John Calipari embraced the one-and-done era like few college basketball coaches, becoming one of the best at recruiting talented freshmen and frequently taking them to Final Fours before they moved on to the NBA.
This strategy worked well during his 15 years at Kentucky, but with the introduction of NIL money and the transfer portal, rosters have gotten older, leading to more competition.
However, in his first season at Arkansas, Calipari is returning to a more familiar role.
“I’m kind of back to the roots of being the underdog,” Calipari said before the Razorbacks’ NCAA Tournament first-round win over Kansas last week.
Now, Calipari has the 10th-seeded Razorbacks in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, following their win over second-seeded St. John’s and his longtime rival Rick Pitino. The Razorbacks will face third-seeded Texas Tech in the regional semifinals.
Pitino, who used to compete with Calipari for the best high school players, has changed his approach to building teams during his current coaching stop.
“We’re not recruiting any high school basketball players, not this year,” Pitino said recently, when asked about keeping St. John’s competitive after winning their first Big East tournament title since 2000.
However, Pitino and others might rethink this after watching Arkansas freshmen Karter Knox, Boogie Fland, and Billy Richmond III combine for 37 points and 19 rebounds in the Razorbacks’ upset win over St. John’s.
For Calipari, this proves he can still follow the same strategy that led to six Final Four appearances and a 2012 NCAA title with Kentucky
“I’m not changing how I do things,” Calipari said.
Pitino, who, like Calipari, is one of only two men’s coaches to take three different programs to the Final Four, said his decision to rely only on transfers extends to even the highest-rated high school players. He explained that he is trying to replace three key seniors who were vital to St. John’s success this season.
“I probably wouldn’t take him because I don’t think you can win and win big with high school kids,” Pitino said. “I really don’t believe it.”
While Calipari has stated he won’t change the formula that earned him a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, he does acknowledge some changes are necessary.
Arkansas and St. John players in the 1st half“I’m not going to take seven or eight freshmen, which I have done,” Calipari said. “We started five freshmen in the national championship game (in 2014 at Kentucky). That’s done. That’ll never happen again.
But bringing guys in, developing talent, letting them go through the wars, preparing them—and if they leave after the year, I’m good. They’re leaving anyway! Whether they’re a junior or a senior.”
Purdue coach Matt Painter sees both sides of the debate between developing young talent and relying on veteran transfers.
His Boilermakers are in the Sweet 16 thanks to veterans Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer, all of whom started in last year’s national title game loss to UConn.
However, to reach the second week of the tournament, Painter’s team had to defeat a McNeese team rich with transfer players, who upset Clemson in the first round, a team that also started two transfers.
“I just think there’s a lot of parity in college basketball, a lot of change in college basketball. Whoever can get enough guys to be good together,” Painter said. “You see those coaches who do a better job than others just because they have that discipline and get them to buy into their system.”
After Arkansas’ win over St. John’s, Calipari said he plans to rely on his staff to help his young players exceed expectations.
“We have a couple really good freshmen coming in,” he said. “I’m hoping we get one more, and then we have to get in the transfer portal and grab a couple of guys. I’m hoping we get a group of these guys coming back, but we got to sit down with them. I got to have those talks. When is it open? The portal?”
“Monday,” a reporter replied.
“When? This Monday?” Calipari responded, looking at the news conference moderator.
“Don’t look at me,” the moderator said with a smile.
“Welcome to my world,” Calipari said.
