Kentucky coach John Calipari reaches out to Markquis Nowell after ‘little kid’ remark

If you’re a Kansas State basketball fan who spends any amount of time on social media, you have probably seen the video clip of Kentucky coach John Calipari calling Markquis Nowell a “little kid” after they faced off in a NCAA Tournament game on Sunday.

K-State won 75-69 thanks in large part to 27 points and nine assists from Nowell, who led his Wildcats to victory with a sensational performance of deep three-pointers and highlight passes.

With the win, K-State advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 2018 and wildly celebrated the accomplishment inside Greensboro Coliseum. As you might expect, Calipari wasn’t in a jovial mood after the loss. Perhaps that is why his attempt to compliment Nowell and teammate Keyontae Johnson came off as disrespectful in his postgame news conference.

“We did a pretty good job on Johnson, and he makes that three. The little kid makes a three. He made a deep three,” Calipari said. “We miss a couple and all of a sudden it gets out of hand.”