Haliburton Mocks Kentucky Alumni After ISU's NCAA Win
Tyrese Haliburton takes a jab at Kentucky alumni following Iowa State's NCAA tournament victory. The Cyclones triumphed over the Wildcats with a significant margin.
Iowa State's second-round victory over Kentucky in the NCAA men's tournament on Sunday led to a playful post from Cyclones alum Tyrese Haliburton. Iowa State defeated Kentucky 82-63, with Tamin Lipsey scoring 26 points and Milan Momcilovic contributing 20 points. Lipsey also recorded 10 assists and five steals, making him only the third player since 1986 to achieve 25 points, 10 assists, and five steals in a March Madness game, according to ESPN Research.
This loss marks Kentucky's largest defeat in an NCAA tournament game since they fell to Florida State in the Elite Eight back in 1972. Following the Cyclones' win, Haliburton couldn't resist teasing the Wildcats alumni, some of whom have gained attention for their support of Arkansas.
He took to social media platform X to express his thoughts, stating, "Went to text the guys who played at Kentucky about this game and forgot they think they Arkansas alum now🤣" This comment referenced former Kentucky coach John Calipari's decision to move to Arkansas in April 2024. Haliburton suggested that Kentucky stars currently in the NBA now view themselves as Arkansas alumni due to their time under Calipari.
The Oklahoma City Thunder recently shared a video featuring their players discussing which team they believe will win the tournament. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who played for Calipari during the 2017-18 season, indicated that either Arkansas or Kentucky could emerge victorious. Cason Wallace, who spent the 2022-23 season at Kentucky, also expressed his support for Arkansas.
When the Thunder's staff inquired about Calipari, Wallace simply responded, "Yeah." This sentiment has been echoed by other former Wildcats since Calipari's transition. P.J. Washington, another Kentucky alum, was spotted visiting Calipari at Arkansas while wearing Razorbacks gear in September 2024. Similarly, Reed Sheppard, another alum, wore an Arkansas shirt paired with Kentucky pants during a matchup between the two teams.
Haliburton appeared to recognize this trend and did not hold back in his remarks about the former Kentucky players. The Indiana Pacers star played two seasons at Iowa State before entering the NBA draft in 2020. Although he experienced a first-round exit in his only March Madness appearance in 2019, he took pleasure in seeing his alma mater defeat the Wildcats.