FAYETTEVILLE — John Calipari appeared on stage left as lights flashed to a standing ovation from the thousands who attended his introductory news conference at Bud Walton Arena. After 15 years at Kentucky, it was time for a new challenge.
Calipari, the new Arkansas men's basketball coach, spoke to the congregation for the first time. Among those listening to the new preacher was the Razorbacks men's basketball team.
Perhaps a better description is Arkansas men's basketball player and walk-on guard Lawson Blake. Calipari said he met with the team and there were only three players.
“And they were in the portal,” Calipari said.
Calipari did not reveal who the players were, but spoke about the challenges of building a roster from scratch. He quipped about the lack of players and told the audience that he wasn't funny even though there were laughs.
As it stands, all of Arkansas' scholarship rosters are gone. Trevon Brazile declares for the NBA draft. Five players have exhausted their eligibility. Nine players have entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Neither Calipari nor Razorbacks athletics director Hunter Yurachek downplayed the roster situation. Some players may return through the portal. Some may follow Calipari in Kentucky.
“This is about being in a place that focuses on a culture that creates professional habits,” Calipari said. “Physical toughness and physicality are more important than ever.”
Roster needs to be built quickly. Players are moving through the portal and testing the draft waters. Many, but not all, new students are working hard. Calipari said he has a “burning desire to compete for a championship” at the University of Arkansas.
His comments about that goal starting with the administration carry weight, but he needs a roster to put it together. Sitting proudly to the left of one of the largest employers in Arkansas history, Yurachek made his opinion clear.
“I'm confident he can put together a great team right away,” he said.
There's a good reason for that. Calipari has produced more NBA players than any other active coach. Calipari's freshman recruiting class has never finished worse than his No. 5 in the country, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.
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Calipari has been criticized in the past for relying too much on freshmen. He has no intention of backing away from recruiting and using star freshmen at high rates. “You can recruit freshmen, but it's better to be physically tough,” he says. Calipari talked about the use of the portal the Razorbacks will need, but also pointed to the continuity that Connecticut and Purdue have heading into the national championship game.
“[Their players] I didn't leave. They were there for three years,” he said. “It's not just, 'Come and transfer,' because many times the transfer is for one year.”
Calipari will reportedly have access to a lucrative pool of name, image and likeness money to use in building the roster, but Yurachek warned he still needs money.
The NIL, portal and eligibility waivers have made men's college basketball an old game. Calipari claimed that his 19-year-old players are playing against 26-year-old players in the tournament.
Yurachek said there are ways to raise the money needed to remain competitive, and there are reports that the money may be there. In modern conditions, Calipari needs to build it quickly.
“We have a pretty good program in place, but we need the help of people across this state to make sure we give Coach Cal the tools he needs to build a great team,” Yurachek said. Told. . “He and I are on the same page about what it should be. It's my job to give him the tools to make sure he can be successful.”
Calipari likened the NIL and waivers to players making more money than if they got a job after basketball. He understands it's a vital part of roster building, as age and experience are needed.
That was Calipari's introduction to Arkansas. February will bring more smiles than you expected. I'm excited to be in Fayetteville and ready to work. Lights and standing ovations are great for now, but it requires the right product.
It starts with the roster, and it starts now.