Calipari and Self rivalry continues in March Madness

The first round of March Madness features an exciting game between No. 7 Kansas and No. 10 Arkansas. This matchup is special because it brings together two well-known coaches: John Calipari of Arkansas and Bill Self of Kansas. Both teams had disappointing seasons, leading to lower seeds in the tournament. Kansas is in a tough spot, having their worst season in over 25 years. Meanwhile, Arkansas is in the tournament under Calipari's leadership, who recently moved from Kentucky to Arkansas. This game is another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between these two coaches. Calipari and Self have faced each other 13 times in their careers. Bill Self has a slight edge, winning 7 of those matchups. Their first meeting was in 2002, while both coaches were at different schools. Over the years, they have met in significant games, including two National Championships. In the NCAA tournament, both coaches have won titles. Bill Self has two championships: one in 2008 against Calipari’s Memphis team and another in 2022. Calipari won his title in 2012 with Kentucky against Kansas and Self. Both coaches have impressive career records. Self stands at 831 wins and 260 losses, while Calipari has 875 wins and 276 losses. They have coached at several schools and remain two of the most respected figures in college basketball.