The hype surrounding Calipari’s return, capped by Lexington mayor Linda Gorton naming the days leading to the game ‘Basketball Week’ to highlight Saturday’s contest and other local games, is palpable in Kentucky — “What’s more Lexington than basketball?” Gorton said in a statement.

Give John Calipari credit; he has spoken openly about his return to Kentucky this week. With Arkansas on a midweek bye, Cal could have found ways to avoid the media ahead of Saturday’s trip to Lexington.

Former Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino took to social media on Thursday to appeal to Wildcats fans to give former head coach John Calipari a warm welcome in his return to Rupp Arena this weekend. “As you all know,