Why don't Calipari, Pearl dislike each other?

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Before Kentucky beat Auburn on Saturday, John Calipari and Bruce Pearl met on the sideline and shook hands, chatted and laughed.

They looked like friends. They shook hands again after the Wildcats 92-72 victory at Rupp Arena, and the post-game press conference scene provided another entertaining development in the relationship of two coaches still trying to find ways to beat each other.

"I'd like to think that the things he doesn't like about me are some of the things I don't like about him, but I had great respect for him," Pearl said. "I always have. When you have respect for a coach like that, and I do, you have to challenge John."

Their rivalry produced a couple of instant classics when Calipari coached Memphis and Pearl was at Tennessee. Pearl and the No. 2 Volunteers edged Calipari's top-ranked and undefeated Tigers in 2008.

Due to recruiting wars, Calipari was not a fan of a home-and-home series. He didn't want Pearl to bring his show to Memphis, and he said, "what good would it do for me to go to Knoxville other than to play in front of 22,000 people in orange?" Calipari later said in 2009. "And I can't stand the color."

"They hated Tennessee, and that was the beginning of John and I having a bit of a rivalry," Pearl said Saturday.

READ MORE

► Calipari on foul woes: 'Why did you do that?'
► Not perfect, but UK's Gabriel making progress
► Malik Monk scores 24 in win over Auburn

Calipari took the next seven games against Pearl, one at Memphis and six at Kentucky. Last season, Pearl and Auburn shocked Kentucky 75-70.

"I want him to be pissed off that we beat them last year," Pearl said. "They weren't a great team and we made some shots and made some plays. ... It matters if you can beat John Calipari at Kentucky. You do want to earn the respect of them here because you respect him."

When notified of that comment, Calipari turned on the sarcasm for a few laughs from the media.

"Did they beat us last year? Oh, they did? Yeah, I'm pissed off they beat us last year," he said with a laugh.

"We had some great games for a while when he was at Tennessee and I was at Memphis. We beat him. He beat us. Does anybody know the record? I could care less, or nor do I know. I would guess that we've won more than he's won. That's my guess - it was a joke."

For the record, with Saturday's victory, Calipari holds a 9-4 record against Pearl.

"You're trying to do your best and you're going against guys, but I have no problem with Bruce," Calipari said. "He's doing a good job."

"For a long, long time, one of the greatest jobs in the history of college basketball is what John Calipari did at UMass," Pearl said. "I've said it for a long time. I grew up in Boston and I went to Boston College. I was there and I left when I was 22 years old. I know what UMass basketball was, I know what he made it, and I know what it has been since he left. He doesn't get nearly enough credit for that."