John Calipari takes accountability after Arkansas chokes 12pt lead to lose vs LSU Tigers: "I got to do a better job with my team"

John Calipari's Arkansas blew its chance to climb out of the bottom pool of SEC rankings on Tuesday against LSU. The Razorbacks built a 12-point lead 14 minutes into the game (28-16) before giving it away as the Tigers mounted an 18-8 comeback run. The same pattern appeared early in the second half when Arkansas created a seven-point gap.

However, the Tigers gained a lead in the 11th minute and never looked back throughout the contest, winning 78-74. With that, Calipari commended LSU for the competition in the post-game interview, claiming that he needs to train his players better.

"Scrapped us, beat us to some balls, made some big-time plays, I got to do a better job with my team," Calipari said postgame.

"We get up 12 again, this is the third or fourth game we get up 12 and all of a sudden – you turn around. I thought we were prepared for that moment but we just, couple turnovers, missed shots and I watched the tape but they outscrapped us. We did some half-decent stuff but not enough," he added.

The Razorbacks have now lost four consecutive games since the SEC play began. Their 0-4 record is currently the last in conference standings. Arkansas will now stay on the road to face Missouri (14-3, 3-1 in SEC) on Saturday.

LSU outdueled John Calipari's crew at their own game

Arkansas entered the contest as a top-five shot-blocking team in the NCAA, averaging 6.0 swats per game. While the Razorbacks exited the game with their share of rejections, the Tigers nearly doubled the favor with 11 blocks.

These stops helped LSU throughout the game, acting as momentum initiators for its comeback runs. Calipari also highlighted that LSU's rim protection was a constant distraction for the Arkansas offense.

"Some of the shots, some of the blocked shots [on LSU's momentum builders]. We told him you better go into his body because if you don't get to his body he will block it and I thought there were a couple critical turnovers. I have to watch the tape, I don't have it in my mind right now."

(from 3:10 mark onwards)

LSU opened the game with two blocks in the first three minutes and opened the second half with two swats in the first minute. Daimion Collins, who mounted the game-sealing block, led with four rejections while Corey Chest deployed three.