Despite Greg Kampe’s Oakland defeating Arkansas in NCAA Tournament, Golden Grizzlies coach “begged” John Calipari for a game

In a game steeped in backstory and unexpected twists, No. 23 Arkansas routed Oakland 92-62 on Monday night.

Razorbacks coach John Calipari, whose connection to the matchup traces back to being upset by Oakland in the NCAA Tournament with his previous team, the Kentucky Wildcats, reflected on the game and the unusual circumstances that brought it about.

Oakland coach Greg Kampe’s plea for a game led to Arkansas scheduling Oakland despite the potential downsides. Calipari acknowledged second-guessing his decision leading up to tipoff.

“He begged me,” Calipari said. “And I said, ‘Greg, don’t. You just beat me in the NCAA Tournament! Now, you want to beat me again?’ But he said, ‘Cal, I really need the game.’ He’s a friend. OK.”

The matchup between Arkansas and Oakland carried historical weight for Calipari, who had faced Oakland nine months earlier as the coach of Kentucky.

In that NCAA Tournament game, No. 14 seed Oakland shocked No. 3 Kentucky with a four-point upset (80-76) in Pittsburgh on March 21, ending Calipari’s tenure with the Wildcats on a sour note.

Despite agreeing to the game as a favor, Calipari spent the weekend questioning his choice.

“All weekend, I’m thinking, ‘Why did I do this?’” Calipari said. “But, you know what, it was a good game for us.”

In the end, Arkansas left no room for doubt. After a competitive first half, the Razorbacks dominated the second, doubling Oakland’s scoring output and cruising to their second-largest victory of the season.

The Razorbacks shot 60.3%, including 45.5% from beyond the arc, showcasing their offensive firepower.

Boogie Fland led the charge with 24 points on five 3-pointers and six assists, while Adou Thiero contributed across the board with 20 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.

Freshman Karter Knox also delivered one of his best performances of the season, adding depth to Arkansas’ attack.

John Calipari reflects on Arkansas’ growing potential after dominant victory

After the game, John Calipari highlighted the contributions across the Razorbacks’ roster. It wasn’t just about individual standout moments but a collective energy and determination that stood out.

“We had a lot of good efforts today,” Calipari said. “If we can keep passing the ball to each other, offensively we'd become a pretty good team.

“What I'm liking about this team is that they're all getting better individually”

Passing the ball effectively not only set the team up for scoring success but also built a foundation of collaboration that carried into other aspects of the game.

However, the coach emphasized that individual improvement must translate into a collective effort.

“We need the whole team; we can’t do this with just five guys,” Calipari said. “Everybody’s got to give us something.”

In a competitive environment, relying on a handful of players isn’t sustainable. Success requires contributions from everyone, whether it’s points, assists, defense or energy off the bench.