Seth Greenberg credits Arkansas, John Calipari for having 'best weekend' in NCAA Tournament

Seth Greenberg is giving credit where credit is due, praising John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks. He believes they had the best weekend of any team during the first two rounds of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

“It’s Arkansas,” the ESPN analyst stated, regarding which team was the most impressive through the Round of 32, via First Take. “It’s real simple, they were 0-5 in the SEC. They got into the tournament by playing into the tournament. They got through a Kansas team. They’re the only double-digit team left. They got through Kansas, and then they got basically the King Prince in Rick Pitino and St John’s. You know, the Big East champion, Big East Tournament champion. Rick Pitino on Jimmy Fallon, Rick Pitino on the back of The Post.

“All they did was get through those two guys. The only 10-seed left. The SEC has got seven left. Through Kansas, through St John’s. … John Calipari and Arkansas, the two wins they had? You can’t even challenge that. Bill Self, Rick Pitino, a 10-seed? By far the most impressive weekend of the opening round of the tournament.”

In a tournament devoid of the usual madness we associate with March, Calipari leading the Razorbacks to massive wins over No. 7-seed Kansas and No. 2-seed St. John’s is easy to celebrate. Arkansas emptied their bank accounts to bring the coach to Fayetteville this offseason, and they were rewarded.

Greenberg wasn’t the only one singing Calipari’s praises either. Following the upset win, Skip Bayless did the same on X: “Coach Cal was worth every penny to Arkansas,” Bayless posted. “His kids played harder and smarter than Pitino’s–played inspired basketball for Calipari, defending his honor and legacy. This did not look like an upset. The better team won.”

Additionally, a sizable raise will be heading Calipari’s way for the win as well. Steve Berkowitz of the USA TODAY laid out the contract situation of Calipari, saying a $150,000 pay increase will kick in next season. The total is now up to $250,000 after earning something similar for beating St. John’s in the Round of 32.

“No. 10 seed Arkansas defeats No. 2 St. John’s to reach NCAA men’s tournament Sweet 16,” Berkowitz said via X. “Razorbacks coach John Calipari’s contract includes no lump-sum bonuses — but today’s win adds $150,000 to automatic pay raise he will get, beginning next season. That raise is now at $250,000.”

Can John Calipari continue his success and lead Arkansas on a run? That remains to be seen, but next up is a trip out West to San Francisco, where the Razorbacks are just two wins away from a Final Four. Texas Tech will be the opponent, and some interesting teams are still alive on the other side of the bracket, most notably SEC foe Florida.

— On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this article.