"They’re going to help the process": John Calipari prepares Arkansas for early growing pains, eyes long-term success amid Kansas challenge

Arkansas coach and former NCAA champion coach John Calipari is in no rush to develop the winning culture of his current team. He knows that it will take him a couple of years to see the team's development in full swing.

The team welcomed four transfers who played for Calipari in Kentucky — Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivisic, DJ Wagner and Kareem Watkins. The veteran coach believes that his former Kentucky players are going to help the process and that they are a part of the team's learning tree in the coming seasons or so.

"They’re going to help the process. You’ve got two guys. One played and was injured. Adou played for the first year — didn’t play that much, but last year and then he got injured.

"Z didn’t play until the last 10 games. So to say they’ll know me, yes. To say that they know each other yet, they’re still learning," Calipari said. [as per Sports Illustrated]

Arkansas will also be reinforced by transfers Johnell Davis and Jonas Aidoo, returning player Trevon Brazile and highly rated freshmen Boogie Fland and Karter Knox.

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Coach John Calipari estimates Arkansas time frame for success as he gets ready for first test against Kansas

The Arkansas coach gave a rough estimate on the team's time frame under his watch. He was hired after an unsuccessful 2023-24 season with Kentucky, where they were ousted in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

"It normally takes my programs 2 or 3 years to really get stuff established the way you want it. You try to win as many as you can, you try to see what level each team is, but I’ve had to do it with new teams every year, wherever I’ve been," Calipari said.

Arkansas opens the season with an exhibition game against Kansas on Oct. 25 in the Bud Walton Arena, and, just like any other Razorbacks fan, John Calipari is excited to get the new season going.

He believes that it's an honor to coach the Razorbacks fanbase, who graciously received him from the first day he was hired as the 14th bench tactician of the program.

"I could tell you that as excited as people are that I'm here, I'm excited to be here. This is an honor," he said.

John Calipari signed a five-year deal to coach Arkansas until the 2028-29 season. He will have a salary $7 million per season and has an option to extend until 2031. It includes a $1 million signing bonus and retention bonuses of $500,000 as per the Arkansas Razorbacks website.

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Will John Calipari change the Arkansas Razorbacks culture right away? Let's know your views in the comments section: