John Calipari didn’t have leading scorer Adou Thiero for a fourth straight game in Saturday’s regular-season finale against No. 25 Mississippi State in Fayetteville.
But Calipari’s resilient Arkansas team played through it, again, in a 93-92 victory that likely clinched an NCAA Tournament berth. Calipari navigated the Razorbacks to a 19-12 regular season and a respectable 8-10 record in the rugged SEC after a slow start to the season. The Hogs won 4 of their last 5 games down the stretch, and they’ll head to the SEC Tournament next week with some solid momentum after a thrilling victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Calipari was getting a lot of heat earlier in the season in his first campaign as Arkansas head coach, but he went into Lexington on the first night of February and won at Kentucky, and now a little over a month later he has his Razorbacks poised for an NCAA tourney berth. The special win at Kentucky started a respectable 7-4 stretch to end the regular season, capped by Saturday’s win that got the Hogs to the precipice of a 20-win season.
They can get that 20th win next week at the SEC tourney, and after Saturday’s victory, Calipari was getting praised far and wide for the job he’s done this season in Fayetteville.
Here is a sampling of that well-deserved praise coming Calipari’s way:
Team started 0-6 in conference play. Finished 8-4 in the hardest conference ever. Holy John Calipari. What a fucking team
— David Marts (@DavidMarts13) March 8, 2025Since John Calipari’s antagonists determined he was finished as a coach, and since he lost his starting point guard for the season, Arkansas is 8-4 with five victories over NCAA tournament teams. pic.twitter.com/akUR8kUPAD
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) March 8, 2025I know we're not allowed to give John Calipari credit for anything, but:You could argue every guy on the roster is playing the best basketball of their season right now.And they just survived the toughest part of their schedule without two future first rounders.Coaching.… pic.twitter.com/xdMVNkfrZS
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) March 8, 2025"This may be the most rewarding season for me." – John Calipari in his postgame press conference
— Daniel Fair (@DanFair88) March 8, 2025Arkansas is now 7-5 since losing Boogie Fland to a season-ending injury and is 3-1 since losing Adou Thiero.John Calipari has rallied this team this season despite major injuries and a poor start in SEC play. t.co/cslnpuWz4N
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2025Yeah this John calipari best coaching job
— year 22 (@johnrivers131) March 8, 2025The reason why Calipari $7 million a year. Aidoo & Brazile lost minutes & confidence. Cal kept them locked in and they have delivered in the biggest moments of the season for Arkansas
— Josh Neighbors (@JoshNeighbors_) March 8, 2025Incredible coaching job by John Calipari to get this team to where they finished after a 1-6 start in league play.Hawgs safely IN the NCAA Tournament after a strong finish to the regular season. t.co/wjiitRIzkL
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) March 8, 2025John Calipari praised for coaching job as Arkansas beats Mississippi State Saturday Down South.
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