Boogie Fland injury update: John Calipari reveals major change in Arkansas guard's status in text on ESPN

Arkansas forward Boogie Fland is expected to return to practice on Sunday, John Calipari told ESPN’s Seth Greenberg via text. Barring a setback, he is expected to be available for the NCAA tournament.

Fland suffered a hand injury in January, and the expectation was he would miss the rest of the season as a result. He was averaging 15.1 points and 5.7 assists at the time of the issue, which looked like a key blow for Arkansas.

However, there’s now growing optimism Fland will be able to suit up in the NCAA tournament. Calipari told Greenberg the growing expectation is the freshman guard will be able to give it a go.

“I just got a text form John Calipari,” Greenberg said at halftime of Alabama vs. Florida. “Boogie Fland is working out. He’s expected to go full practice tomorrow. Unless he gets a setback, they expect him to play in their next game. He said, Boogie’s most important thing is, he wants to be part of the solution. He just wants to help these guys, and he respects all they’ve accomplished.”

Fland was one of the biggest additions for Calipari as he took over at Arkansas. A Harlem (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac product, he was a four-star prospect and the No. 18 overall player form the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Arkansas is currently waiting its NCAA tournament fate, although the expectation is the Razorbacks will be in the field. On3’s James Fletcher III projected them to be a No. 10 seed in his latest Bracketology, and Calipari said the program is still deciding whether it will hold a watch event for the Selection Show.

However, looking at his team’s resume, Calipari argued Arkansas proved it’s worthy of a spot in the Field of 68. After falling to Ole Miss in the SEC tournament, all eyes are now on Sunday’s reveal.

“We’ll possibly do something,” Calipari said in reference to a watch event during Selection Sunday. “Hopefully we’ve done enough and done enough in this league. You’re playing the 1 ranked, 2 ranked. You’re doing the things that we’ve done. I think we’ve proven it. I’m not in the room. I don’t know what’s happening around the country because I haven’t watched. I don’t have any idea who’s doing what right now. I was focusing on this game.