GAME STORY: Calipari, 10-seed Arkansas punch NCAAT Sweet 16 ticket with 75-66 upset win over Pitino, 2-seed St. John’s

By Kevin McPherson

The 10-seed Arkansas Razorbacks picked up their best win of the John Calipari era as Head Hog in what was their most important game of the season, knocking off 2-seed and 5th-ranked St. John’s, 75-66, on Saturday in Providence, R.I., to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen next weekend.

Arkansas led by 3 points at halftime (35-32), by 13 points nearly midway through the second half (55-42 with 11:32 to play), and though St. John’s battled back to close within a one-possession deficit (66-64 at the 4:11 mark), the Razorbacks got two big buckets going toward the basket by freshman wing Billy Richmond III and sophomore guard DJ Wagner — sandwiched around a steal by freshman guard Boogie Fland — followed by four consecutive made free throws in the final 19 seconds as Arkansas closed the game on a 9-2 run to win going away.

Facing the nation’s No. 1-rated defense according to KenPom.com, the Hoop Hogs (22-13) authored the most impressive defensive effort in the game, limiting the Red Storm to 21-of-75 field goals (28.0), including only 2-of-22 from 3 (7.7%). The Razorbacks defense ratcheted up even more in the final four minutes of the game, holding SJU to 1-of-9 field goals while forcing 2 turnovers in that span.

Making its 15th Sweet Sixteen in program history, including its 4th in the past 5 seasons, Arkansas advances in the West region to San Francisco where it will play 3-seed Texas Tech, a 77-64 winner over 11-seed Drake on Saturday in the West region Round of 32.

“You know, there are some games we played this year where the other team said that was a physical team and I told them and reminded them of that,” Calipari said after his team’s upset victory. “I know St. John’s is physical, too. The second thing we talked about at halftime is first five minutes of this half, we got to get them to call a time-out and these kids came out and executed, got some rebounds …

“Rick (Pitino) did a great job with his team all year. If they made a few shots, they would probably beat us. We were fortunate to get out, but I’m proud of these guys and all of them here had to overcome stuff and they did. They did because they’re good guys, they’ve been raised right and they knew they finally, not at the beginning of the year, that we absolutely need each other or we’re going down together and they became one heartbeat. They figured out that if I worry more about the team and less about myself, man, I play better. It took time.”

It was fitting that the Hoop Hogs advanced with a victory over St. John’s in the West region Round of 32.

For one, it was a matchup that pitted Calipari, the first-year Razorbacks coach, against his longtime coaching rival, fellow former Kentucky coach, and fellow Naismith Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. And secondly, the teams’ previous two (and only) meetings were in the NCAAT Round of 32 — a 68-65 Red Storm win to advance to the 1984-85 Sweet Sixteen followed by an 80-74 Razorbacks win to advance to the ’92-93 Sweet Sixteen.

St. John’s (31-5) had its 10-game winning streak snapped by the Hogs, and it dropped to 9-3 in games in which it trailed at halftime. The Red Storm was both the Big East regular-season champion and the league’s postseason tournament champion in ’24-25.

Calipari improved to 14-10 all-time coaching head-to-head against Pitino. The win over St. John’s moved Arkansas to 2-1 in the all-time series between the two programs.

“You hate to see us play like that,” Pitino said. “I don’t mind going out with a loss, I just hate to see us play that way offensively. And umm, we’ve got to live with it, just a bitter pill to swallow.”

Calipari, who last coached a team to the Sweet Sixteen six years ago (Kentucky in 2018-19), continued to express that his Arkansas team has given him great satisfaction.

“I told ’em (his Hogs) this is as rewarding a year as I’ve had, based on the fact of how far we’ve come,” said Calipari, who’s Naismith Hall of Fame resume includes one national championship, six Final Fours, and many more Elite Eights and Sweet 16s as part of 59 career NCAAT wins. “We absolutely need each other or we’re going down together.”

Including their 79-72 NCAAT first-round triumph over 7-seed Kansas on Thursday, the Razorbacks have won 7 of their last 9 games as they improved to 8-9 away from home (that’s 4-6 in true road games, including a final 3-6 mark in SEC road games, and now they’re 4-3 in neutral-site tilts).

Down to seven rotation pieces in recent weeks playing without leading scorer and leading rebounder Adou Thiero (left knee injury) as well second-leading scorer and assists leader Fland (thumb injury), Arkansas was able to expand its rotation back to eight with the return of Fland in the win over Kansas, and Fland was once again in the mix against SJU on Saturday.

But its was the Hogs’ freshmen wings — Richmond and Karter Knox — who sliced and diced their way to the basket throughout while outplaying their Red Storm big-guard counterparts. Richmond led three double-figure scorers with a career-high 16 points (6-of-10 field goals, including 0-of-1 from 3, and 4-of-7 free throws) to go with a career-high-matching 9 rebounds and only 1 turnover in 29 minutes. Knox was next with 15 points (3-of-5 field goals, including 0-of-3 from 3, and 9-of-11 free throws), 6 rebounds, a career-high 4 blocks, 1 assist, and a boxscore plus-8 in 27 minutes.

“That was just a sense of urgency, just seeing the open lane but seeing the big stop me,” Richmond explained of his late drive to the baseline for a close-range pull-up jumper in the team’s game-closing 9-2 surge. “I just pulled up and took the shot. I knew I was confidence with it.”

Senior guard Johnell Davis contributed 13 points (5-of-10 field goals, including 1-of-4 from 3, and 2-of-2 free throws), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, and a game-high boxscore plus-15 in 28 minutes. Wagner finished with 8 points (4-of-16 field goals, including 0-of-2 from 3), a game-high 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers, and a boxscore plus-7 in 33 minutes. Fland pitched in 6 points (2-of-8 field goals, including 1-of-5 from 3, and 1-of-2 free throws), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and ZER turnovers in 20 minutes. Since returning for the last two games, Fland has a collective 5 assists and has not suffered a turnover in a combined 44 minutes.

The Hogs’ veteran frontliners of Jonas Aidoo and Trevon Brazile had been on monster scoring-rebounding production tear (including multiple double-doubles) down the stretch of the season, and they were once again outstanding on Saturday although their numbers were down a bit relatively speaking given foul trouble and a slower-paced, low-scoring game.

Brazile recorded 8 points (4-of-10 field goals, including 0-of-5 from 3, and 0-of-2 free throws), 8 rebounds, 1 block, ZERO turnovers, and a boxscore plus-9 in 30 minutes. Aidoo finished with 7 points (2-of-3 field goals and 3-of-3 free throws), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and a boxscore plus-11 in 21 minutes.

Sophomore center Zvonimir Ivisic put in 2 points and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes, fouling out with 11:58 remaining in the second half. Thiero, the Razorbacks’ star junior 3/4-combo forward, was unable to play in either of the Providence pod games.

Arkansas shot 27-of-63 from the field (41.9%), including 2-of-19 from 3 (10.5%), but the Hogs attempted only 7 triples in the final 20 minutes (with no conversions) in favor of driving the ball to the basket. The Razorbacks made 19-of-27 free throws (70.4%), including 10-of-14 in the second half (71.4%). In addition to the aforementioned poor field goal shooting for SJU, the Red Storm converted 22-of-31 at the free throw line (71.0%), but they made only 11-of-18 on freebies (61.1%) in the second half.

The Razorbacks were plus-8 in points-in-the-paint (46-38) due to their determination to drive the ball right at the Red Storm, and Arkansas also won fastbreak scoring (11-5), bench scoring (24-20), assists (10-5), and blocks (7-3) — the latter stat goes a long way in explaining how the Hogs intimidated SJU’s backcourt drivers, who struggled to finish off drives with made field goals.

“Overcoming adversity,” Knox said of the team’s massive turnaround after starting SEC play 0-5. “We had to fight to get here. It’s a blessing that my guys right here, that we worked hard in practice and the gym.”

Although veteran big man Zuby Ejiofor had a monster double-double for Kansas — 23 points and 12 rebounds — the vaunted Red Storm backcourt/wing combo of Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis (9 points including 2-of-17 field goal shooting); jack-of-all-trades star guard Kadary Richmond (5 points including 2-of-7 field goals to go with 4 rebounds and 2 assists before fouling out); starting guard Simeon Wilcher (2 points including 1-of-5 field goals); and starting wing Aaron Scott (7 points on 1-of-10 field goals, including 1-of-6 from 3, and 4-of-6 free throws) were collectively shut down. Journeyman reserve guard Deivon Smith did have success at times penetrating Arkansas’ defense, finishing with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

SJU dominated the offensive glass (28-16) as part of winning total rebounds (51-45) and second-chance-points (25-18). The Red Storm won turnovers (9-6), but they had been forcing opponents into 15.6 turnovers per game, so that was advantage Razorbacks. SJU also won points-off-turnovers (18-13).

Calipari started Aidoo, Brazile, Knox, Wagner, and Davis for the second consecutive game.

Arkansas led by as many as 8 points in the first half, 22-14, but the Hogs were down 32-28 when Richmond, Ivisic, and Fland each scored at or near the basket fueling a 7-0 Razorbacks run that was good for a 35-32 Arkansas lead at the break.

Davis, Knox, and Richmond each had 7 points and Fland 6 to lead the Razorbacks in the first half.

The Hogs shot 12-of-32 from the field (37.5%), including 2-of-12 from 3 (16.7%), and 9-of-13 from the free throw line (69.2%) in the opening half. St. John’s shot 10-of-42 overall from the field (23.8%), including 1-of-13 from 3 (7.7%) in the first half. The Red Storm hit 11-of-13 freebies (84.6%) in the first 20 minutes.

Arkansas won fastbreak scoring (7-5), bench scoring (15-10), and blocks (4-3), but lost rebounds (29-25, including 14-7 on the offensive glass), second-chance-points (11-8), turnovers (5-2), steals (4-2), and points-off-turnovers (9-5) in the first half. Each team scored 18 points-in-the-paint in the opening half.