John Calipari cuts short halftime interview amid hostile chants

Already perturbed that his team led by just a single point over SEC doormat Missouri at halftime Tuesday night, Kentucky coach John Calipari had to deal with an extra annoyance.

Missouri students berated him with “Cal, you suck!” chants as he attempted to conduct a halftime interview with the SEC Network’s Laura Rutledge.

Credit Calipari for enduring one question straight-faced in that hostile atmosphere. Alas, Rutledge pushed her luck and asked a second one. When Rutledge asked Calipari how he’d describe the student section behind him, the Kentucky coach instead bolted without answering.

Calipari was in a slightly better mood postgame after Kentucky pulled away for a 72-62 road victory behind Bam Adebayo’s 22 points and 15 rebounds. The Kentucky coach told reporters that Rutledge apologized for the question after the game, but he had no idea what she was talking about.

As for the chants, Calipari didn’t seem too fazed. And why would he be considering he is a target of vitriol in most every opposing arena he enters?

“If I walk in a building and they’re not cussing me, booing me, I will retire,” Calipari said. “If I walk into an opponent’s court and they’re cheering me, either you should fire me or I should be retired.”

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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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