Perhaps John Calipari thrives more when considered the underdog. In a notable matchup during the first round of the NCAA tournament, Calipari’s 10th-seeded Arkansas defeated No. 7 Kansas with a score of 79-72 on Thursday. This victory eliminated a Kansas team that had been ranked No. 1 earlier in the season, as well as Calipari’s Hall of Fame coaching counterpart Bill Self. The result marks a disappointing conclusion to the season for Kansas, which began with aspirations of a championship in Lawrence but now exits the tournament without a win.
Kansas’ loss ends a streak of 17 consecutive seasons of advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The last time Kansas was defeated in the first round was in 2006 against Bradley. This victory signifies Calipari’s first NCAA tournament win since 2023 and his second since leading Kentucky to the Elite Eight in 2019.
Now, Calipari and Arkansas advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament, where they will face the winner between No. 2 seed St. John’s and No. 15 seed Omaha. A potential coaching clash between Calipari and Rick Pitino looms on the horizon.
During the game, Arkansas led 47-44 after an intense first half for both teams. Although Kansas briefly took a 67-64 lead in the second half, Arkansas responded with a crucial 7-0 run to secure a 71-67 lead. Despite Kansas’ efforts, they never regained the lead.
Arkansas weathered the pressure and finished strong with a 15-5 run to secure their spot in the next round. Contributions from players like point guard D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Jonas Aidoo, and Trevon Brazile were instrumental in the Razorbacks’ victory.
In the final moments of the game, Kansas’ senior KJ Adams Jr. sustained an Achilles tendon injury and had to leave the court with assistance. Head coach Bill Self expressed concern about the injury and indicated that further imaging would be necessary to assess the extent of the damage.
Overall, this game showcased Calipari’s coaching prowess, especially when leading an underdog team to victory in the NCAA tournament.
Hunter Dickinson scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but faced difficulties in the second half by failing to score any points.
