John Calipari’s first time on the Bud Walton Enviornment sideline as the pinnacle coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks will come in opposition to none apart from possible preseason No. 1 Kansas, he introduced Wednesday.
Calipari posted on X that Arkansas has scheduled two preseason charity exhibition video games, with the primary one coming at house in opposition to Kansas on Oct. 25.
The Jayhawks are ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s Method-Too-Early Prime 25.
Arkansas may even face TCU in Fort Price on Nov. 1 in a charity exhibition recreation.
The Razorbacks employed Calipari away from Kentucky final April after 15 seasons with the Wildcats. He led this system to a nationwide championship in 2012 and went to 4 Ultimate Fours in his first six seasons in Lexington.
“It is a dream job. It was my dream job,” Calipari stated upon leaving Kentucky. “Anyone in our occupation seems to be on the College of Kentucky in basketball and stated, that’s the bluest of blue. The previous couple of weeks, we have come to understand that this program in all probability wants to listen to one other voice. And the followers want to listen to one other voice. We have liked it right here, however we expect it is time for us to step away. And step away fully from this system.”
Calipari, who changed Eric Musselman in Fayetteville, signed a five-year contract at Arkansas beginning at $7 million per season.
He rebuilt the Razorbacks’ roster by bringing alongside three gamers he coached at Kentucky (D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivisic) and three recruits he signed at Kentucky (Johnuel Fland, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond), whereas additionally touchdown top-10 transfers Johnell Davis and Jonas Aidoo.
Invoice Self’s group is seeking to bounce again from final season, the Jayhawks’ worst marketing campaign since Self took over in 2003.
Kansas returns three starters, together with All-American Hunter Dickinson, and provides star transfers AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Rylan Griffen (Alabama) and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State).
