One stat proves Arkansas’ John Calipari just suffered the worst loss of his career

One stat proves Arkansas’ John Calipari just suffered the worst loss of his career originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There was no easy way to sum up the stunning nature of Arkansas’ 117-115 double-overtime loss to No. 25 Alabama. And why it may go down as the most painful defeat of John Calipari’s coaching career is broken down in one stat.

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Arkansas became the only Division I team in the last 30 seasons to score at least 115 points with fewer than 10 turnovers and still lose. Teams had been 247-0 over that span when reaching those marks, according to OptaSTATS. That was until Wednesday night.

The 20th-ranked Razorbacks did nearly everything right offensively despite being limited to a seven-man rotation at the end. Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. delivered a dazzling performance, pouring in 49 points, which is the second-most in a single game in Division I play this season while playing all 50 minutes.

Acuff shot 16 of 27 from the field, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range, and added five rebounds and five assists. He set the record for most points by an Arkansas freshman and the most by a freshman against an AP Top 25 opponent.

Not to mention, Acuff also posted the highest point total by a Razorback in a Southeastern Conference game, finishing just two shy of Rotnei Clarke’s program record of 51. Yet it wasn’t enough.

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Arkansas led by 14 points twice but couldn’t close it out after four players fouled out in overtime. Acuff missed potential go-ahead jumpers at the end of both extra periods.

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“We blew leads, but we fought,” Acuff said. “[My performance] doesn’t mean anything. We lost.”

For Calipari, the historic stat told the story. The Hogs will now regroup ahead of March. They’ll face only one ranked opponent in the final six games. A date at No. 12 Florida on February 28.

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Publish date : 2026-02-19 17:06:00

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