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John Calipari explodes in press conference after Texas A&M loss: 'It's not okay to say we'll be alright'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/15/25•

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Arkansas HC John Calipari
Arkansas HC John Calipari, via Nelson Chenault | Imagn Images

In a loaded – and jam-packed – SEC, seemingly every game has NCAA Tournament implications. Five teams from the conference appeared in the top six of the selection committee’s Top 16 seeds in Saturday’s reveal, but others at the bottom of the standings are fighting for their March Madness lives.

That includes Arkansas, and Saturday’s matchup against Texas A&M was another opportunity to make a move. But the Razorbacks came up short, and John Calipari had a clear message after the game.

Calipari acknowledged Arkansas has been close lately, and despite the 4-8 record in league play, he thinks the Razorbacks are better than that – going against an old Bill Parcells line. But when it comes to people saying they’ll be alright, Calipari made it abundantly clear he doesn’t want to hear that.

“Normally, you say you are what your record says you are,” Calipari said. “But in this league, the way this is, you’ve just got to get it going at the right time. And I thought we did. Alabama, they’re really good, too. This team is really good. Guess what? We had a chance at both of them, but we didn’t. For us to bust through, we’re gonna have to beat somebody. We can say what we want. I wanted to make sure they weren’t happy we were going to be okay. No. If we won that game, say it. We’re in the tournament. If we win that game, we’re in the tournament. So it’s not okay to say we’ll be alright!

“Now, you’re gonna have to go get somebody else. I didn’t want to put that on them because I got some guys a little bit fragile. So I’m having to hold them accountable, but keep picking them up. And they’re a little fragile. But when you’re losing some games or you’re not playing well, that happens. And I still love coaching these guys. But I’ve got to hold them accountable. You pick them up.”

Entering Saturday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had Arkansas as one of the last teams in the field in his latest Bracketology. The Razorbacks were one of 14 SEC teams in his projected Field of 68, although the loss to Texas A&M could lead to a shakeup in the next Bracketology update.

Still, there will be more opportunities for John Calipari and Arkansas to strengthen their resume. No. 1 overall seed Auburn awaits on Wednesday, and the Razorbacks will then take on No. 21-ranked Missouri Feb. 22.