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John Calipari barbequed over late-game collapse in Sweet 16
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John Calipari introduced Arkansas fans to the full, unadulterated Coach Cal Experience on Thursday night in the Sweet 16.
The 10th-seeded Razorbacks led the third-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders by 16 points with 10:23 remaining in the second half. After Tech cut the lead to 7, a 6-0 Arkansas run restored a 13-point lead with 4:43 to play in the game.
Over the final 4:21 of regulation, Texas Tech outscored Arkansas 16-3 to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams muscled in a go-ahead layup with 7 seconds to play, DJ Wagner missed a game-tying jumper at the buzzer, and Arkansas saw its season come to a close.
The year, Calipari’s first in Fayetteville, was a chaotic one. Arkansas started 11-2 then lost 5 straight games to open SEC play. Boogie Fland got hurt, Arkansas rallied to finish 8-10 in conference play, Adou Thiero got hurt, and somehow Arkansas fought its way into the NCAA Tournament.
The Razorbacks won a game at the SEC Tournament, then knocked off 7-seed Kansas and 2-seed St. John’s in the first 2 rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Calipari was being hailed for one of the best coaching jobs of his career, and he told reporters throughout the late-season run that he was having one of the most rewarding seasons of his life.
The 2024-25 season had 1 more gut-wrenching swing in store for Calipari, though.
Up 3 as the seconds ticked away in regulation, Calipari chose not to foul and let Texas Tech get off a look. A 3 from Williams went through with 9 seconds left to tie the game. In the overtime period, Calipari let the final offensive possession play out, sat on his remaining timeout, and Arkansas settled for a long, contested, step-back 2-pointer that hit the front of the rim and fell harmlessly away.
Guard Johnell Davis finished with 30 points in the game. DJ Wagner, who was 5-for-13 beforehand, took the final shot.
According to the TBS broadcast, the 16-point comeback marked the second-largest in the regional semifinal round in NCAA Tournament history. Entering the game, Calipari had a 35-0 Tournament record in his career when leading by 6 points or more at the half.
Some had kind words for Calipari after the game went final.
But others across social media weren’t quite as forgiving.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
