John Calipari praises Alabama basketball fans after Kentucky loses in Tuscaloosa

It got closer late in the second half, but the Alabama Crimson Tide managed to knock off No. 13 Kentucky in their SEC opener on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.

It was a great game and a statement win for coach Avery Johnson and his program, and Kentucky coach John Calipari admitted that the environment was incredible.

After the loss, Coach Cal noted that students are still on winter break and many Alabama fans are in California for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, but the arena was still packed for the game:

UK coach John Calipari: “They have no students on the campus. And I think they have one or two people that left here to go off to California, and the place was packed. Think about it. Where did these people come from? But they were here, and that's what happens."

— Joey Chandler (@Joey_TNews) January 5, 2019

Kentucky will likely regroup and finish SEC play with a solid record, but Tuscaloosa is a place no team will want to go this year.

The Tide are athletic and physical and they’ll be a tough opponent everywhere, but especially at home.