Arkansas’ John Calipari takes subtle recruiting dig at Kentucky in response to Mark Pope

Arkansas coach John Calipari did not need four minutes to clap back, albeit in a subtle way, at Kentucky coach Mark Pope.

Pope recently went on a four-minute monologue on his radio show to stress how the No. 7 Wildcats have improved since he replaced Calipari. They were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after losing to Iowa State.

“We actually have a higher winning percentage in the last two (years) than we did in the four preceding (years). Barely, but a higher winning percentage,” said Pope, who has a 46-26 record with Kentucky.

The Wildcats had an 80-46 record in Calipari’s last four years with the program. They failed to advance past the second round in three appearances in that stretch.

Following the No. 4 Razorbacks’ defeat to top-seeded Arizona in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, Calipari appeared to take a shot at Pope.

“We’re all on the same boat right now,” said Calipari in the postgame conference.

“How about this, you had no recruits, you had no idea who’s coming back, you don’t have the money you had a year ago. You do not. Now, all of a sudden, you’re trying to keep guys, figure out who else out there wants to come, and who wants to start a bidding war, which we wouldn’t be involved in.”

"There are a lot of people who have no recruits, you have idea who's coming back, you don't have the money you had a year ago."

John Calipari very clearly taking a jab at Kentucky… We knew, win or lose, he was going to try to take shots at Kentucky after Mark Pope said what he… pic.twitter.com/kZxX5daVbr

— Cameron Waddle (@CameronWaddle) March 27, 2026

After a storied run at Kentucky, including winning the national title in 2012, Calipari left in 2024 and signed with Arkansas on a five-year deal worth $7 million per season. He has a 50-22 record with the Razorbacks.

The 67-year-old coach had a 410–123 record in 15 years with the Wildcats. Calipari is credited with molding NBA stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyler Herro, John Wall, and DeMarcus Cousins, just to name a few.

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