John Calipari visualized his walk out of the tunnel at Rupp Arena many times, but it’ll be as the opposing head coach Saturday night. Arkansas takes on Kentucky at 9:00 p.m. ET and Calipari expects a mixed reaction.

Arkansas coach John Calipari returns to Kentucky for the first time when the Razorbacks face the Wildcats in a Southeastern Conference game.

One of the most anticipated men’s college basketball games of the 2024-25 season will take place in downtown Lexington on Saturday night when former UK head coach John Calipari makes his highly anticipated return to Rupp Arena. Calipari will be leading his new program, Arkansas (12-8 overall, 1-6 SEC) against No. 12 Kentucky (15-5, 4-3).