Kentucky Coach in Hot Water After ‘Basketball School’ Comments

John Calipari isn’t wrong about Kentucky being a basketball school.

John Calipari and Mark Stoops had a public tiff Thursday after the UK basketball coach told reporters in the Bahamas that Kentucky “is a basketball school” while teams that Wildcats football competes against, Alabama and Georgia, are “football schools.”

“This is a basketball school,” Calipari told The Athletic last week. “It’s always been that. “Alabama is a football school. So is Georgia. I mean, they are. No disrespect to our football team. I hope they win 10 games and go to bowls …

“But this is a basketball school,” he continued. “And so we need to keep moving in that direction and keep doing what we’re doing.”

See more

"This is a basketball school. Alabama is a football school. So is Georgia. No disrespect to our football team. I hope they win 10 games and go to bowls. But this is a basketball school."

John Calipari wants his practice facility ASAP.https://t.co/0zlHJxlXmT

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) August 11, 2022

Football coach Mark Stoops was not happy about comments. Either was athletic director Mitch Barnhart.

“I’m not real thrilled at where we are,” Barnhart said. “Grown-ups are going to have to figure this out and be a little better.”

He then added comments seemingly directed at Calipari: “Sometimes when you get a little bit of success, you get a little entitled. We will be a grateful [athletic] department. We will not be entitled.”

Stoops took to Twitter, writing, “Basketball school? I thought we competed in the SEC?”

See more

Basketball school? I thought we competed in the SEC? #4straightpostseasonwins https://t.co/xUoKmUeonH

— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) August 11, 2022

Kentucky basketball is definitely on its own level, no offense to Kentucky Football, but it’s just not even close to being a brand like UK basketball is.

Calipari needs another national title to remind Wildcat fans and administrators what he has brought to the program.

But like I said, he’s not wrong, but probably didn’t need to be said.

---

Welcome to the game outside the game! Follow us on our Sideaction Twitter handle, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest on sports and pop culture news across the web!