The Arkansas Razorbacks won a wild 89-87 encounter with the 14th-ranked Michigan Wolverines, moving to 8-2 on the young season. In his first year with Arkansas, Hall-of-Fame head coach John Calipari has helped the Razorbacks go from a team with a losing record to a potential SEC powerhouse.
Playing in the great Madison Square Garden, Arkansas overcame a crazy turn of events to hold on and win this one. After trailing 36-22 in the first half, the Razorbacks stormed back to eventually turn a 14-point deficit into an 18-point lead. Calipari’s team went on a 58-26 run to take an 80-62 lead with less than ten minutes to go.
In the topsy-turvy spirit of the contest, Michigan came all the way back to get within one at 88-87 in the closing minutes of the ballgame. Just after missing two key free throws, Arkansas junior Trevon Brazile saved the Razorbacks with a game-winning block.
Calipari kept it real with the media after his squad’s epic win, shouldering the blame for Arkansas’ near-collapse.
“I made some mistakes down the stretch,” Calipari said (h/t ClutchPoints). “Here’s what I like, we got down and we never stopped.”
John Calipari is loving his fresh start at Arkansas
Calipari coached the Kentucky Wildcats for 15 years from 2009 to the end of the 2023-24 season, winning a national championship in 2012 and his third Naismith College Coach of the Year award in 2015.
However, Calipari couldn’t be more thrilled about his new journey with the Razorbacks. He didn’t hide his excitement in his postgame press conference.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Calipari said. “What I did at this time in my life and my career, this was perfect. First page in the first chapter of a new book, and it’s an adventure. I’m gonna have fun and enjoy it, I’m happy … I love coaching this group.”
With a coaching legend like Calipari at the helm, Arkansas could be in store for a huge season. The Razorbacks will look for their fourth straight win on Dec. 14 when they host Central Arkansas.