kentuckyDefeated Sunday in second round of men’s NCAA tournament iowa state A Cyclone alumnus sent a short post: Tyrese Haliburton.
Iowa State defeated Kentucky 82-63 26 points behind tammin lipsey and from 20 milan momsilovic. According to ESPN Research, Lipsey had 10 assists and five steals, and became the third player since 1986 to have 25 points, 10 assists and five steals in a March Madness game. Kentucky’s 19-point loss is its largest defeat in an NCAA Tournament game since an Elite Eight loss against Florida State in 1972.
Moments after the Cyclones’ victory, Haliburton made sure to mock the Wildcats’ alumni, some of whom have made headlines for supporting Arkansas. He posted on X that he had gone to the Kentucky players before realizing.
Went to message people who played at Kentucky about this game and forgot they think they are now Arkansas alumni🤣
– Tyrese Haliburton (@Hali) 22 March 2026
Haliburton was referring to former Wildcats coach John Calipari, who is leaving for Arkansas in April 2024. He joked that since Calipari’s move, former Kentucky stars who now play in the NBA consider themselves Arkansas alumni, possibly due to playing for Calipari.
oklahoma city thunder recently posted a video Asking your players who they think will win the tournament. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander“Either Arkansas or Kentucky,” said Joe, who played for Calipari in 2017-18. cason wallace Spent one season at Kentucky and Arkansas in 2022-23.
“Coach Cal?” the Thunder admin asked Wallace, who replied simply: “Yes.”
Other players have done the same since Calipari made the switch. Wildcats Alum pj washington visited Calipari at Arkansas in Razorbacks gear in September 2024. Months later, fellow alumni reed shepard wore An Arkansas shirt with Kentucky pants when the two programs faced off.
It appeared that Haliburton was aware of this trend and did not give passes to former Kentucky players. Indiana Pacers Starr spent two seasons at Iowa State before declaring for the draft in 2020. He lost in the first round in his only March Madness appearance in 2019, but enjoyed his alma mater defeating the Wildcats.
