Matt Jones is joined by Anthony Kristensen from Lexington, Ky., on the eve of John Calipari's return to Rupp Arena. We end the show with Matt's Q&A with Bubba Carpenter at the Hawgs Illustrated Sports Club. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. It publishes each weekday.

Contrast that success with Calipari’s first Arkansas team, which needed six tries to notch its first SEC win of the year, and Kentucky fans figure to have plenty of ammunition Saturday. The Razorbacks are just 12-8 overall, and their 1-6 start to SEC play has them looking like a long shot for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Former Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino took to social media on Thursday to appeal to Wildcats fans to give former head coach John Calipari a warm welcome in his return to Rupp Arena this weekend. “As you all know,

Rick Pitino returned to Rupp Arena to face UK in 2001. John Calipari will face Kentucky basketball in Lexington next. How will his experience compare?

Rick Pitino knows a thing or two about leaving Kentucky -- and returning. And now with John Calipari set to return to Rupp Arena with Arkansas on Saturday night (9 p.m., ESPN), the St. John’s coach has some advice on how Big Blue Nation should treat their former coach.

The hype surrounding Calipari’s return, capped by Lexington mayor Linda Gorton naming the days leading to the game ‘Basketball Week’ to highlight Saturday’s contest and other local games, is palpable in Kentucky — “What’s more Lexington than basketball?” Gorton said in a statement.

John Calipari wants his Arkansas basketball players who transferred from Kentucky to stay 'calm in the storm' inside Rupp Arena this weekend.

John Calipari will make his first visit to Rupp Arena on Saturday since leaving Kentucky for Arkansas. His longtime coaching rival wants Big Blue Nation to treat Calipari with respect.

Calipari said Thursday that he still expects for better extended play to kick in for the Hogs at some point this season.

The Hall of Fame coach has the Red Storm looking strong. Plus, new-look Wisconsin, Utah Valley is in the mid-major spotlight, and this weekend’s games to watch.

The day starts at noon on ESPN with perhaps the biggest game of the day, featuring No. 5 Florida visiting Rocky Top to take on a slumping Tennessee squad that desperately needs a win to stay in the top 10. Without any further ado, let’s dive into the rankings for this weekend’s 8 SEC men’s hoops games: