College Basketball

John Calipari’s daughter annihilates online troll: ‘Thanks for the message’

John Calipari’s daughter, Erin, won’t tolerate negative talk about the Kentucky men’s basketball coach.

Taking to her X account, Erin fired back at a Wildcats fan who ripped Calipari after Kentucky’s blowout loss to South Carolina on Tuesday, 79-62, in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,000 at Colonial Life Arena, home of the Gamecocks.

It all started when X user @Rico_in_Oakland responded to Erin’s Saturday post that read, “BIG Z!” after Kentucky’s Zvonimir “Big Z” Ivisic had a strong debut (13 points, 3-for-4 from 3) in the Wildcats’ 105-96 win over the Georgia Bulldogs at Rupp Arena.

“Your father just got blown out by South Carolina,” the internet troll wrote to Erin. “That’s unexceptable [sic]. I was so excited about a Big Z but now I’m so mad.

“Tell your father if we don’t make the final four this year he’s fired. Go cats.”

That’s when Erin, an associate professor at Vanderbilt University, thanked the user for their message.

Ellen Calipari and her daughter Erin Calipari. Instagram/Erin Calipari
Kentucky coach John Calipari looks for a foul call during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. AP

“Hi Rico. Thanks for the message,” Erin wrote. “Please tell your father that you spend your evenings messaging adult children of basketball coaches on Twitter. I’m sure he will be proud.”

The elder Calipari has yet to address the situation.

Tuesday’s loss marked Kentucky’s third straight defeat at South Carolina.

Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves (12) scores inside over South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. AP
Kentucky head coach John Calipari walks to the end of the bench during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. AP

“We drove it and we weren’t physical enough to hold our ground,” Calipari said after the game.

No. 6 Kentucky had a poor offensive game and shot just 3-of-11 from three.

(L-R) Megan Calipari, Ellen Calipari, Brad Calipari, John Calipari and Erin Calipari in 2019. Instagram/Erin Calipari

Kentucky’s leading scorer Antonio Reeves — who’s averaging 19.6 points per game — went 1-for-7 shooting in the first half.

Kentucky visits Arkansas on Saturday night.

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