The college basketball tournament is a time when Cinderella teams get to shine.
Perennial powers have to face the music for failing to live up to lofty expectations.
And a coach suffered an upset loss in March Madness and a bar launched this shocking promotion.
The University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team went into the NCAA tournament with high expectations.
Coach John Calipari’s squad earned a three seed and featured multiple players who are projected to go in the first round of the NBA draft.
But the pressure was on the Hall of Fame coach after the Wildcats suffered early exits from the tournament the last three seasons including a stunning upset loss in the first round two seasons ago as a two seed to 15 seed Saint Peter’s.
Kentucky is an upset victim once again
The third-seeded Wildcats squared off with the underdog Oakland Grizzlies – a 14 seed – in the first round of the tournament.
Oakland – a commuter school north of Detroit, Michigan – had only won a single game in their history in the NCAA tournament.
Behind sharpshooting guard Jack Gohlke – a transfer from Division II Hillsdale – the Grizzlies pulled off the biggest upset of the first round by knocking off Kentucky 80-76.
Gohlke hit 10 three-point shots – tied for the second most in NCAA history – to send Kentucky home with another early exit.
Kentucky bar launches a fire the coach shot after upset loss
Calipari has been under fire from the Kentucky fanbase for his lack of recent success in the NCAA tournament.
That boiled over after the latest disappointing appearance in March Madness.
The Chevy Chase Inn – the oldest bar in Lexington, Kentucky where the college is located – used a shot promotion to call for Calipari to be fired.
For the rest of the NCAA tournament, the bar is selling $4 “FireCal” shots of Fireball whiskey.
The oldest bar in Lexington, Chevy Chase Inn, is now running a FireCal Shot promotion pic.twitter.com/EWZNAxJMA1
— Grant Peters (@Real_GP) March 23, 2024
Chevy Chase Inn owner Kevin Heathcoat said that March Madness turned into March Sadness after the Kentucky loss to Oakland.
“We’ve been cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats for over ninety years,” Heathcoat said. “Usually, this is when we’re celebrating March Madness. Once again this year, we’re celebrating March Sadness.”
He’s ready for the school to move on from the coach who led the Wildcats to the 2012 National Championship with current Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis.
“And with any good celebration, you gotta have a drink. So, this year, we’ve got the ‘FireCal’ shot. You know, it just makes sense. We invite everyone to come down during March Sadness and come ‘FireCal’ with us. We’ll see what happens. But, I think it’s time that we all ‘FireCal’. Hey [Kentucky athletics director] Mitch Barnhart, first one’s on me. Shots fired,” Heathcoat remarked.
The bar owner took a shot of Fireball and pretended to gag.
“Oh god,” Heathcoat said. “It’s almost as bad as [Calipari’s] coaching.”
Calipari is now 1-4 in his last five games in the tournament.
He’s firmly in the hot seat with Kentucky fans after his latest upset loss.