- Arkansas upsets St. John's 75-66 in historic coaching duel
- Calipari improves NCAA Tournament record against Pitino to 3-2
- Red Storm's 9% three-point shooting proves decisive
- Razorbacks overcome early SEC struggles to reach Sweet 16
In a game dripping with coaching legacy implications, John Calipari secured his 16th Sweet 16 appearance across four programs by defeating longtime rival Rick Pitino. The Arkansas Razorbacks' victory marked Calipari’s second consecutive win against Hall of Fame coaches this tournament, following their elimination of Bill Self’s Kansas squad. This clash of basketball titans saw both teams struggle offensively, combining for 4/41 three-point shooting – a statistical anomaly illustrating today’s defense-first March Madness trends.
The Providence crowd’s split allegiances created electric atmosphere, with Pitino receiving roaring cheers from locals remembering his 1987 Final Four run with the Friars. Arkansas freshman Billy Richmond III emerged as an unexpected hero, scoring 16 points while demonstrating the roster cohesion Calipari cultivated after their 0-5 SEC start. “We became one heartbeat,” Richmond noted post-game – a telling remark about the team’s midseason transformation.
Industry analysts highlight three critical factors in Arkansas’ Cinderella run...