John Calipari on looking forward to next year after Sweet 16 loss: 'You really think tonight's the night?'

John Calipari did not want to look forward to next season immediately after losing the Sweet 16. Sure, he would love to get Arkansas a little deeper into next year’s tournament, but the final game of the season was not the time for him to look ahead.

Arkansas lost to Texas Tech 85-83 in the Sweet 16, an overtime loss. The Razorbacks led by seven at halftime but saw their lead slip away.

Still, to get to this point was an accomplishment in itself. But the wound of the Sweet 16 loss still stung Calipari and crew.

“First of all, I told them how proud I was of them and there’s nothing they could do to disappointment me,” Calipari said. “Yeah, there were plays I wish they had done different or made, but these kids gave everything, even in this game they gave everything they had to try to win the game.

“The other stuff, you know, I need to sit down with these guys, but you really think tonight’s the night or tomorrow morning? We’re all kind of raw right now. I mean, I think they had visions of us continuing to play, and so did I. But there’s only going to be one team standing. And there’s a point where we need to sit down and talk about, again, returning. We’ve got some freshmen, and what do we do in the portal.”

John Calipari taking lumps of loss before moving on

Arkansas looked like it wouldn’t make the tournament at one point. But Calipari’s team kept battling and managed to get to the second weekend in the end.

If you’re thinking about next season, it’s about retaining players and perhaps going after some others. But Calipari didn’t want to get into all of that immediately.

“We had names of guys out there, but I haven’t done anything, haven’t made a call,” Calipari said. “And I won’t until I speak to my guys, who’s coming back, who is it? I think a couple guys will put their name in the draft. I think a couple guys are done, their eligibility is done. So you’re talking four or five guys. Let me sit down with them and see what that is. But I’m going to say it again for everybody, for me, this was as rewarding a year — and I feel like crap right now — but this was as rewarding a year as I’ve had in all my years.

“Now, I’ve had teams that were better and finished better and national champions and all that stuff, this was a different reward. Different reward. And for me as a coach, we had to adjust and learn, and it was an experience for me to learn.”