John Calipari shares lesson Arkansas players can learn from past players who had success

John Calipari opened up on some lessons his current Arkansas team can learn from the past, particularly the 1990 team that went to the Final Four.

Calipari drew a lot of comparisons with 2025 and 1990, saying his payers could be like that 35 years from now. Whether they have on-court success to that degree remains to be seen.

But Calipari wanted the old school players to take a look at the new school.

“Well, I went to the dinner last night and and if you were there, I mean, they shed some tears now,” Calipari said, in reference to the 1990 Arkansas team. “They shed tears and they hugged each other. You know, I love you. I mean, I told the team, you understand that’s how you’re going to be 35 years from now with this team. The same way, there’s only one group going through what we’re going through and it’s that team. And the adversity we faced, the ups and downs of this, they all got through it, and by getting through it, they’re going to be better for it later, 35 years later, that team was there.” 

John Calipari mixing old with new at Arkansas

It came at an opportune time considering Arkansas won 92-85 over previously ranked No. 15 Missouri was a nice way for Calipari’s team to honor the home fans and the old team.

“I invited them to the shootaround and most of them came,” Calipari said. “But I think the kids want to win for them too. And I’ve even said we got to Hunter and I talked, we got to start retiring some of these numbers. You know what I’m saying? Because this program is not about me and the coaches. Even though we’ve done what we’re supposed to do, we haven’t made a basket. This program is about those players, and that’s when you put numbers in the stands or in the rafters, and so that’s the next phase of this. 

“Just keep honoring the teams and what they’ve done. I’ve got a bust going in my office of Coach Richardson, Coach Sutton, nice busts that they’re going in. I’m on their shoulders, but these players are on all these players’ shoulders. So it was great to see and great that they’re doing what they did. I appreciate the university and the athletic department and Hunter last night for that, right? And it was emotional wasn’t it?”