“Left us way too soon”: John Calipari pays respect to former UMass star Mike Babul’s untimely death

During his time at UMass, head coach John Calipari had the opportunity to help Mike Babul develop into a college basketball star. Unfortunately, on Friday, he had to mourn the tragic loss of his former player.

The news came out on Dec. 30 that Babul passed after suffering a heart attack. He was 47 years old. During his four seasons at UMass, from 1996 to 2000, Mike Babul averaged 3.7 points per game but made his name known on the defensive side of the ball, making three Atlantic-10 All-Defensive Teams.

Calipari reacted to the news via his X account on New Year's Day, making a heartfelt post as he honored the life of his former player for the impact he left on the UMass community.

"One of our Umass family left us way too soon. Mike Babul was a terrific player, but an even better teammate and person. This breaks all of our hearts!!! RIP Mike," Calipari said.

John Calipari and Arkansas are not getting much love in new rankings

John Calipari's Razorbacks are viewed by some as one of the best teams in the country. However, most of the rankings tend to put them in the lower tier of high-level squads.

In the latest AP Top 25 poll, Arkansas holds the 23rd spot, keeping their standing from last week. A few teams ranked above them include Memphis and Illinois, while the ones below them are Ole Miss and Baylor.

However, they are 38th in the KenPom rankings, behind the likes of undefeated Oklahoma and nine SEC teams. On defense, they are listed at No. 24, but on the offensive side of the ball, they go down to the 55th spot.

In the NCAA NET rankings, they occupy the 40th spot. Their results have had an impact on their situation, going 1-2 against their toughest opponents, who are placed in the Quad 1 tier.

Arkansas has an 11-2 record in the 2024-25 season, gaining momentum as they are rolling with six straight wins. They are averaging 82.5 points on 51.5% shooting from the field, including 36.8% from beyond the arc. Their defense, specifically their three-point defense holding opponents to under 30%, has allowed them to have a winning margin of 17 points per game.

John Calipari and the No. 23 Razorbacks will look to improve their place in the rankings, preparing for their next matchup on Saturday against the No. 1 ranked Tennessee Volunteers.