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Earlier this week on "The Dan Patrick Show," John Calipari said his first year with Arkansas basketball has been one of the most rewarding seasons in his career and he's not comparing the Razorbacks' success to what Kentucky has achieved.
"No. I'm not worried about (Kentucky). What's happened for us this season has been the most rewarding season. I've had seasons where we've won more games and won national titles and Final Fours and Elite Eights. I've had all those," Calipari said Tuesday.
Calipari and Lon Kruger are the only coaches in NCAA history to lead four different programs to the Sweet 16. In 15 seasons at Kentucky, Calipari went 410-122 and made it to the Sweet 16 in eight of 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 10th-seeded Razorbacks (22-13) are playing third-seeded Texas Tech (27-8) in the Sweet 16 at 10:09 p.m. Thursday in San Francisco after defeating seventh-seeded Kansas and second-seeded St. John's.
"What this team has been through to survive it, it's been as rewarding as any season. It talks a lot about the character of these kids, how they were raised, that they could withstand the onslaught," Calipari said.
Calipari is preparing to coach in his first regional semifinal since 2019, when the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight.
"The only people that know what we went through is us. The only people that know the individuals and what they had to go through is us," Calipari said Wednesday during his Sweet 16 pregame news conference.
He reiterated his message about the rewarding season, explaining how far the Razorbacks have come after starting SEC play 1-6.
"The rewarding thing for a coach is seeing your kids smile and knowing where I always had to say, 'I believe in you and there's nothing you can do that disappoints me. So just go play.' I don't even have to say that anymore. 'I believe — we believe, too, coach.' That's a big change from where we were."
Under first-year coach Mark Pope, third-seeded Kentucky (24-11) is scheduled to play second-seeded Tennessee at 7:39 p.m. Friday in Indianapolis.
The Wildcats and Razorbacks are on opposite sides of the bracket, so the only possible scenario for the teams to play would be in the national championship game April 7 in San Antonio, Texas.
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Arkansas vs Texas Tech NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: John Calipari on run
Continue reading...
"No. I'm not worried about (Kentucky). What's happened for us this season has been the most rewarding season. I've had seasons where we've won more games and won national titles and Final Fours and Elite Eights. I've had all those," Calipari said Tuesday.
Calipari and Lon Kruger are the only coaches in NCAA history to lead four different programs to the Sweet 16. In 15 seasons at Kentucky, Calipari went 410-122 and made it to the Sweet 16 in eight of 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 10th-seeded Razorbacks (22-13) are playing third-seeded Texas Tech (27-8) in the Sweet 16 at 10:09 p.m. Thursday in San Francisco after defeating seventh-seeded Kansas and second-seeded St. John's.
"What this team has been through to survive it, it's been as rewarding as any season. It talks a lot about the character of these kids, how they were raised, that they could withstand the onslaught," Calipari said.
Calipari is preparing to coach in his first regional semifinal since 2019, when the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight.
"The only people that know what we went through is us. The only people that know the individuals and what they had to go through is us," Calipari said Wednesday during his Sweet 16 pregame news conference.
He reiterated his message about the rewarding season, explaining how far the Razorbacks have come after starting SEC play 1-6.
"The rewarding thing for a coach is seeing your kids smile and knowing where I always had to say, 'I believe in you and there's nothing you can do that disappoints me. So just go play.' I don't even have to say that anymore. 'I believe — we believe, too, coach.' That's a big change from where we were."
Under first-year coach Mark Pope, third-seeded Kentucky (24-11) is scheduled to play second-seeded Tennessee at 7:39 p.m. Friday in Indianapolis.
The Wildcats and Razorbacks are on opposite sides of the bracket, so the only possible scenario for the teams to play would be in the national championship game April 7 in San Antonio, Texas.
2025 March Madness schedule
- Sweet 16: Thursday, March 27 to Friday, March 28
- Elite Eight: Saturday, March 29 to Sunday, March 30
- Final Four: Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome in San Antonio
- NCAA championship game: Monday, April 7, at the Alamodome in San Antonio
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Arkansas vs Texas Tech NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: John Calipari on run
Continue reading...
