There wasn’t a lot of positive to come from Kentucky’s performance against Vanderbilt. However, if you like to look at the light in all situations, there is one.

The SEC has fined institutions for rushing fields/courts since the early 2000s due to safety concerns. However, the amounts did little to deter that. Over the years the fines have grown larger. In 2023 the policy was updated to what it is today and teams were given a new slate: For the first offense the fine is $100,000, a second is $250,000, and it maxes out at $500,000 for a third or subsequent offense, with the fine being paid to the opposing school.

After storming the field in an upset win over Alabama last fall, and storming the court after upsetting Tennessee last week, Vanderbilt had committed their first two offenses and paid out $350,000.

On the verge of upsetting Kentucky inside the Historic Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candace Lee was seen begging fans not to rush the court in an effort to save $500,000. “Let us use the money for NIL to make a great team next year,” she said.

However, it was to avail as the students proceeded to rush the court for their third offense after defeating Kentucky resulting in a $500,000 fine for “violation of the league’s access to competition area policy.”

The recipient. The Kentucky Wildcats, who can use that for their NIL fund.

Returns are one of the greatest stories in sports. LeBron James made a triumphant return to Cleveland, delivering his hometown team a long-awaited championship. Tiger Woods stunned the world by winning The Masters in 2019 after overcoming injuries and personal struggles. And recently, Kentucky witnessed a high-profile return when former coach Rick Pitino rejoined Big Blue Nation after his hiatus from the program.

But this season, Coach Pitino won’t be the only former coach making his return to Rupp Arena. On Saturday, February 1st, at 9:00 PM, John Calipari will step onto the floor, sporting a red suit coat with “Cal University” AKA Arkansas behind him. As game day approaches, Calipari is beginning to field questions about his highly anticipated return to Lexington.

Following his team’s loss to Oklahoma last Saturday, Calipari was asked about the upcoming game and reflected on the emotional significance, saying, “There will be some emotion walking into that building, and really just being in town. I’ll probably get together with some of my friends. They’re playing well. We’ve got our hands full. Let’s see what happens. They’re a good team. Mark’s doing a good job with them.” He also spoke about his Arkansas squad: “We just have to keep going, keep fighting, and keep figuring this out. What does this team look like? What do we need to play like?”

To be honest, Calipari’s first season at Arkansas hasn’t gone as anyone expected. His team started SEC play 0-5 but finally picked up a win against a tough Georgia team, one that Kentucky struggled with when conference play began.

The Razorbacks appeared to be on the ropes after losing star freshman Boogie Fland for the season. However, they had the opportunity to enter Rupp Arena on a two-game winning streak. Despite a standout performance from Johnell Davis, who scored 18 points—his best game since transferring from FAU—it wasn’t enough to secure a win, as Arkansas fell 65-62 to Oklahoma.

Both fanbases have had Saturday, February 1st, circled on their calendars since early April. No one could have predicted the twists and turns that have led to this point, adding even more drama and emotion to what promises to be a high-profile, thrilling matchup.

In the post-game following Kentucky’s second straight loss, this one coming on the road at Vanderbilt with a final score of 74-69, Mark Pope provided an injury update on the absent Andrew Carr.

“There’s just so much he can’t do with his back,” he said. “He wants to play so bad.”

Carr sitting the Vanderbilt game came after weeks of up-and-down performance, playtime and speculation. His injury seemed to come out of nowhere, and has evolved quickly from a quiet concern to something that could hold him out for “weeks.”

“What we’re hoping is that we can get to a space sometime in the next few weeks, next few days, somewhere where we have enough confidence… he hasn’t practiced in a couple weeks,” Pope revealed.

“Every game, it’s kind of like he just gets beat up so bad it’s back to square one where it’s hard for him to walk essentially. We’re hoping that, with more time, we can get him to some sustainable place where he can endure a practice, and endure a game, and not be back to zero…”

“But we’ll see if that actually happens.”

Rocky Roads

The revelation that Carr hasn’t practiced in weeks is certainly a sobering one. That, combined with the apparently restrictive nature of the injury itself, explains his inability to stay on, let alone produce on, the court.

This news couldn’t come at a worse time for the Wildcats, who have only two days to recover from the loss to the Commodores before they find themselves center stage in Thompson-Boling Arena taking on the Tennessee Volunteers.

The Volunteers are also on a two-game losing streak and, in front of their home crowd, will be chomping at the bit to turn things around.

With Kerr Kriisa still out indefinitely, Lamont Butler dealing with a shoulder/off-hand ailment (something Pope has briefly alluded to,) and Andrew Carr joining the former off the court, Kentucky will have to rely on reserves to stay afloat in the SEC. It’s a long road to rocky top, to say the least.

Get well soon, #7. All of Big Blue Nation is behind you.