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SAN FRANCISCO — John Calipari's first season with Arkansas basketball is over after a heartbreaking collapse Thursday night against Texas Tech.
The start of a new era for the Razorbacks had more ups and downs than a turbulent flight. Lofty expectations gave way to injuries, an unimpressive nonconference slate and an 0-5 start in the SEC. Eventually, Arkansas found its stride, and the the Hogs were on the cusp of their third Elite Eight in the past five seasons before a dried-up offense spelled doom against the Red Raiders.
With Arkansas crashing out of the men's NCAA Tournament, here are six final thoughts on Calipari's first season in Fayetteville. We're digesting the entire campaign, while also shifting our eyes to what Year 2 could look like in both roster and production.
More: Bad habits reappear as Arkansas basketball season ends in Sweet 16 loss to Texas Tech
More: Why John Calipari didn't call a timeout in final seconds of Arkansas basketball's loss to Texas Tech
Well, it depends on your perspective. At Kentucky, Calipari operated under the pressure of Final Four or bust. Demands aren't as lofty in Fayetteville, but Calipari is the second-highest paid coach in the sport, and he reportedly had one of the highest NIL budgets in the country.
With those factors in mind, it's hard to view a trip to the Sweet 16 trip as any grand accomplishment. Eric Musselman reached the same stage three times in his final four seasons, with two appearances in the Regional Final. Arkansas was a top-15 team in preseason polls, and the regular season was unquestionably a disappointment.
But Calipari overhauled the program and had minimal offseason time to construct his roster. The preseason injuries to Johnell Davis and Jonas Aidoo were brutal blows that caused the slow start. Once the team figured out its identity, the Hogs started living up to their preseason expectations. The run to the Sweet 16 was less Cinderella story and a more accurate reflection of the team's talent.
So to answer the question above, yes, this season was a success thanks to two wins in the NCAA Tournament. However, it should also be the floor for Calipari as long as he's in Arkansas. The school is paying for better than this year's ninth-place finish in the SEC.
As mentioned above, the injuries to Davis and Aidoo nearly killed the season. Aidoo had a foot ailment while Davis broke his wrist falling off a golf court. Midway through the SEC slate, both players were viewed as busts.
But Davis and Aidoo got healthy in March, and they spearheaded the Hogs' run to the Sweet 16. Aidoo averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds in the final month. Davis scored 61 points in three NCAA Tournament games.
Known for his recruiting out of high school, Calipari showed he can identify and bring the right players to Arkansas through the transfer portal. It's completely fair to wonder what this season could have been with those guys fully healthy for offseason preparation.
Calipari said multiple times throughout the season that he would reconsider his strategy of only having nine rotational players. He didn't want to develop talent only to see it walk out the door through the portal.
If everyone had stayed healthy, that might have been a fine philosophy, but Arkansas was ravaged with injuries and only had seven players once Adou Thiero went down Feb. 22.
The portal is unavoidable, and it would be smart to have a few extra players who could be security blankets for injuries or poor performances during the regular season. Time will tell if Calipari does yield on his roster template from this first season.
No players improved more from start-to-finish this season than Knox and Richmond.
The two freshmen looked like they weren't ready for college basketball in the opening months, but they both had moments of brilliance in the SEC and were true difference-makers in March Madness. Richmond led Arkansas with 16 points in the win over St. John's, while Knox scored 20 against Texas Tech and was a strong defender throughout the tournament.
Keeping the two of them should be the top transfer portal priority for Calipari this offseason. If they return, they could develop into two of the better players throughout the SEC. Knox is ready to become a premier scorer with a bigger role, and Richmond is already one of the league's best players in transition. If the lefty develops his jumper, he's a future NBA draft pick.
Boogie Fland was the third freshman on this year's team, and he was arguably the Hogs' best player through the first two months. When he was ruled out with no timetable to return on Jan. 18, it felt like a killer blow.
Instead, D.J. Wagner assumed the full-time duties at point guard and the Razorbacks found their stride. Wagner was exceptional down the stretch as a more traditional floor general. He was a capable scorer near the rim and provided clutch moments both in the postseason and as the Hogs built their tournament résumé.
Wagner has two more years of eligibility and isn't a top prospect in the draft. Fland will likely head to the NBA, but another young point guard will demand minutes next year. Darius Acuff is the No. 12 recruit in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, and a program source indicates Calipari is extremely high on the incoming freshman. Wagner's future feels like a toss-up, and it's the most intriguing offseason storyline.
Brazile's late surge was the feel-good story of the season. He flashed his potential throughout March by blending his explosiveness with physical rebounding and solid 3-point shooting.
Brazile could be an All-SEC player if he can replicate his recent play across an entire season. Knox and Richmond are the most important players to retain, but Brazile isn't far behind.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Six final thoughts from John Calipari's first season with Arkansas basketball
Continue reading...
The start of a new era for the Razorbacks had more ups and downs than a turbulent flight. Lofty expectations gave way to injuries, an unimpressive nonconference slate and an 0-5 start in the SEC. Eventually, Arkansas found its stride, and the the Hogs were on the cusp of their third Elite Eight in the past five seasons before a dried-up offense spelled doom against the Red Raiders.
With Arkansas crashing out of the men's NCAA Tournament, here are six final thoughts on Calipari's first season in Fayetteville. We're digesting the entire campaign, while also shifting our eyes to what Year 2 could look like in both roster and production.
More: Bad habits reappear as Arkansas basketball season ends in Sweet 16 loss to Texas Tech
More: Why John Calipari didn't call a timeout in final seconds of Arkansas basketball's loss to Texas Tech
Was this Arkansas basketball season a success?
Well, it depends on your perspective. At Kentucky, Calipari operated under the pressure of Final Four or bust. Demands aren't as lofty in Fayetteville, but Calipari is the second-highest paid coach in the sport, and he reportedly had one of the highest NIL budgets in the country.
With those factors in mind, it's hard to view a trip to the Sweet 16 trip as any grand accomplishment. Eric Musselman reached the same stage three times in his final four seasons, with two appearances in the Regional Final. Arkansas was a top-15 team in preseason polls, and the regular season was unquestionably a disappointment.
But Calipari overhauled the program and had minimal offseason time to construct his roster. The preseason injuries to Johnell Davis and Jonas Aidoo were brutal blows that caused the slow start. Once the team figured out its identity, the Hogs started living up to their preseason expectations. The run to the Sweet 16 was less Cinderella story and a more accurate reflection of the team's talent.
So to answer the question above, yes, this season was a success thanks to two wins in the NCAA Tournament. However, it should also be the floor for Calipari as long as he's in Arkansas. The school is paying for better than this year's ninth-place finish in the SEC.
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Calipari nailed the transfer portal
As mentioned above, the injuries to Davis and Aidoo nearly killed the season. Aidoo had a foot ailment while Davis broke his wrist falling off a golf court. Midway through the SEC slate, both players were viewed as busts.
But Davis and Aidoo got healthy in March, and they spearheaded the Hogs' run to the Sweet 16. Aidoo averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds in the final month. Davis scored 61 points in three NCAA Tournament games.
Known for his recruiting out of high school, Calipari showed he can identify and bring the right players to Arkansas through the transfer portal. It's completely fair to wonder what this season could have been with those guys fully healthy for offseason preparation.
But the roster construction is still a point of concern
Calipari said multiple times throughout the season that he would reconsider his strategy of only having nine rotational players. He didn't want to develop talent only to see it walk out the door through the portal.
If everyone had stayed healthy, that might have been a fine philosophy, but Arkansas was ravaged with injuries and only had seven players once Adou Thiero went down Feb. 22.
The portal is unavoidable, and it would be smart to have a few extra players who could be security blankets for injuries or poor performances during the regular season. Time will tell if Calipari does yield on his roster template from this first season.
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Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III are foundational pieces
No players improved more from start-to-finish this season than Knox and Richmond.
The two freshmen looked like they weren't ready for college basketball in the opening months, but they both had moments of brilliance in the SEC and were true difference-makers in March Madness. Richmond led Arkansas with 16 points in the win over St. John's, while Knox scored 20 against Texas Tech and was a strong defender throughout the tournament.
Keeping the two of them should be the top transfer portal priority for Calipari this offseason. If they return, they could develop into two of the better players throughout the SEC. Knox is ready to become a premier scorer with a bigger role, and Richmond is already one of the league's best players in transition. If the lefty develops his jumper, he's a future NBA draft pick.
The D.J. Wagner conundrum
Boogie Fland was the third freshman on this year's team, and he was arguably the Hogs' best player through the first two months. When he was ruled out with no timetable to return on Jan. 18, it felt like a killer blow.
Instead, D.J. Wagner assumed the full-time duties at point guard and the Razorbacks found their stride. Wagner was exceptional down the stretch as a more traditional floor general. He was a capable scorer near the rim and provided clutch moments both in the postseason and as the Hogs built their tournament résumé.
Wagner has two more years of eligibility and isn't a top prospect in the draft. Fland will likely head to the NBA, but another young point guard will demand minutes next year. Darius Acuff is the No. 12 recruit in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, and a program source indicates Calipari is extremely high on the incoming freshman. Wagner's future feels like a toss-up, and it's the most intriguing offseason storyline.
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Calipari should do everything he can to get one more year from Trevon Brazile
Brazile's late surge was the feel-good story of the season. He flashed his potential throughout March by blending his explosiveness with physical rebounding and solid 3-point shooting.
Brazile could be an All-SEC player if he can replicate his recent play across an entire season. Knox and Richmond are the most important players to retain, but Brazile isn't far behind.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Six final thoughts from John Calipari's first season with Arkansas basketball
Continue reading...
