LEXINGTON, Ky. — On Saturday evening, John Calipari experienced a varied reaction from the crowd at Rupp Arena as he returned to face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks, currently ranked No. 12, in his inaugural season with the team.

Calipari spent 15 successful years coaching at Kentucky, finishing with an impressive record of 410 wins and 123 losses. Under his leadership, the Wildcats secured their eighth national championship in 2012. He recently transitioned to Arkansas, signing a five-year deal with a base salary of $7 million, plus performance-based incentives.

His return to Lexington was met with mixed emotions; while many fans expressed their discontent with boos, there were also pockets of applause and cheers supporting him. This was Calipari’s first return since leaving Kentucky, where he earned a reputation as a Hall of Fame coach and stands as the most winning coach currently active in men’s college basketball, with an overall record of 867-271 across various programs, including Massachusetts and Memphis. He notably achieved a remarkable 248-26 record at Rupp Arena, culminating in a 93-77 victory against Vanderbilt in his final home game on March 6 last year.

In recent times, however, Calipari faced challenges, particularly during his last two years in Lexington. The Wildcats saw early exits in both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. His tenure ended with an 80-76 loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament, signaling a difficult close to a prolific career at Kentucky.

As he embarks on his journey with the Razorbacks, Calipari has struggled to replicate the level of success he achieved with the Wildcats. The team has faced challenges in the Southeastern Conference, notably losing six of their first seven conference games this season.

Also present at the game was Tubby Smith, who coached the Wildcats from 1997 to 2007, boasting a record of 263-83 and claiming a national championship in 1998. Smith was honored with Hall of Fame induction in 2013 and had his jersey retired in 2021. He wrapped up his coaching career in 2022 at High Point.

Kenny Payne, formerly the head coach at Louisville and a longtime assistant under Calipari, joined him at Arkansas. In addition, former Kentucky players Adou Thiero, D.J. Wagner, and Zvonimir Ivisic made the transition to Arkansas, alongside Calipari’s son, Brad, who is part of the Razorbacks’ coaching staff.

Taking the reins at Kentucky after Calipari is Mark Pope, who has managed to secure a 15-5 record in his first 20 games.