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LEXINGTON — John Calipari has never hidden his apathy — others might call it downright disgust — for conference tournaments. If it were up to him? He’d skip ’em and make a beeline for the Big Dance. The problem: It’s not his decision.

Calipari, obviously, is entitled to his opinion. He’s won hundreds of games and coached in hundreds more. I’m merely a reporter he’s bantered with on multiple occasions the past two seasons.

But here’s a piece of advice for the Hall of Fame coach, now in his 15th season with the Wildcats: He should care about this week’s SEC Tournament.

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Lest anyone forget his thoughts on the matter, however, he made sure to reiterate them following Kentucky basketball’s regular-season finale — an 85-81 win over a top-five Tennessee team in Knoxville, Tennessee — last week.

“You know the only tournament that matters to me. After this weekend. That tournament,” he said, alluding to the NCAA.