College basketball weekend roundup: John Calipari, Arkansas marriage off to rocky start

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Does Hunter Yurachek regret it yet?

When the Arkansas athletic director decided to take the gamble and bring in John Calipari to take over the Razorbacks men’s basketball program, Yurachek said one of the factors was Calipari’s ability to “build championship teams within the Southeastern Conference.”

Well five games into SEC play and Arkansas looks far from a championship team, and more like the same underachieving unit coming from the $38 million-man.

Even in his first season, it was fair to put some lofty expectations on Calipari; he had a top-five recruiting class and the top transfer portal haul to put the Razorbacks in prime position to contend in the SEC. Arkansas was picked fourth in the preseason poll. Like every other SEC team, the season got off the right foot with an 11-2 start, giving optimism of a promising season.

But it’s been a rocky start in conference play. Arkansas fell to the heavy hitters in Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida − can’t fault it too much there − but the struggles haven’t stopped. This week it endured a loss to LSU and an 18-point thumping by Missouri

Arkansas is 0-5 in the conference − its worst start in league play − and fading away from the NCAA Tournament picture.

If this is a shock or surprise to the fans of the Hogs, it shouldn’t be. Calipari hasn’t been the same clutch coach that made him a household name. He was consistently finding ways to lose against programs he shouldn’t, and it’s carried over into Fayetteville.

“We’re going to have to figure stuff out,” Calipari said after the loss to Missouri.

He doesn’t have much time. Thanks to the rugged conference schedule, Arkansas has Georgia, Calipari’s return to Kentucky and Alabama in the next three weeks. The Razorbacks are in trouble, and Calipari is facing another tough end of the season.

Here are other top storylines from the past weekend of action in men’s college basketball:

Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari reacts after being defeated by the LSU Tigers at Pete…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-basketball-weekend-roundup-john-110853926.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-20 11:08:00

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