"I gotta take advantage of this": Arkansas HC John Calipari recounts taking up Razorback job because of factors like "pretty good support"

After 15 years of success with Kentucky Wildcats, coach John Calipari left the program this offseason and joined Arkansas Razorbacks. Calipari takes over from Eric Musselman, who has joined the USC Trojans. Historically, Kentucky sits higher in the college basketball hierarchy as compared to Arkansas.

Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, Calipari was asked about his reasons for joining Arkansas. The esteemed coach highlighted the potential opportunities and environment of the institution.

"I was not planning on this. But when it came along, like being with ESPN and other opportunities come along and you say 'Wait a minute. I gotta take advantage of this now, Let me look!' Calipari said about taking the Arkansas job.

"And over two or three-day period I'm like 'They are in the SEC too. They've got great facility, they have a great fanbase. A great building that seats twenty thousand. Great home court. Pretty good support as you would know in this corner of Arkansas. And then lastly, I got to hire my son," he added.

John Calipari came to Kentucky in 2009 after a nine-season stint with the Memphis Tigers. In the first three years of joining, he forged a championship-winning Wildcats, bringing a national title to the program after 14 years of drought. A few years later, Calipari led the Wildcats again to the championship game. However, the Wildcats fell to Connecticut in the final.

Despite his success, Calipari has only been able to crack the Elite Eight only twice in the last eight years. Additionally, his Kentucky has won just one March Madness game in the last five seasons.

John Calipari to change up his recruiting strategy at Arkansas

As John Calipari gets ready for his first Arkansas year, his most significant task is to build a roster. A famed recruiter at Kentucky, Calipari is apparently changing his approach in Arkansas.

After seeing his young Kentucky teams go up against older players in recent years, Cal doesn't plan to recruit quite as many freshmen. Instead, he will target more transfers, who are older and more experienced. (Start at 7:26)

"I am still going to recruit the best freshmen. Probably take three or four, not seven. I can't take that many. You would hope a couple kids will stay and I'll bring in a couple transfers that are a little bit older," Calipari said.

Calipari is eyeing to specifically recruit for the last three spots on his roster. He claims that he initially wants nearly 8 to 9 players on NIL deals or scholarships and then would fill the remaining spots.

Adaptation has been the key for Calipari in recent years. The game has evolved and so have the players, coaches and other personnel. It seems like a new environment and a new system is already helping John Calipari take the leap of faith and evolve his approach with the Razorbacks.