It’s the biggest NCAA Tournament of John Calipari’s 14-year career at Kentucky, and it’s really not close. The Wildcats are coming off a historic opening-round upset loss to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s in 2021-22, which followed a 9-16 season overall — arguably the worst in program history — in 2020-21. Factor in the canceled 2019-20 postseason, one UK entered as a No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament before the world shut down, and it’s been four years since fans have seen a single win in the Big Dance.
And then this year, the can has been kicked time and time again leading up to this point.