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.
What an incredible finish to that game. I've got nothing but props for Calipari. It was a hell of a run to the end the season. pic.twitter.com/7LUvuOg4X2
— Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) March 28, 2025But others across social media weren’t quite as forgiving.
About that 1.9%… pic.twitter.com/OiGN6FAaVt
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) March 28, 2025At this moment, everyone should have known that Arkansas wasn't going to win this game from the way John Calipari looks in this video. pic.twitter.com/3pJ7IUd2ns
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) March 28, 2025THE RED RAIDERS COMPLETE THE SECOND-LARGEST COMEBACK EVER IN THE SWEET 16 ? Entering today John Calipari was 35-0 in his NCAA Tournament career when leading by 6+ points at halftime ? pic.twitter.com/i5ICCAnz9A
— ESPN (@espn) March 28, 2025DJ Wagner started in front of lottery picks Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard last year at Kentucky and now he losing tournament games at Arkansas John Calipari gonna answer for his crimes one day ??pic.twitter.com/wUhe6DKItm
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) March 28, 2025coach john calipari we are down with 9 seconds left in ot we need a timeout!!meanwhile coach cal pic.twitter.com/zveiWFi0pm
— Griffin Day (@griffindayy) March 28, 2025Arkansas 1 timeout left:John Calipari: pic.twitter.com/Zshk0mMdCE
— Jayden (@HoodiJay) March 28, 2025John Calipari not fouling up three and saving his timeouts ended up costing Arkansas the game.
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 28, 2025All time choke job from Coach Calipari
— Big Blue Nation (@BigB1ue9ation) March 28, 2025John Calipari team chokes in March pic.twitter.com/Gt2swsPN7S
— Alterraun⚡ (@Hockfan445) March 28, 2025The Calipari Experience ™ pic.twitter.com/7sUBpsO9OI
— Chet Lemond (@ChetLemond) March 28, 2025Arkansas fandom is a psychological experiment by the CIA to see how much pain a person can take with something they love deeply.
— Jack Mac (@JackMacCFB) March 28, 2025Arkansas fans were treated to the full Cal experience this season: Preseason hype, slow start, tweak, March run, heartbreaking loss.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) March 28, 2025Kentucky fans watching Cal and Arkansas collapse at the end of the game pic.twitter.com/hwIsnydao7
— Mark Titus Show (@MarkTitusShow) March 28, 2025John Calipari barbequed over late-game collapse in Sweet 16 Saturday Down South.
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