SEC coaches tee off on John Calipari: "There’s just no fear now when I see him on the other sideline."

by:Jack Pilgrim•about 11 hours

NCAA Basketball: Maryland - E. Shore at Arkansas — Nov 25, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari reacts toward the bench during the second half against the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 109-35. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

You don’t need me to tell you things aren’t going well in Fayetteville, the Arkansas Razorbacks dropping to 11-7 on the year and 0-5 in the SEC, officially out of NCAA Tournament range if the season were to end today — or anytime soon, for that matter. They’ve taken losses at Tennessee, vs. Ole Miss and Florida and back on the road at LSU and Missouri. Up next? Nine more Quad 1 opportunities in 13 total games to wrap up the regular season.

Gulp.

Things could get worse before they get better, to put it simply. In fact, John Calipari‘s SEC rivals believe that’s exactly how things are going to unfold in the former Kentucky coach’s first year at Arkansas.

And they shared their anonymous thoughts through Jeff Goodman of all people — Coach Cal’s longest and most bitter media rival.

“They have a ton of individual talent,” one SEC coach told Goodman in a feature for Hoops HQ. “But none of their pieces fit. None of them.”

It’s not just about the roster construction or return on investment with one of the deepest NIL war chests in college basketball. The staff featuring Chin Coleman, Kenny Payne, Bruiser Flint, Chuck Martin, Brad Calipari and Tyler Ulis has earned equal criticism.

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“I don’t think Calipari and his staff can adapt,” one SEC coach told Goodman.

“They all do the same thing. They don’t have anyone innovative, they are outdated in how they do things,” another SEC assistant said.

Maybe the most damning quote of all?

“There’s just no fear now when I see him on the other sideline,” one SEC head coach told Goodman. “The game has changed and he is becoming archaic.”

Arkansas currently sits at No. 53 overall by KenPom, 57 overall in the NET and No. 59 by Bart Torvik. The Razorbacks rank No. 82 nationally in effective field goal percentage, No. 95 in scoring defense, No. 115 nationally in scoring offense, No. 162 in rebounding average and No. 202 three-point efficiency. Not the most inspiring numbers for a potential turnaround.

Can he do it? They’ve got a pretty important head-to-head matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats coming up on February 1 that will likely swing it one direction or another.

For Goodman’s entire column with Hoops HQ, click here.