Former Kentucky coach John Calipari is off to a promising start in his new tenure at Arkansas, as the Razorbacks edged out No. 7 Kansas 79-72 in their first-round matchup. The win marks a significant departure from Calipari’s past struggles with Kentucky, where he failed to notate a single tournament victory over his final five seasons.
Calipari, who joined Arkansas after a tumultuous stint at Kentucky, took a fresh approach by relying on his team’s chemistry and resilience rather than individual stars. Despite lacking experience in key players, the Razorbacks showed grit and determination, ultimately outlasting their opponents down the stretch.
Their victory sets up a potential showdown with top-seeded Florida and No. 2 St. John’s in the next round. For Calipari, this win serves as a turning point, shifting attention away from past failures and toward his new team’s future prospects.
“It doesn’t have any bearing on right now,” Calipari said, “It’s this team, trying to make us better.” With just one tournament win under their belt, the Razorbacks are moving forward, fueled by their newfound momentum.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/03/20/john-calipari-arkansas-win-kansas-ncaa-tournament/82584805007