“We had our chance”: $45M worth John Calipari reacts to Kentucky’s double-digit loss to Texas A&M
Coach John Calipari expressed disappointment as Kentucky’s 2024 SEC Tournament ended after falling to the Texas A&M Aggies in the quarterfinal game on Friday night.
The underdog Aggies secured a 97-87 upset victory, fueled by an outstanding performance from Wade Taylor IV, who scored 32 points and sank six 3-pointers.
Wildcats coach Calipari acknowledged the missed opportunity in his postgame news conference:
"We had every chance now. All that's going around the country, we had our chance. But we had to go and play well today. And I don't think that, you know, I'm not telling them that."
John Calipari emphasized the broader perspective, highlighting the team's pursuit of a favorable seeding despite the setback and mentioning his track record with 16 championships in such tournaments.
"You do know how many games my teams have won in this thing and championships, right?" Calipari said. "Like 16 set. So yes, we're playing to win, but we're playing for a bigger picture, which is that seed."
Against Texas A&M, the Wildcats were outplayed in key areas, with the Aggies dominating in points off turnovers (18-4) and second-chance points (26-9). Despite Kentucky briefly taking the lead, it couldn't contain Taylor and Tyrece Radford, who combined for 55 points.
John Calipari bemoans SEC Tournament struggles as Texas upsets Kentucky
Kentucky's SEC Tournament journey ended prematurely in Nashville. Despite notable performances, including 27 points from freshman Rob Dillingham, 14 from Reed Sheppard and 13 from Antonio Reeves, the Wildcats couldn't contain Texas A&M's physicality and rebounding prowess, allowing 26 second-chance points.
Fifteenth-year coach John Calipari, who has a net worth of $45 million per Celebrity Net Worth, expressed his discontent after Friday's matchup:
"It was also about our fans. I told them that. We got a lot of people that traveled, spent money. This is their opportunity to watch this team. … I felt for the fans. I said it to Tom (Leach) after on the radio. You want to win for them. They put everything into being here, all that. You want to win for them."
He emphasized the tournament's significance for fans and its impact on the team's seed:
"You got to win, and you got to advance to improve your seed."
Kentucky shot 49% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc but struggled defensively against the Aggies, who typically ranked poorly in 3-point shooting. The game saw a swift momentum shift as the Wildcats recovered from an early deficit to take the lead briefly.
Sheppard, the SEC Freshman of the Year, showcased his talent with 14 first-half points, but Texas A&M's Wade Taylor countered with 18 of his own. Despite Kentucky's efforts to claw back, the Aggies maintained control, extending their lead to double digits in the second half.
Remarkably, Texas A&M, ranking 350th in 3-point shooting nationally at 27.7%, exploited Kentucky's defense, hitting eight first-half 3s. John Calipari's Kentucky managed to trim the deficit, but Texas A&M's consistent scoring and outside shooting thwarted sustained comeback efforts.