The Decline of Kentucky Basketball: A Reflection on the Past Seasons
Ever since the 2020-21 season, the Kentucky Basketball program hasn’t been the same. Many attributed the disastrous 9-16 years to injuries and COVID-19, hindering the development of a young Kentucky team that lacked a proper offseason to prepare.
The 2021-22 season brought hope as the Cats finished 26-8 and 14-4 in SEC play, earning a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, their journey was cut short with a surprising first-round loss to 15-seed Saint Peter’s.
The following season was marked by inconsistency, with losses to top teams like Gonzaga, Kansas, and UCLA, culminating in a defeat to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals. Despite a win against Providence in the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky fell to Kansas State in the Round of 32, ending the season at 22-12 overall.
As the recent years unfolded, Kentucky faced setbacks and unexpected defeats, including a disappointing loss to UNC Wilmington. The postseason woes continued with a Quarterfinals loss to Texas A&M and a first-round exit against Oakland in the NCAA Tournament.
John Calipari before his lifetime contract:
305-71 overall (.811)
23-4 SEC Tournament
31-8 NCAA TournamentJohn Calipari since his lifetime contract:
105-52 overall (.669)
1-4 SEC Tournament
1-3 NCAA Tournament
Chris Fisher highlighted the decline of Kentucky since Calipari’s lifetime contract in 2019, raising questions about the team’s direction under his leadership.
In his book, “Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out,” Calipari reflected on Kentucky’s past struggles, noting the team’s limited success in the NCAA Tournament prior to his tenure.
“The team had won a total of just two NCAA tournament games in the previous four seasons, and over the last two, it had lost twenty-seven games,” Calipari wrote. “That’s not supposed to happen in Lexington.”
With only two postseason wins in the past four years, doubts have emerged regarding Calipari’s suitability as the head coach of Kentucky. The team’s recent performance has left fans questioning the future of the program under his guidance.
