Calipari returns to a familiar spot

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — John Calipari knows people in Memphis are still upset with how he abandoned their Tigers to take the Kentucky coaching job and that nothing will ever soothe the hurt feelings.

In case they still don’t understand why he left in 2009, Calipari made it clear Thursday.

“I had been talked to probably by six other universities during my time here, and three had offered jobs, and a couple I considered,” Calipari said. “But Kentucky is one that you leave for. It just is.”

With an assist from the NCAA tournament selection committee, Calipari coached his first game in Memphis since leaving eight years ago. It’s a city where some fans still hate him for departing, a move all the more painful because Calipari’s best season at the school was wiped off the books.

Calipari hadn’t coached at the FedExForum since March 2009, when he won his last Conference USA tournament title. That ended Friday when his Wildcats played UCLA in a South Region semifinal.

“We did all right here,” Calipari said. “Had some good times.”

That’s putting it mildly.

Before Calipari stunned Memphis by choosing the winningest program in college basketball, he oversaw the best four-year stretch in Tigers history, going 137-14, the kind of success fans dreamed of when he was hired.

Calipari delivered, dominating Conference USA with players such as Dajuan Wagner and Derrick Rose. His best season came in 2007-08 with 38 victories, a loss to Tennessee and an overtime loss to Kansas in the national championship game — a season that no longer counts.

By August 2009, the NCAA had stripped every victory from that record season because Memphis used an ineligible player believed to be Rose.

“There’s nothing that can take away what that run was about for all of us, including the city,” Calipari said. “It was a special time.”

When he walked onto the court Thursday for practice, Calipari received a heavy dose of boos.

Calipari knew he would face questions about Memphis. He also predicted people would watch Friday because of the talented teams on the court, not because he was on the sideline, “and it should be a lot of fun.”

If you’re not a Memphis Tigers fan.