Jan 6, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes and Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari before the game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
The Kentucky Wildcats may have pulled off a win over Tennessee basketball even in a down year, but the season as a whole proved once again that Rick Barnes is a far superior coach to John Calipari. UK losing to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Thursday’s SEC Tournament matchup further solidified that fact.
With the loss, Kentucky finished the year 9-16, its first losing season since Rick Pitino’s first year in Lexington, Ky.