Kentucky basketball: John Calipari reveals team he’s rooting for in March Madness

Kentucky basketball is not in the NCAA Tournament so Wildcats coach John Calipari is rooting on the SEC during March Madness, especially league champion Alabama.

Normally, John Calipari would be gearing up for the NCAA Tournament and a long run in March Madness this time of year. This year is not like normal years as the Kentucky basketball coach is coming off arguably his worst season as a head coach and certainly the worst during his tenure with the Wildcats.

With Kentucky not making the NCAA Tournament this year, Calipari has all sorts of free time on his hands so he’ll be watching March Madness like a fan just like you and me.

And he’s already doing it how SEC fans do, by cheering on fellow SEC teams.

Calipari texted Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats some words of encouragement ahead of the NCAA Tournament getting underway on Friday. Oats led Alabama to the regular-season title and the SEC Tournament championship as the Crimson Tide pulled off the rare double feat for their program.

While stopping short of saying he’s rooting for Alabama to cut down the nets, Calipari made it clear he’s hoping the SEC will be well-represented in March Madness.

This is the type of behavior often shown by SEC football fans when Alabama football is competing in the College Football Playoff. Fans from Mississippi State to Ole Miss to Texas A&M to Kentucky will be rooting for Alabama to uphold the SEC supremacy for bragging rights and the windfall of millions that come to their universities with a championship.

Typically, it’s difficult for fans to root for the Goliaths like Alabama football and Kentucky basketball, but when there are millions of dollars on the line to benefit the school they are a fan of, things tend to change, at least for one game or one tournament.

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