For the first time in 37 years, John Calipari seems to be reliving the difficult early days of his coaching career. Back in the 1988-89 season, as the head coach of UMass, Calipari endured a rough debut campaign, starting 0-4 in conference play and ultimately finishing with a 13-loss season. Fast forward to 2025, and Arkansas, under Calipari’s leadership, is suffering an eerily similar fate, dropping their first four SEC games and leaving their NCAA tournament hopes hanging by a thread.
Their latest loss, a 78-74 defeat to LSU, marked another chapter in what has been a disastrous start to the conference season. For the first time since his inaugural UMass season, Calipari finds himself 0-4 in league play. This troubling parallel has left many questioning whether history will repeat itself and if Arkansas will endure the same struggles that plagued Calipari’s early years.
A Razorback Decline
The Razorbacks’ slide has been steep and unforgiving. After beginning the season with aspirations of making a deep March Madness run, Arkansas has fallen completely out of the AP Top 25. Their fourth consecutive loss has not only dashed early-season optimism but has also sparked widespread skepticism about the program’s ability to recover.
Rob Dauster of The Field of 68: After Dark didn’t mince words when discussing Arkansas’ chances of making the NCAA tournament. “With the resume that they have and the schedule that they have left, I don’t see how they make the tournament,” he said bluntly. He went on to criticize the team’s inability to make necessary adjustments, a flaw that could seal their fate.
“They’re gonna have opportunities,” Dauster continued, “but I don’t see how that Arkansas program and the coaching staff make the adjustments they need to get to the big dance.”
Repeating Old Mistakes
Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the LSU loss was Arkansas’ inability to close out a game they once controlled. The Razorbacks started strong, shooting 43.8% from the field and an impressive 50% from three-point range. However, the second half exposed their vulnerabilities, particularly on defense, as LSU capitalized on their mistakes and clawed back into the game.
Randolph Childress, another host on The Field of 68, was particularly critical of the Razorbacks’ roster construction and lack of synergy. “They stink,” Childress stated bluntly. “I don’t think they complement each other well. They’re all individually good players, but collectively it just doesn’t look like it fits. They’re all better with the ball in their hands, but they’re not really shooters. They don’t do much when they don’t have the ball.”
Childress didn’t hold back in describing the Razorbacks’ defensive lapses, calling them “hard to watch.” “They give up some of the easiest baskets, some of the head-scratching baskets in games. I definitely don’t see them as a tournament team. I don’t know where they’re gonna go to get this flip—it’s just hard to watch Arkansas play basketball.”
A Crucial Moment—and a Critical Foul
One of the game’s pivotal moments came in the second half when forward Trevon Brazile attempted to set a screen for freshman guard Boogie Fland near midcourt. Brazile’s positioning drew a controversial flagrant foul call as he leaned too far into the LSU defender. While the Tigers’ player didn’t hit the ground and the contact seemed minimal, the call gave LSU momentum at a crucial juncture.
Surprisingly, Calipari remained composed after the game, a stark contrast to the fiery reactions one might expect from a coach in his position. Reflecting on the foul, he said simply, “That was critical, but it happens.”
This calm response is emblematic of Calipari’s current approach. While he has been vocal about his team’s struggles in previous losses, lamenting their lack of cohesion and poor execution, his focus now appears to be on fostering growth and setting a long-term foundation. “I’m trying to build a culture here,” Calipari has said in the past. But with each loss, questions about his ability to turn the program around grow louder.
Can Calipari Rewrite the Script?
The parallels between Arkansas’ current plight and Calipari’s rocky start at UMass are undeniable, but the stakes are significantly higher now. At Arkansas, expectations are loftier, and patience is in short supply. Fans and analysts alike are skeptical about the Razorbacks’ ability to reverse course.
While there is talent on the roster—highlighted by Boogie Fland’s offensive potential and Brazile’s presence in the paint—the team’s lack of cohesion has been glaring. As Childress noted, “They don’t complement each other.” Until this fundamental issue is addressed, Arkansas’ struggles are likely to persist.
The road ahead for the Razorbacks is daunting. Their schedule is filled with tough matchups, and the margin for error has evaporated. Calipari, now under immense pressure, must find a way to inspire his team and extract their best performances if they are to salvage their season.
But with March Madness slipping further out of reach, the question remains: Can John Calipari rekindle the magic that once defined his coaching career, or is Arkansas destined for a season to forget? For now, the Razorbacks are teetering on the brink, and time is running out.
