Providence, RI–John Calipari guided Arkansas to a hard-fought NCAA Tournament victory Thursday night, marking his return to March Madness success at his new school.
Jonas Aidoo led the 10th-seeded Razorbacks with 22 points as they secured a 79-72 win over No. 7 seed Kansas in the opening round. Johnell Davis contributed 18 points, including clutch free throws down the stretch, helping Arkansas advance to the second round.
Freshman Boogie Fland, making his first appearance since undergoing thumb surgery in January, played 24 minutes and scored six points.
“We need everyone to step up,” Calipari said. “When you’re short on depth, everybody has to contribute. We didn’t shoot well in the second half, but we made the ones that counted and took care of our free throws.”
With the win, Arkansas moves on to face No. 2 seed St. John’s on Saturday. That matchup will feature another coaching heavyweight in Rick Pitino, a longtime rival of Calipari dating back to their days leading Kentucky and Louisville, respectively.
Kansas’ Early Exit
Zeke Mayo led Kansas (21-13) with 18 points, while AJ Storr added 15. Hunter Dickinson finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Kansas, a program with 35 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, suffered its first first-round exit since 2006—Bill Self’s third season at the helm. Despite falling short for a third straight year before the Sweet 16, Self remained optimistic about the program’s trajectory.
“We have to reassess some things, but I don’t think we’re slipping,” Self said. “College basketball today involves more luck than ever, and while some schools excel, you can’t afford too many missteps.”
Back-and-Forth Battle
Kansas rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half, briefly taking a 65-64 lead on a putback by Storr with under six minutes remaining.
Aidoo’s free throws put Arkansas back on top, followed by a key defensive stop. Davis then drilled a three-pointer, giving the Razorbacks a 71-67 cushion with under two minutes left.
Kansas closed the gap to 71-69, but Davis responded with two free throws. Dickinson missed a potential game-tying three-pointer, allowing Arkansas to stretch its lead from the line.
Rylan Griffen hit a late three to bring Kansas within 75-72, but after two timeouts, Arkansas successfully inbounded the ball, and Davis iced the game with two more free throws.
“We stayed confident,” Davis said. “Coach kept pushing us, even when we were down, and that belief got us through.”
Key Takeaways
- Arkansas: Earned its first NCAA Tournament win since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2023 under former coach Eric Musselman.
- Kansas: Now holds a 47-6 record in first-round NCAA Tournament games.
Adams Injured
Kansas forward KJ Adams left the game with 3:10 remaining after sustaining what Self described as a likely Achilles injury. He had 13 points and four rebounds before exiting.
“We’re hoping for the best, but it doesn’t look great,” Self admitted. “Losing the game is one thing, but if he’s out for the year, that’s a huge blow.”
What’s Next
Arkansas now prepares for a showdown with St. John’s and Pitino, the all-time winningest active coach. The two legendary coaches, once fierce rivals in the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry, will meet again with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
