Arkansas basketball’s SEC opener didn’t go according to plan as John Calipari’s squad was blown out by Tennessee. The No. 1 Volunteers demolished Arkansas 76-52 to maintain their undefeated season.
A fired-up Calipari didn’t hold back in his postgame interview, sending his Razorbacks a heated message in response to their atrocious rebounding effort. Arkansas collected 29 total rebounds while Tennessee crashed the glass for 24 offensive rebounds alone (51 total).
“They kind of manhandled us, I can’t remember the last time get beat by 30 rebounds,” Calipari said in his opening statement. “We’ve got to do some soul-searching … We miss free throws, we miss threes, and we get outrebounded by 30. How did you only get beat by 25? Could’ve been 50.”
The Razorbacks committed 15 turnovers to just nine assists, and they shot 20.7% from three and 46.2% from the free-throw line. Calipari gave Tennessee credit for a strong defensive performance but could not help lamenting his team’s rebounding woes once more.
“Hats off to Tennessee, they’re the No. 1 team for a reason,” Calipari said. “They had more offensive rebounds than we had rebounds, I want you to hear what I just said.”
John Calipari’s former team earned a statement win in its SEC opener
Calipari is best known for his 15-year tenure with Kentucky where he won a national championship in 2012 along with six SEC Tournament titles. The No. 10 Wildcats handed the No. 6 Florida Gators their first loss in an electric SEC opener.
Calipari’s former team defeated Florida 106-100 in a matchup between two red-hot offenses. Kentucky shot 57.8% from the field, 48.3% from three, and 75.0% from the free throw line. The Wildcats also dished out 25 assists to just six turnovers.
This year’s SEC looks like one of the greatest college basketball juggernauts the NCAA has ever seen. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl recently called the SEC “the toughest conference schedule in the history of college basketball.”
If Calipari wants to keep up with the big fish of the SEC, he needs to inspire much better basketball from Arkansas moving forward. The Razorbacks will return to action on January 8 against Ole Miss.
