Arkansas basketball is heading into the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a new man at the helm—John Calipari, a coach who’s been to the national title game and knows what it takes to win big. But let’s be real: the Razorbacks had to claw their way into the field, and they’re stepping into March Madness as a No. 10 seed in the West Region with a tough road ahead. With a 20-13 record and a 8-10 mark in SEC play that left them ninth in the conference, Arkansas isn’t exactly the bracket darling fans are circling. They’re already underdogs, and a first-round matchup against No. 7 seed Kansas—a team led by two-time national champ Bill Self—has folks penciling in the Jayhawks without a second thought. But Calipari’s got a message for his team, and he’s leaning on his experience to keep the Hogs loose and ready to surprise.
The Razorbacks’ season hasn’t been a smooth ride. They struggled in conference play, and they’re heading into the tournament without their leading scorer, Adou Thiero, who’s sidelined with an injury. That’s a big blow for a team already facing an uphill battle. In the West Region, heavyweights like Florida and St. John’s are the ones fans are eyeing as favorites to make a deep run—not Arkansas. The Hogs are set to tip off against Kansas on Thursday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, and oddsmakers aren’t giving them much love—they’re 4.5-point underdogs. It’s a daunting spot for a team that barely squeaked into the tournament, especially after Calipari’s last dance with Kentucky ended in a first-round exit that sent him packing to Fayetteville.
But if you caught Calipari on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN Wednesday, you’d see a coach who’s not about to let the pressure get to his squad. He’s keeping it light, focusing on the journey rather than the expectations. “I want our kids to understand… enjoy this and go for it,” he told McAfee. “Show who you are and have people watching the TV say, ‘Man, they play hard. Man, they have fun.’ If we get that done, that’s all you can ask for as a coach.” It’s a refreshing take from a guy who’s been to the mountaintop—Calipari’s not piling on the stress, even with a fanbase hungry for a deep run. He knows this team’s got talent, and he’s banking on them playing with heart to turn some heads.
Calipari didn’t stop there—he had another gem for his players, and it’s the kind of metaphor that sticks with you. “At the end of the day, I can only lead them to water. They got to go drink it,” he said. Translation: he’s going to put them in position to succeed, but it’s on the Razorbacks to step up and seize the moment against a powerhouse like Kansas. Calipari’s clearly feeling good about his group’s focus—he even mentioned that Arkansas had a “zero percent chance” of making the tournament at one point. “So why not go for it?” he asked. “Why not try to do something interesting? Why not be the story?” That’s Coach Cal at his best, rallying his team to embrace the underdog role and make some noise.
For Arkansas, this is a chance to rewrite the narrative after a rocky season. Calipari’s looking to shake off last year’s early exit with Kentucky, and a win over Kansas—a program with Bill Self’s championship pedigree—would be a statement. The Jayhawks are no pushovers, with a balanced attack and a knack for grinding out wins in March. But if the Razorbacks can channel Calipari’s “go for it” mentality, they might just have a shot to pull off the upset. Win or lose, Calipari’s hoping this isn’t the end of Arkansas’ story—he wants his team to be the Cinderella that fans can’t stop talking about. Thursday’s game is the first step, and for Hogs fans, it’s a chance to see if this squad can drink the water Calipari’s leading them to. Let’s see if they can make it a March to remember.
