Turning the Tide in Fayetteville
John Calipari’s debut season as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks has been anything but smooth. After an impressive 11–2 record in nonconference games, the team stumbled dramatically, losing their first five SEC matchups. This streak included an 83–65 blowout loss to Missouri on Saturday. The five-game skid marked the second-worst in-conference losing streak of Calipari’s illustrious career, surpassed only by a six-game drought during his first head-coaching season at UMass in 1989.
Entering Wednesday night’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs, Arkansas was one of only four power-conference teams yet to secure a league victory. Early in the second half, it seemed their struggles would continue, as they fell behind 46–31 with 15:55 remaining. However, the Razorbacks rallied with a 22–8 run over the next eight minutes, closing the gap to 54–53. From there, Arkansas executed the way good teams do, grinding out the win in the game’s final moments.
Adou Thiero became the hero of the night. With 30 seconds remaining, he sank a clutch jumper to give Arkansas a 65–63 lead. After Georgia tied it with a pair of free throws by Asa Newell, Thiero sealed the game. Fouled with just 1.8 seconds on the clock, he hit his first free throw to reclaim the lead. On the second attempt, he intentionally missed, grabbed the rebound amid four idle Georgia players, and laid it in as the buzzer sounded.
“To win a game, you’ve got to do the things we haven’t done to win yet,” Thiero said. “Today, we decided to buckle down and really go out there and fight and show everyone we’re here to stay.”
While the victory may have relieved some pressure, it doesn’t erase all the Razorbacks’ issues. Their performance was far from flawless, shooting a dismal 18-for-58 from the field, including 3-for-23 from beyond the arc. One positive takeaway was their success at the free-throw line, converting 29 of 34 attempts, their highest total of the season. Calipari emphasized the importance of drawing fouls, noting that Arkansas had only attempted eight free throws in the loss to Missouri and 13 in the defeat against LSU.
Arkansas’s offensive struggles against Georgia mirrored their season-long challenges. They rank 83rd nationally in points per 100 possessions, a thoroughly average mark. Their defense, however, is more reliable, ranking 36th in points allowed per 100 possessions. If the Razorbacks hope to string together wins and make a compelling case for an NCAA tournament berth, their offense must improve. Complicating matters, starting point guard Boogie Fland is likely out for the rest of the season due to a thumb injury.
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A Coach on the Decline?
Calipari’s tenure at Arkansas has not reversed the downward trajectory of his coaching career. His Kentucky teams underperformed in recent years, missing the NCAA tournament in 2021, falling to 15-seed St. Peter’s in 2022, exiting in the second round in 2023, and suffering an upset by 14-seed Oakland last season. Last year’s Wildcats ranked a dreadful 344th out of 362 Division I teams in points allowed per game. Amid growing dissatisfaction, Kentucky seemed poised to part ways with Calipari before Arkansas swooped in to hire him.
The game has evolved since Calipari’s glory days, when his teams dominated March Madness thanks to an influx of one-and-done NBA prospects. Now 65, Calipari faces challenges in adapting to college basketball’s new landscape. The rise of NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals has distributed top talent more evenly across programs. Additionally, many NBA-bound players bypass college entirely, opting for alternative pathways like Overtime Elite or overseas leagues.
Calipari, once celebrated for his recruiting acumen, has never been regarded as a tactical mastermind. With less talent at his disposal, he is struggling to keep up. Some SEC coaches have expressed skepticism about Calipari’s current abilities. One head coach told Jeff Goodman, a veteran college basketball reporter, “There’s just no fear now when I see him on the other sideline. The game has changed, and he is becoming archaic.”
Given the strength of the SEC this year—nine teams are ranked in the AP top 25—it’s an uphill battle for Arkansas to secure an NCAA tournament bid. The Razorbacks still face six games against ranked opponents, three of them on the road. One of the most anticipated matchups is Calipari’s return to Lexington to face Kentucky on February 1. Based on Arkansas’s current trajectory, that game might not deliver the triumphant homecoming Calipari would hope for.
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The Top Five Things I Saw Last Night
5. DeJuan Jones’s pinpoint lead pass to set up Patrick Agyemang’s goal in the USMNT’s 3–0 victory over Costa Rica.
6. Malik Monk’s failed dunk attempt that bounced off his head.
7. Ja Morant rejecting a lob attempt with authority.
8. Cale Makar scoring a goal while falling to the ice. Is there a more skilled offensive defenseman in the NHL?
9. Wayne McKinney III’s coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer to give San Diego State a thrilling win over Air Force.
