'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arkansas will chart a new path for the 2024-25 college basketball season under former national champion coach John Calipari. After finishing last campaign with a 16-17 record, the Razorbacks fired Eric Musselman and hired Calipari the day after he left Kentucky.
The veteran mentor undertook a massive overhaul during the offseason, acquiring 13 players from the transfer portal and high school to beef up the team. Only two players from last season's roster remain, and they will try to help this retooled lineup reach its ultimate goal.
Here's a deeper dive into Arkansas' 2024-25 campaign, from their biggest games to key players to watch out for this coming season.
Arkansas' biggest games in the 2024-25 season
Although the Razorbacks have yet to fully announce their non-conference games, the team has already listed matchups against Illinois, Miami and Michigan. They will face the reformed Fighting Illini on Nov. 28 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Both teams have met six times previously, with the Fighting Illini leading the series 5-1.
Trending
Five days later, the Hogs will clash with the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC-SEC Challenge at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida. Both teams have met once in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, where Miami won, 75-73.
The team is also scheduled to take part in the Jimmy V Classic at the Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec. 10 and is slated to meet Michigan, coached by Dusty May. The Wolverines have a 4-3 lead in their all-time head-to-head clash against the Razorbacks.
Meanwhile, the SEC has released its regular season schedule, where Arkansas will play a total of 18 games against its conference mates. The Razorbacks will lock horns against LSU, Missouri and Texas in a home-and-away setup.
The team will also play against Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Oklahoma at home, while they visit Auburn, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
Key Razorbacks players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season
The immediate effect of John Calipari's hiring in Arkansas is that only two players from the 2023-24 roster remain with the team. This forced the former champion coach to immediately find replacements through the transfer portal and college recruitment.
Calipari's exhaustive search brought in 13 new recruits who will beef up the Razorbacks for the 2024-25 men's basketball campaign. Here are three players that fans should watch out for this coming season.
#1. Johnell Davis
The incoming fifth-year transfer displayed his scoring abilities during his fourth year with the Florida Atlantic. The six-foot-four guard averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game for the Owls last season.
Davis shot 48.3%, including 41.4% from the 3-point range and connected on 85.7% of his free throws in his final year with FAU before transferring to Arkansas during the offseason.
#2. D.J. Wagner Jr.
Wagner Jr. aims to bounce back from a so-so season with the Kentucky Wildcats and hopes his decision to follow Calipari to Arkansas was the right call. In his previous campaign with the Wildcats, the 6-foot-4 Wagner tallied 9.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game in 29 appearances. He shot 40.5%, including 29.2% from the 3-point range.
#3. Boogie Fland
Boogie Fland initially committed to Kentucky, but when John Calipari left the Wildcats in April, he de-comitted and followed the Hall of Fame coach to Arkansas. Fland averaged 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals during his senior year with Archbishop Stepinac High School.
The 6-foot-2 combo guard hopes to bring his shooting prowess to the Razorbacks and help the team secure enough wins in the tough SEC and return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year absence.
Arkansas' predictions for the 2024-25 season
John Calipari is known for his coaching brilliance, having guided UMass, Memphis and Kentucky to frequent tournament appearances and Final Four stints. He now ventures into his fourth team, hoping to achieve similar success with the Razorbacks.
Based on their schedule, the team is capable of winning 20 to 25 games and contend in the NCAA rankings. Whether John Calipari made the right decision in accepting the Razorbacks' job or if he will face another snub from the Selection Committee that picks the official bids for the NCAA Tournament, will be evident in a matter of time.
Will Arkansas make the 2025 NCAA Tournament after a one-year absence? Let us know your views in the comments section.
Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey - who is NCAAW's highest-paid coach? Find out here
