Dick Vitale reacts to Arkansas upset win over St. John's, offers high praise for John Calipari

One of the most intriguing matchups of the 2025 NCAA Tournament wasn’t between two teams, but rather two coaches. John Calipari and Rick Pitino renewed their coaching rivalry on Saturday, and it was Calipari’s Arkansas team that got the better of Pitino’s St. John’s group.

Afterward, ESPN’s Dick Vitale reacted. He praised Calipari for the job he’s done at Arkansas not only during the regular season, but through the first two rounds of March Madness.

Arkansas’ pod featured three Hall of Fame coaches in Calipari, Pitino and Bill Self. The Razorbacks took down Kansas in the first round, which set up the rematch against Pitino and St. John’s. The Red Storm offense stalled, and Arkansas capitalized en route to a bracket-busting victory. That performance, Vitale said, is why Calipari is “worth every [dollar] he is being paid.”

Yes @CoachCalArk & his @RazorbackMBB have really earned this trip to the Sweet Sixteen – no cupcakes beat @KUHoops & @CoachBillSelf & the red hot @StJohnsBBall & @RealPitino – Cal is worth every $$$ he is being paid .

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 22, 2025

“Yes @CoachCalArk & his @RazorbackMBB have really earned this trip to the Sweet Sixteen,” Vitale wrote on X. “No cupcakes beat @KUHoops & @CoachBillSelf & the red hot @StJohnsBBall & @RealPitino. Cal is worth every $$$ he is being paid.”

Neither Arkansas nor St. John’s shot particularly well during Saturday’s game, but the Razorbacks made enough key plays to get the victory and advance to the Sweet Sixteen once again. It marks the program’s fourth appearance in five years and the first under Calipari.

Arkansas and St. John’s both struggled mightily shooting the three during Saturday’s game, but a physical battle certainly lived up to the billing. Ultimately, the Razorbacks came out on top, and John Calipari noted his team is also physical. That helped make the defense and help Arkansas overcome the 28 offensive rebounds allowed to St. John’s.

“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 in his postgame press conference. “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. Now, I don’t know of any team that I’ve coached in a while had 28 offensive — I take that back. Tennessee did. They had 28 offensive rebounds and we still won, which is crazy.”

Arkansas will now await the winner of Drake vs. Texas Tech to find out its Sweet Sixteen matchup. The date and tip-off time will be announced later, as well.