Calipari surprised Arkansas not placed in Lexington

Arkansas coach John Calipari made a lighthearted comment about the NCAA Selection Committee. He joked that someone must have been "sick" not to place his team in Lexington for the tournament. Instead, Arkansas is set to play No. 7 Kansas in Providence on Thursday. Calipari claimed he had predicted this matchup during practice, suggesting the committee aimed to create a narrative by pairing him with fellow Hall of Fame coaches Bill Self of Kansas and Rick Pitino of St. John’s. He expressed surprise that they were not all playing in Lexington, a city with ties to both himself and Pitino, who have won championships there. The upcoming games have drawn attention to the impressive coaching backgrounds of the three men. Between them, they hold five NCAA championships and 14 Final Four appearances. Chris Crutchfield, the coach of Omaha, acknowledged their status and noted the chance to compete in such an environment. According to the betting lines, St. John’s is favored heavily against Omaha, while Kansas holds a smaller edge over Arkansas. Some players, like Omaha guard JJ White, feel that the pressure is not on them, allowing them to play freely. The potential for exciting matchups in this tournament has everyone looking ahead. Calipari knows the stakes and emphasized the challenge of their first game. He is focused on supporting his players as they aim for victory in the challenging tournament landscape.