Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari, in his first season with the program, found himself facing an unexpected challenge against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Monday night. The game, held at Bud Walton Arena, wasn’t one Calipari initially wanted on the schedule. Oakland head coach Greg Kampe, a longtime coaching acquaintance, persuaded Calipari to add the matchup despite the awkward circumstances—Kampe’s team had previously handed Calipari a crushing upset loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament during his final season at Kentucky.
“He begged me,” Calipari said after the game. “I told him, ‘Greg, don’t. You already beat me in the NCAA Tournament. Now you want to do it again?’ But he said, ‘Cal, I really need the game.’ He’s a friend, so I eventually said okay. But all day, I kept thinking, ‘Why did I agree to this?’”
For the first half, Calipari’s apprehension seemed justified. Oakland kept the game close, trailing by only three points at halftime. The Razorbacks, ranked No. 23 nationally, struggled to gain momentum early on. However, sophomore guard Boogie Fland delivered a standout second-half performance, scoring 23 points—including a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range—and ignited Arkansas to a dominant 92-62 victory. The Razorbacks outscored Oakland 50-23 in the final 20 minutes, marking their sixth consecutive win since their December 3 comeback against Miami.
The victory allowed Calipari to fulfill a favor for a friend while giving his team a valuable learning experience. Oakland, which has faced several ranked teams this season, fell to 4-10 with the loss. Previous matchups included double-digit losses to Illinois, Kansas, and Michigan State. For Arkansas, the game provided much-needed practice against a match-up zone defense, an area the team had struggled with earlier in the season.
“It was a good game for us,” Calipari said. “Every preseason game is about preparing for league play. Now, if someone throws a zone at us, I feel a lot more confident in how we’ll handle it.”
Arkansas showed marked improvement in areas Calipari had been emphasizing. The team made 10-of-22 three-pointers and recorded 21 assists on 35 field goals. These trends, if continued, could bode well as the Razorbacks enter Southeastern Conference (SEC) play.
The players’ improvement can also be attributed to the rigorous training sessions held during “Camp Cal,” an intense week of practices before the team’s four-day Christmas break. Calipari used the time to address weaknesses revealed in earlier games, focusing on both individual and team development.
The Razorbacks now hold an 11-2 record as they prepare for their toughest test yet: a showdown with No. 1-ranked Tennessee on Saturday. The game, which will air on ESPN, is expected to draw a sellout crowd and serve as a high-stakes opener for Arkansas in SEC play. Forward Adou Thiero, a transfer from Kentucky, acknowledged the challenge but expressed excitement for the opportunity.
“It’s a lot of dawgs in the SEC, so you’ve always got to be ready for a dogfight,” Thiero said. “Tennessee has a great fanbase, and playing in front of a sellout crowd against the No. 1 team is an incredible experience. We’re ready for it.”
Thiero, who contributed 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists against Oakland, is one of four Razorbacks with previous experience playing at Tennessee. Fellow Kentucky transfers DJ Wagner and Zvonimir Ivisic, along with former Tennessee center Jonas Aidoo, also bring familiarity with the Volunteers’ home-court atmosphere. Aidoo, who earned first-team All-SEC and All-Defensive Team honors last season, highlighted the significance of the upcoming game.
For Arkansas, Saturday’s matchup is an early test of their standing in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences. With momentum from their recent winning streak and steady improvements under Calipari’s leadership, the Razorbacks aim to prove they belong among the nation’s elite programs.
