John Calipari has a hilarious response to Kenny Payne saying Kentucky is a ‘basketball state’
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Labels are a bit of a sour subject for Kentucky basketball head coach John Calipari.
After a kerfuffle between Calipari and football coach Mark Stoops regarding what sport is king at Kentucky, you can’t blame him. Calipari joked with former Louisville guard Kenny Payne Wednesday at the Kentucky Chamber Annual Dinner in Louisville after Payne labeled Kentucky a “basketball state.”
John Calipari and Kenny Payne talking at the Kentucky Chamber Annual Dinner in Louisville tonight.
KP finishes a thought with … “This is a basketball state. It’s the best of the best.”
Cal: “Careful.”
(Laughter)
KP: “I said state. I’m not going to get into that.”
— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) September 15, 2022
For what it’s worth, Kentucky football is certainly holding up its end of the bargain with that one. The Wildcats are 2-0 and currently the No. 9 team in the country, having just knocked off then-No. 12 ranked Florida in The Swamp.
Calipari’s squad will look to bounce back from losing to No. 15 seeded Saint Peters in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Basketball season is just a few months away!
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
