AP Photo/Darron Cummings
Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari is taking the blame for his team's 85-79 loss to Saint Peter's in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Calipari wrote a note asking for the fans to steer their anger towards him after the defeat.
I feel for our team, fans and staff. The team deserved something good to happen because of how they worked and how great they became. Our fans were also deserving of it. When Covid shut down the tournament two years ago, we all wanted to see the team make a special run. It was disappointing to all that we all went through last season, which started late and never really got going.
We were prepared for this year. I am proud and fond of each of the players on this team. You should steer your anger towards me. I wish I could have dragged these kids over the finish line, but I am focused on these kids and recruiting so we can do something special every year. The culture we built in this program demands that.
I love and appreciate our fans.
Expectations were high for this team coming into the tournament.
According to NCAA.com, the Wildcats were the fifth-most popular pick to win the national title. They were being picked by more people to reach the Final Four than the No. 1 seed.
Kentucky was in the tournament for the first time in a while. It went 9-16 in 2020-21, the first losing season since 1988-89.
The East Region had the second seed. They have never lost in the first round since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The first weekend of the tournament was the only time Calipari had lost since he took over the program.
They never led by more than six points against Saint Peter's, but they were able to send the game into overtime. The program&s first-ever NCAA tournament victory was earned by the Peacocks in the overtime period.
Kentucky finished the season with a 26-8 record.
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