John Calipari, a renowned college basketball coach, has taken on a new challenge at Arkansas after a storied career at Kentucky. Despite criticism over recent years, Calipari remains focused on winning and developing NBA talent. His move to Arkansas is marked by significant support from the university and local businesses, emphasizing immediate success in the NIL era. Calipari's approach remains largely unchanged, focusing on a tight rotation and leveraging his fundraising prowess to support the program's ambitions.
Former Kentucky guard D.J. Wagner, a highly-touted 5-star recruit, has committed to Arkansas, becoming the eighth addition to the Razorbacks' roster since Coach John Calipari's move from Kentucky. Wagner, who had a standout freshman season, joins a top-rated transfer class and a highly-ranked high school signing class, bolstering Arkansas' basketball program.
Arkansas men's basketball coach John Calipari has hired former Louisville head coach and Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne as associate head coach, marking the first official addition to his coaching staff. Payne, who previously worked with Calipari at Kentucky, brings a wealth of experience and success, including a national championship and multiple NCAA tournament appearances. The Razorbacks are also in the process of building their roster, with Kentucky transfer Zvonimir Ivisic joining the team, while several players have entered the transfer portal.
John Calipari, the new Arkansas men's basketball coach, candidly admitted that there is currently no team left on the roster as he takes over the program, with most players either transferring, declaring for the NBA draft, or out of eligibility. Calipari is expected to use the transfer portal to rebuild the roster and may also consider recruiting players he had previously targeted for Kentucky. Despite the challenges, he is determined to form a competitive team, but acknowledges that it may take some time to achieve the level of success that Arkansas fans desire.
John Calipari, the new head coach of Arkansas men’s basketball, humorously acknowledged the team's current lack of players, with only one player listed on the roster for next season. Calipari faces the challenge of building a new roster after several players entered the transfer portal. He emphasized his commitment to hard work and player development during his introduction at Bud Walton Arena, where he was officially welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd and acknowledged the support of Arkansas booster John Tyson in his move to Fayetteville.
John Calipari became the new Arkansas basketball coach after being approached by billionaire booster John Tyson and athletic director Hunter Yurachek. A meeting in Phoenix led to Calipari's decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas, with the help of Tyson and fellow booster Warren Stevens. Kelvin Sampson's endorsement of Yurachek also played a key role. Calipari emphasized the importance of patience and toughness as he looks to build the Arkansas program.
John Calipari, the new head basketball coach for Arkansas, engaged with fans at Bud Walton Arena, sharing familiar phrases and jokes while sidestepping the Razorbacks' signature salute. Despite the enthusiastic reception, he notably avoided participating in the "Calling of the Hogs," a tradition for Arkansas fans, leaving the stage before the chant could begin. Calipari's humorous and familiar remarks echoed his previous coaching experiences, emphasizing his player-centric coaching approach and hinting at future interactions with Razorback fans.
After 15 seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats, John Calipari has been officially hired as the head coach of Arkansas Basketball, aiming to revive the program's past success. In his introductory press conference, Calipari expressed gratitude for his time at Kentucky and emphasized his commitment to the program.
Arkansas men's basketball is on the lookout for a new coach, and potential names to watch include Loyola Chicago's Porter Moser, Texas Tech's Mark Adams, Nevada's Steve Alford, Oral Roberts' Paul Mills, and Baylor's Jerome Tang.
Arkansas men's basketball coach Eric Musselman is leaving the Razorbacks after five seasons to take over as the head coach at Southern Cal. Musselman, who had a 111-59 record at Arkansas and led the team to postseason success, will be officially introduced at a news conference in Los Angeles. USC will owe Arkansas $1 million to buy out Musselman’s contract, and Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek will oversee the search for a new coach.
Arkansas sports talk radio host Randy Rainwater believes it's a done deal that Eric Musselman will leave Arkansas to become the head coach of USC basketball, citing Musselman's history of seeking new challenges and his apparent efforts to leave Arkansas even before the team's recent struggles. Reports suggest that issues with NIL funds may have hampered Arkansas' ability to land top talent, potentially contributing to Musselman's desire to leave. Some USC basketball fans are concerned about Musselman's reliance on one-and-done players and his inability to retain in-state talent, expressing a preference for a coach with potential longevity and strong recruiting from high school ranks.
The Arkansas basketball team suffered a disappointing 95-74 loss to LSU, dropping them to a 2-7 record at the halfway point of SEC play. LSU's strong offensive performance, led by Will Baker's unexpected 25-point game, contributed to the Razorbacks' struggles. Coach Eric Musselman expressed disappointment and emphasized the need for improvement. The game also saw a heated exchange between Musselman and player Makhi Mitchell. Arkansas will have extra time to prepare for their next game against Georgia.
No. 14 Arkansas defeated No. 3 Purdue 81-77 in a thrilling preseason exhibition game. Tramon Mark played a crucial role in the victory, hitting a game-tying three-pointer and sealing the win with a steal in overtime. Khalif Battle and Trevon Brazile led Arkansas' offense, while the team showcased its depth in the backcourt. Purdue's offense came alive in the second half, but both teams struggled from three-point range.
Arkansas basketball cruised to a 92-39 victory over UT Tyler in their exhibition game, with Trevon Brazile making his return after tearing his ACL last December. Head coach Eric Musselman showed his usual intensity and passion, even in a game that doesn't count. The starting lineup featured some surprises, with true freshman Baye Fall and transfer Chandler Lawson getting the nod. Arkansas is ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP Poll and was picked to finish third in the SEC.
Arkansas basketball held its annual Red-White game, giving fans a first look at the 2023-24 team. The scrimmage was not televised or streamed, but live updates, statistics, and highlights were provided. The game ended with the Red team defeating the White team 88-70. Players like Jeremiah Davenport and Joseph Pinion stood out with impressive shooting performances, while Trevon Brazile and Khalif Battle were unable to play due to injuries.
