By: Maddy Dean
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball team, led by Coach John Calipari, advanced to the Sweet 16 during this year’s Men’s NCAA Tournament.
The 10-seed Razorbacks began the tournament in the Round of 64 against the seven-seed University of Kansas. The game ended in an upset with the Razorbacks winning 79-72, and moving on to the Round of 32.
In the Round of 32, the team faced second-seed St. John’s University. The Razorbacks remained victorious, ending the game with a score of 75-66.
The Razorbacks then faced Texas Tech in the Sweet 16, where they lost in overtime with a final score of 83-85.
This was Calipari’s first season at the University of Arkansas. Calipari started his time at the University of Arkansas on April 10 after a 15-season career at the University of Kentucky.
During this tournament, Coach Calipari had his own personal victory. “Coach Calipari became the third coach in NCAA history to take four programs to the Sweet 16,” said Associate Communications Director for Men’s Basketball, Mike Cawood. “the media, across the board, praised Coach Cal as this being one of his best coaching jobs in his career.”
Cawood believed that the biggest challenge the Arkansas Razorbacks faced during their three-game-stint in the tournament was “lack of depth”. Key players like Boogie Fland and Adou Thiero missed several games leading into the tournament which caused a change in the team’s rhythm. Boogie Fland was able to play the first two rounds of the tournament, but “wasn’t the old ‘Boogie Fland’” said Cawood.
Although the Hogs did not make it to the Elite 8, coaches are in hopes that players will take this experience with them to the next season. “Moving forward, the experience gained in those situations will payoff for those returning,” said Cawood.
Coming out of the tournament, athletics staff are trying to focus on the victories over the losses, “It is an amazing accomplishment to be 1 of just 16 teams remaining,” said Cawood.