John Calipari reveals biggest factor in win over Georgia: 'No one killed us'

On Wednesday, Arkansas picked up its first SEC win of the season with a 68-65 victory over Georgia. After the game, first-year Razorbacks head coach John Calipari revealed the key to Arkansas’ triumph.

“I got to get us right. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. And we’re starting to get there. We’re starting to figure out how we’re going to have to play,” Calipari said. “Biggest thing — every player on the team helped us. Some helped more than others. That’s fine. No one killed us.

“So everybody helped us. Now, there are times we just need you to really play good; maybe one or two of you play great, so you can beat a really good team, a team that you’re not supposed to beat.”

Oddly enough, Arkansas won its first conference game without arguably its most talented guard on the court. On Tuesday, the program announced that freshman standout Boogie Fland will miss the remainder of the season due to a hand injury.

Fland was averaging 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game this season, and is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, with Fland sidelined, the other Razorbacks stepped up.

Adou Thiero led the charge for Arkansas, tallying team-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds. While Thiero’s impressive showing was nothing new, other players took pivotal steps forward on Wednesday evening.

Most notably, freshman Karter Knox scored 13 points. His previous scoring high in SEC play was when he scored seven points against Missouri. Knox made a living at the charity stripe against the Bulldogs, connecting on 11-13 free-throw attempts.

Individual performances aside, the Razorbacks’ effort was the ultimate difference maker. Arkansas reeled in 18 offensive rebounds, eight more than they average per game this season.

The Razorbacks didn’t hesitate to capitalize on their hard work on the glass. They finished the game with 33 second-chance points, more than double Georgia’s 16. Arkansas’ grit was never on fuller display than the final play of the game.

With two seconds left in the game, Arkansas and Georgia were tied 65-65. After Razorbacks’ guard DJ Wagner missed the game-winning shot, Thiero crashed on the offensive glass and was fouled on his putback attempt.

Thiero made his first free throw to give Arkansas a one-point lead. Although Thiero missed his second free throw, he didn’t pout. Instead, the junior standout rebounded his own miss and finished through contact to put the game away.

John Calipari will need his players to keep making the extra effort if he hopes to turn the Razorbacks’ record around in conference play. On Saturday, Arkansas will square off against Oklahoma at 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPN2.