreciate [what he did], and you just want people to feel good about what they [accomplished],” Pitino said of the video.
In 15 seasons, Calipari led the Wildcats to a national championship and four Final Four berths.
John Calipari addresses reporters during his press conference on March 21. Charles Wenzelberg
He was replaced this season by former Pitino captain Mark Pope.
St. John’s recruited Arkansas five-star freshman guard and projected first-round NBA draft pick Boogie Fland after Pitino was hired two years ago.
The former Archbishop Stepinac guard from The Bronx said he considered the Johnnies before opting for the SEC school, but he also was in the process of taking visits.
“They kind of came in later in my recruiting process,” Fland said.
After undergoing right thumb surgery in mid-January, Fland returned in the Razorbacks’ NCAA Tournament opener and scored six points along with three assists.
Now, he will face his hometown team with a Sweet 16 berth on the line.
“It’s like a dream,” Fland said. “This is March, so I’m happy to be here.”
