John Calipari on Kentucky’s loss to Oakland: "I thought I had a team that could do some stuff"

The Kentucky Wildcats were stunned by the Oakland Grizzlies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari’s squad once again failed to make its way past an opponent it should have beat.

After the game, Calipari along with players Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves sat down to address the media.

“Oakland played a heck of a game,” Calipari said. “You go through this and I’ve been the ups and downs of this sport, but this one I’m really hurting for them (players).”

The game came down to the final seconds as the Wildcats tried again and again to close the single-digit gap.

Kentucky, favored by many to make it to the Final Four if not the Championship Game, went through one of the most heartbreaking and shell-shocking losses so far this postseason.

“It’s March, you see what some teams are capable of doing,” Mitchell said. “Obviously, it’s not the desired outcome but you gotta live with the reality… I’ve gotten the opportunity to live out a dream and I’ve made bonds that will last a lifetime.”

At the end of 40 minutes, Oakland was the team moving on to the Round of 32. The Wildcats lost 76-80 to the Grizzlies.

“This one hit me hard for them,” Calipari said. “I thought I had a team that could do some stuff.”

Kentucky’s squad was drastically younger than most top-seeded teams in the tournament. Calipari touched on how the inexperience of his roster led to some poor decisions and mistakes in the final minutes of the game.

“I hate it for these guys that people try to define this season by that game,” Calipari said.

One of the final statements made by Mitchell and Reeves was simple.

“These bonds are gonna last a lifetime,” Reeves said.

Many basketball fans, whether they pull for the Wildcats or not, took to social media after Kentucky’s loss to express their opinion that Calipari’s time with the team should end.

Calipari, one of the most historic men’s college basketball coaches of the 21st century, has been with the Wildcats since 2009 and won the national title with the team in 2012.

“When you’re coaching, if you do something and we had won this game, you’re a genius,” Calipari said. “If you don’t do it, you’re the bad guy.”