John Calipari’s 10th-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks pulled off a major upset by beating No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks 79-72 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The win marks Calipari’s first NCAA tournament victory since 2023 and his second since reaching the Elite Eight with Kentucky in 2019.
The loss ends a 17-season streak for Kansas, who were ranked No. 1 early in the season but fell short against the underdog Razorbacks. Arkansas, led by D.J. Wagner, Jonas Aidoo, and Trevon Brazile, outplayed Kansas in the second half to take control of the game.
The win sets up a highly anticipated matchup between Calipari and Rick Pitino in the second round. The Razorbacks will face No. 2 seed St. John’s, while Kansas is eliminated from the tournament for the first time since 2006.
Kansas suffered several injuries during the game, including senior KJ Adams Jr., who left the game with an Achilles tendon injury that will require further imaging. Despite the setbacks, Calipari and his team showed resilience and determination to secure their spot in the second round.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/college-basketball/article/march-madness-arkansas-john-calipari-hand-kansas-its-first-ncaa-tournament-first-round-loss-since-2006-012549181.html