For many, Arkansas’s presence in the NCAA Tournament is both surprising and expected, though the journey leading up to it has been quite the ride.
Facing Kansas on Thursday night will bring everything full circle, but no one is assuming a sweep is guaranteed.
John Calipari emphasized, “We’re in,” as a key takeaway from his remarks after the selection show on Sunday evening. Until the show began, debates and predictions about that statement were ongoing.
Many people had already started speculating about the Final Four when Calipari was hired last April, despite the fact that he started with no returning players. Most of the roster left quickly, and some had exhausted their eligibility.
No one, including Calipari, was anticipating anything definite. It has been a long, challenging season to arrive at this point, where they find themselves among several SEC teams in the tournament. The only real embarrassment this year would be not making it.
Calipari stated, “The main goal was to get in. It’s the first year, so establishing things is key. We struggled early—my teams have struggled in the past, but not like this—because we haven’t faced a league like this, and the schedule influenced some of our performance.”
He remarked on the importance of unity, overcoming challenges, and the personal growth these students gain from the experience. Now they can proudly say, “Alright, we’re in the tournament.” It’s been a tough path, possibly the hardest, but they’ve made it.
Now they are set to play the Jayhawks in the first round in Providence, R.I. This matchup might work to their advantage, as Kansas isn’t at the championship level they once were, and Calipari has faced their coach, Bill Self, many times over the years.
This familiarity will help the Razorbacks’ coaching staff devise a game plan, as they understand what Self typically does with his teams.
Calipari now needs to manage a limited number of plays during March Madness. Even guard Boogie Fland is expected to see playing time, regardless of his current fitness.
As Calipari keeps reminding himself, it’s all about taking it one day at a time—he really doesn’t have much choice at this point
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