Whose side are you on – red or blue? After a heated election cycle, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re talking about Democrats and Republicans, but that’s not the case.
The tensions are thick here in the heart of the Southeastern Conference, specifically in the case of Arkansas and Kentucky’s basketball feud of recent months. Whether it’s crowd sizes, recruiting battles or petty comments about margin of victory, it’s been an endless stream of trolling between the two fanbases.
John Calipari had enjoyed success of the highest caliber in the past, but had fallen on less glamorous times in recent years. Mark Pope, on the other hand, presents a promising future and the ability to take UK in a new direction – but it’s a big leap for a coach who has yet to win an NCAA Tournament game.
Despite that, Kentucky’s scorching start to the season – including a massive win over No. 6 Duke – has UK fans over the moon about what Pope’s squad can do come March. The new eras at both schools and the pre-existing bad blood between them has caused crowing on social media and message boards to go to the next level.
Two-Sided Turf War Breaks Out Between Razorback and Big Blue Nation
After Arkansas defeated Pacific 91-72, the program’s Twitter account posted a final score graphic with a simple caption: “Never trailed in this one.”
You’d expect the replies to this post to be filled with…y’know, Arkansas fans…giving their take on what was an imperfect but eventually convincing win over a pretty terrible mid-major squad. Instead, the comment section was invaded by Kentucky fans launching Molotov cocktails at their former coach.
“Another struggle against a high school team,” one UK fan wrote.
“Incoming obsessed Kentucky fans,” numerous Arkansas fans replied.
The very next night, the two fanbases were at it again, this time in the aftermath of UK’s 30-point drubbing of Lipscomb – a team Arkansas beat by only 16 in its season opener. Rupp Arena was a packed house, despite the fact it was a mid-major opponent on a Tuesday night, and Razorback Nation certainly took notice of the difference in crowd size.
Arkansas’ low attendance in the first three home games of the season have given Big Blue Nation plenty of ammunition to launch towards Razorback Fans – and deservedly so.
Attendance is not something Arkansas struggled with during the Musselman era, even against much weaker competition early in the season, so the fact it’s a problem now with Calipari is of course going to invite such jabs.
There are plenty of reasons for why the crowds in Bud Walton Arena have been sparse so far, more than enough to warrant a column of its own. (Oh wait – here’s one from Best of Arkansas Sports’ very own Evin Demirel, warm off the press.)
It’s almost become an expectation for Razorback fans to have daily sparring matches with Kentucky supporters on social media. It’s not just crowd sizes, either. Whether it’s the trio of transfers in Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner and Zvonimir Ivisic or high school signees like Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond, Kentucky fans have certainly taken notice of the fact that most of Arkansas’ roster is made up of former Kentucky players and signees.
As a result, large swathes of BBN have been lobbing insults at their former Wildcats-turned-Hogs.
But the trolling and constant comparisons between the two programs are far from a one-way train — Arkansas fans are doing more than their fair share of perpetuating this online turf war with Kentucky.
In addition to using Kentucky as a measuring stick, Arkansas fans have also been quick to gloat when the Hogs snatched a recruit away from the ‘Cats – be it a UK transfer or a recruit they were in the mix for.
Arkansas and Kentucky Trade Blows in Recruiting
When five-star point guard Darius Acuff Jr. committed to Arkansas, Hog fans were quick to jump online and troll by exclaiming that “Kentucky is in shambles.”
I was personally adding to this turf war, too, writing after Boogie Fland’s commitment that “UK recruits continuing to flip to the Razorbacks makes it clear that most of them were more attached to Calipari than the school itself.”
That debate has continued in the Class of 2025 as the two coaches compete to secure the better group of recruits in their first full cycle at their new outposts.
Arkansas landed the first punch with Acuff, but Kentucky responded by securing five-star guard Jasper Johnson and four-star center Malachi Moreno. Just when the Hogs thought they got the last laugh by signing No. 1 shooting guard Meleek Thomas, the ‘Cats struck back by emerging as the favorite for five-star wing Caleb Wilson – while Arkansas didn’t make the cut as one of his finalists.
In every instance, fans of the prevailing program made sure to talk their talk to the other fanbase.
Who’s Bigger: Calipari or Kentucky?
When Coach Cal took the Arkansas job, he turned a lot of heads with his comment that it was still going to be “Calipari University,” he was just “changing headquarters.” That sparked an ongoing debate within this larger feud over who played a larger part in Kentucky’s success and prominence over the last 15 years: UK’s status as a blue blood or Calipari’s recruiting ability and brand-building?
The answer so far has been a completely mixed bag. Kentucky’s crowd sizes and recent triumph over Duke suggest a reinvigorated enthusiasm in Big Blue Nation that won’t be going anywhere. Arkansas’ issue with crowds will almost certainly go away once SEC play tips off, but it shouldn’t be an issue in the first place in Year 1 of a highly-anticipated era. Score one for the ‘Cats.
But on the other hand, recruiting is an area that emphasizes Calipari’s influence. Arkansas’ 2024 class was ranked No. 3 in the nation by 247Sports, while Pope’s inaugural Kentucky class slotted in at 31st. The 2025 class is shaping up to be a more competitive cycle, with both programs currently in the top five, but Arkansas still has the slight edge.
The Hogs have only out-recruited Kentucky once in recent memory, when the generational 2022 class brought in the five-star trio of Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh. Other than that, UK has had the undisputed upper hand in recruiting – and it hasn’t been close. But Calipari’s time at Arkansas so far has changed that dynamic.
Coach Cal’s recruiting prowess resulted in dozens of Wildcats going to the NBA during his time at Kentucky. Now, those very same alumni have become the faces of the “Cal or Kentucky” argument.
Are BBN Alums Voting Blue or Red?
The biggest evidence folks have pointed to in this debate is the tendency for a number of Kentucky alums to openly voice their support for Calipari at his new destination – even going as far as to pose for pictures wearing Arkansas gear, which certainly ruffled some blue feathers.
Let’s get into a player-by-player look at which of John Calipari’s guys have kept repping Kentucky, their alma mater, or Arkansas, where the man who made them a millionaire is now buttering his bread.
To be fair, none of us are paid enough to scour the entire Instagram and “X” feed of any of these guys, so we don’t pretend that the below selections are comprehensive.
PJ Washington was likely the most talked about Kentucky alum to rep the Razorbacks this offseason. Not only did Washington come visit Cal at Arkansas, he repped an Arkansas shirt while doing so. This did not sit well with Big Blue Nation, and they responded accordingly.
Verdict: Rocking the Red
John Wall appears to still be in the Kentucky camp, judging by numerous comments he made on his podcast back in April.
“It’s sad to see [Calipari] leave,” he said. “I’m still part of Kentucky. I’m still going to be Big Blue Nation. That’s always family. I have the jersey tatted on me…It’s always love and support for Kentucky, and that’s never going to change.”
Verdict: True to the Blue
Malik Monk, the former five star recruit from Arkansas who spurned the Razorbacks to play for Coach Cal at Kentucky, seems on board with the Hogs in a shocking twist. He even went so far as to say he would be catching some games in Bud Walton Arena this season.
Kentucky fans were predictably upset, but Arkansas fans were also divided on Monk’s take:
The reaction to this homecoming will obviously be mixed, but for Monk this is the best of both worlds – his coach coaching at his home school.
Verdict: Rocking the Red
Tyler Ulis is now officially on staff at Arkansas and is the most likely of anyone on this list to have mixed loyalties after playing and coaching for Kentucky but now working for the Razorbacks. In the most literal sense, Ulis is representing Arkansas in every game this season from the Hogs’ bench.
Verdict: Rocking the Red
Karl-Anthony Towns took a photo with Calipari this summer sporting an interesting fashion choice – a red polo. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.
But Towns did clarify his comments later on the Paul Finebaum show.
“I bleed blue,” he said. “I’m always going to be about UK, I’m always going to be about Kentucky, I’m always going to be a Wildcat for life.”
Verdict: True to the Blue
DeMarcus Cousins made his feelings pretty clear on who the difference-maker was in the Calipari-Kentucky relationship in some comments made on his podcast after Cal’s move to Arkansas.
“Kentucky won’t be on TV anymore, and it’s going to be hard to get a kid to go to Kentucky if they’re not on TV,” Cousins said. “What kids are looking for in today’s time is what’s hot, what’s cool, what’s relevant. I want to be on TV every night to show my talent. Guess what team is going to be on TV every night? The Arkansas Razorbacks.”
While not entirely true judging by the massive ratings generated by the Kentucky-Duke game on ESPN, Cousins’ bold statement made his allegiances known.
Verdict: Rocking the Red
What to Make of Hogs-Cats Turf War
All of this likely doesn’t mean much, other than pointless bickering on social media in a desperate attempt for some perceived superiority over a rival.
Arkansas fans will of course look to take the moral high ground, lobbing “rent free” jabs at Kentucky fans whenever Calipari’s name comes up. But as we mentioned before, it takes two to tango – and this beef goes both ways. This Kentucky basketball fan actually makes a solid point:
And guess what…he’s right! Raise your hand if you, as an Arkansas fan, made fun of Coach Cal or relished in the Wildcats’ shortcomings at some point during his Kentucky tenure. If your hand isn’t up, you’re lying. I know, because I did it myself. And, buddy, that criticizing went into overdrive with the NCAA Tournament loss to Oakland last March, let me tell ya.
This marriage was always going to be an awkward arrangement. Even Calipari acknowledged that from his introductory press conference, joking that he had never gotten a nice greeting in Bud Walton Arena before.
With Kentucky in the SEC alongside Arkansas, Coach Cal was never really going to be able to escape what happened at his previous job. It’d be like if you broke up with your boyfriend but he’s still in the friend group you hang out with. Sure, it’s a fresh start, but he’s still lingering around reminding you of the past.
In that sense, Arkansas basketball fans can almost empathize with their UK counterparts. Arkansas fans have almost unanimously wished former Head Hog Eric Musselman the best at his new job at USC. But if he had taken another job in the SEC, rather than far away in the Big Ten and on the west coast, then the breakup probably would have been a lot more messy. So you can’t really blame BBN for seeming to take longer to get over things.
It brings back memories of Eddie Sutton’s infamous move from Arkansas to Kentucky back in the 1980s. Even though the programs were in different conferences back then, the fact that the Southeastern and Southwest Conferences were essentially neighbors made it more controversial.
But the most pot-stirring part of it all was, of course, Sutton’s comment that he would have “crawled” from Fayetteville to Lexington to take the job. 40 years later, Coach Cal did the same thing in reverse.
It seems every week delivers yet another page in this latest, taut chapter of the Arkansas vs Kentucky rivalry. Whoever wins the actual showdown between the teams on Feb. 1 will feel over the moon, but don’t expect that result to definitively “settle” anything.
Given all the twisted roots these programs now share, this debate will rage on for many more years.
John Smith contributed to the above feature
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Inside Arkansas on whether or not the Arkansas-Kentucky beef will ever cool down:
Arkansas vs Kentucky History
Here’s a look at the Arkansas vs Kentucky rivalry through the years, courtesy of HogStats…
| Date (Season) | AR Rank | Opponent | Result | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/2/2024 (2023-24) | @ #16 Kentucky* | L 102-111 | Lexington, KY | |
| 1/27/2024 (2023-24) | #6 Kentucky* | L 57-63 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 3/4/2023 (2022-23) | #23 Kentucky* | L 79-88 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 2/7/2023 (2022-23) | @ Kentucky* | W 88-73 | Lexington, KY | |
| 2/26/2022 (2021-22) | #18 | #6 Kentucky* | W 75-73 | Fayetteville, AR |
| 2/9/2021 (2020-21) | @ Kentucky* | W 81-80 | Lexington, KY | |
| 1/18/2020 (2019-20) | #10 Kentucky* | L 66-73 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 2/26/2019 (2018-19) | @ #4 Kentucky* | L 66-70 | Lexington, KY | |
| 2/20/2018 (2017-18) | Kentucky* | L 72-87 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 3/12/2017 (2016-17) | vs. #8 Kentucky | L 65-82 | Nashville, TN | |
| 1/7/2017 (2016-17) | @ #6 Kentucky* | L 71-97 | Lexington, KY | |
| 1/21/2016 (2015-16) | #23 Kentucky* | L 66-80 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 3/15/2015 (2014-15) | #21 | vs. #1 Kentucky | L 63-78 | Nashville, TN |
| 2/28/2015 (2014-15) | #18 | @ #1 Kentucky* | L 67-84 | Lexington, KY |
| 2/27/2014 (2013-14) | @ #17 Kentucky* | W 71-67 OT | Lexington, KY | |
| 1/14/2014 (2013-14) | #13 Kentucky* | W 87-85 OT | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 3/2/2013 (2012-13) | Kentucky* | W 73-60 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 1/17/2012 (2011-12) | @ #2 Kentucky* | L 63-86 | Lexington, KY | |
| 2/23/2011 (2010-11) | #22 Kentucky* | W 77-76 OT | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 1/23/2010 (2009-10) | @ #2 Kentucky* | L 70-101 | Lexington, KY | |
| 2/14/2009 (2008-09) | Kentucky* | L 63-79 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 2/23/2008 (2007-08) | @ Kentucky* | L 58-63 | Lexington, KY | |
| 2/3/2007 (2006-07) | Kentucky* | L 72-84 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 1/29/2006 (2005-06) | @ Kentucky* | L 76-78 | Lexington, KY | |
| 1/29/2005 (2004-05) | #6 Kentucky* | L 67-68 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 2/18/2004 (2003-04) | @ #9 Kentucky* | L 56-73 | Lexington, KY | |
| 2/19/2003 (2002-03) | #2 Kentucky* | L 50-66 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 2/23/2002 (2001-02) | @ #12 Kentucky* | L 58-71 | Lexington, KY | |
| 3/10/2001 (2000-01) | vs. #15 Kentucky | L 78-87 | Nashville, TN | |
| 2/25/2001 (2000-01) | #13 Kentucky* | W 82-78 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 3/10/2000 (1999-00) | vs. #16 Kentucky | W 86-72 | Atlanta, GA | |
| 2/26/2000 (1999-00) | @ #18 Kentucky* | L 55-60 | Lexington, KY | |
| 3/7/1999 (1998-99) | #22 | vs. #14 Kentucky | L 63-76 | Atlanta, GA |
| 2/20/1999 (1998-99) | #6 Kentucky* | W 74-70 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 3/7/1998 (1997-98) | #16 | vs. #7 Kentucky | L 74-99 | Atlanta, GA |
| 1/17/1998 (1997-98) | #22 | @ #6 Kentucky* | L 77-80 OT | Lexington, KY |
| 1/26/1997 (1996-97) | #3 Kentucky* | L 73-83 | Fayetteville, AR | |
| 3/9/1996 (1995-96) | vs. #1 Kentucky | L 75-95 | New Orleans, LA | |
| 2/11/1996 (1995-96) | @ #2 Kentucky* | L 73-88 | Lexington, KY | |
| 3/12/1995 (1994-95) | #5 | vs. #3 Kentucky | L 93-95 OT | Atlanta, GA |
| 1/29/1995 (1994-95) | #9 | #5 Kentucky* | W 94-92 | Fayetteville, AR |
| 3/12/1994 (1993-94) | #1 | vs. #10 Kentucky | L 78-90 | Memphis, TN |
| 2/9/1994 (1993-94) | #3 | @ #4 Kentucky* | W 90-82 | Lexington, KY |
| 3/13/1993 (1992-93) | #14 | @ #4 Kentucky | L 81-92 | Lexington, KY |
| 2/10/1993 (1992-93) | #14 | #2 Kentucky* | W 101-94 | Fayetteville, AR |
| 1/25/1992 (1991-92) | #9 | @ #8 Kentucky* | W 105-88 | Lexington, KY |
| 3/25/1978 (1977-78) | #5 | vs. #1 Kentucky | L 59-64 | St. Louis, MO |
| 1/2/1950 (1949-50) | vs. Kentucky | L 53-57 | Little Rock, AR | |
| 12/13/1948 (1948-49) | @ Kentucky | L 39-76 | Lexington, KY | |
| 12/18/1945 (1945-46) | @ Kentucky | L 42-67 | Lexington, KY |
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