With the departure of John Calipari, Rob Dillingham and Antonio Reeves continue to..

Dilly and Reeves continue to support the Cats.

Next season, collegiate basketball will undergo a seismic transformation. The fact that John Calipari left the Kentucky Wildcats after 15 seasons to join Arkansas, of all teams, has the potential to drastically alter the sports landscape.

After all, Cal is joining a program that will go head-to-head with Kentucky while remaining with the SEC.

Hearing from previous players who played for Kentucky and Caliari about their allegiance to one team over the other is now quite interesting. Regardless of how closely associated the retiring head coach is with the program, it can cause rifts when a head coach of a historically significant program, like Kentucky, leaves to take a position with another program.
The players from Calipari’s final squad in Lexington this past season responded in an unexpected way to the two sides. In an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, Rob Dillingham stated that he would return to Kentucky for reasons other than Calipari, mentioning the teachers, fans, and Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart.

“I will definitely return to Kentucky,” Dillingham declared. “Because they obviously shielded me.” It wasn’t only either (Calipari). The fans were the cause. The educators were to blame. Everyone in attendance. I adore the athletics director, Mitch Barnhart. I adore each and every one of them. I therefore had a great time in the UK since everyone there looked out for me and treated me like family.

Dillingham and Antonio Reeves hinted at supporting both sides between Calipari and the school. Reeves, in particular, said that he is going to cheer for Calipari at Arkansas while also continuing to support Kentucky.

“The fans at Kentucky — I definitely can’t leave them behind,” Reeves said. “So I definitely gotta go back and just show them love whenever I get a chance. And I came from Kentucky. So I can’t just leave that behind.”

Regardless of which side players take, there’s no denying the impact Calipari had on Kentucky in his 15 years as the head coach. Consider: Seven of the 24 selections to the NBA All-Star Game this NBA season played for Calipari at Kentucky.

“I love Coach Cal. I appreciate him for the opportunity,” Dillingham said. “And you see him — he’s put so many players in the NBA. He’s done a great thing at Kentucky.”

Reed Sheppard, who burst onto the scene in his lone season with Kentucky this past season, has been connected to the Kentucky program his whole life. His father, Jeff, was a roommate of new Kentucky head coach Mark Pope. Reed said he can’t wait to see what’s next for the program after talking with Mark Pope, but he also said that Calipari is the best coach in the world.

It’s clear Kentucky holds a special place in the hearts of the greatest players throughout Calipari’s 15 years as the head coach in Lexington. That’s regardless of who the head coach is. But from the most recent players, it’s clear Calipari, in particular, matters a great deal to them.

Either way, there’s no denying Calipari’s work he did in Lexington over 15 seasons with winning and impacting players as young men while creating many special memories.