Kentucky basketball’s John Calipari pushes back on critics: ‘They’re not fans’ of UK

LEXINGTON — Less than an hour after Kentucky’s latest NCAA Tournament berth was revealed, John Calipari didn’t mince any words when it came to — in his mind — so-called “supporters” of the Wildcats.

“When we’re going into this or any other tournament, (you say), ‘We gotta win this. You gotta play your best,’” Calipari said Sunday evening. “That’s how you want me to coach? Now there are people (who) do that. (They say), ‘If they don’t do this, and they don’t do that.’ They’re not fans of this program. Or these kids.”

But he wasn’t finished. Far from it.

“What they’re trying to do is put more pressure on them so they don’t play well, so they can double down on what they’ve said,” Calipari continued. “I don’t buy into it. My job is to get them fresh and loose, and then be focused and locked down when we practice. And then let’s see where it goes.”

His comments came after criticism flooded social media following UK’s latest early flameout at the SEC Tournament. Kentucky lost its opening game to Texas A&M, the second straight time Calipari’s club went one and done at the event — and the third time in four seasons the Wildcats failed to advance at a tournament the coach has won six times.

“If anybody has those things, (saying), ‘What if (this)? What if (that)?’ They’re not a fan,” Calipari said. “And they’re trying to get this off point. So I’m good.”

Which mirrors the way he feels about his team, which begins its NCAA journey as the No. 3 seed in the South Region Thursday night, facing No. 14 seed Oakland in Pittsburgh.

“I think I got a good team,” he said. “But they’re going to have to go perform.”

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.