Calipari, Hogs upset St. John’s, onto Sweet 16

Calipari Leads Arkansas to Sweet 16, Overcoming Pitino’s St. John’s

March Madness is living up to its name, and John Calipari is once again at the center of the action. On a thrilling Saturday in Providence, R.I., Calipari guided the Arkansas Razorbacks to a 75-66 victory over Rick Pitino’s second-seeded St. John’s. This win marks Calipari’s 16th trip to the Sweet 16, and he’s done it with his fourth different school. Quite the feat, isn’t it?

Leading the charge for the 10th-seeded Razorbacks were Billy Richmond III and Karter Knox, scoring 16 and 15 points respectively. Their efforts were crucial in sending Kansas and their Hall of Fame coach Bill Self packing in the first round of what has been dubbed the “Region of Coaches.” But let’s be honest, the victory over his longtime rival, Rick Pitino, must have been especially satisfying for Calipari.

On the other side, Zuby Ejiofor was a standout for St. John’s, putting up 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. St. John’s, the Big East champion, finished the season with an impressive 31-5 record. Pitino, who has now taken an unprecedented six schools to the tournament, had a bit of a home-court advantage given his history in Providence, where he led the Friars to the 1987 Final Four.

However, the game itself was a bit of a slog, characterized by poor shooting and frequent fouls. Arkansas, with a 22-13 record, managed to do just enough to eliminate St. John’s, making the Red Storm the first team seeded No. 4 or higher to exit what has been a relatively predictable tournament so far.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the game:

• Both teams combined to make only four 3-pointers on 41 attempts.
• St. John’s shot a mere 28% from the floor overall.
• After narrowing an eight-point deficit to just two points at 62-60 with eight minutes left, St. John’s missed their last seven 3-point attempts.

It’s clear that the Razorbacks’ defense played a significant role in this victory, stifling St. John’s offense and capitalizing on their shooting woes. The Razorbacks’ ability to maintain composure and execute in the clutch moments was key to their success.

As we look ahead, the Razorbacks will need to continue their strong defensive play and hope for more consistent shooting if they want to keep their Cinderella story alive in the Sweet 16. For Calipari, this journey is another chapter in his storied career, and you can bet he’s savoring every moment of it.

So, what does this mean for the rest of the tournament? Well, if this game is any indication, we can expect more surprises and thrilling matchups as the tournament progresses. The Razorbacks have shown they’re not to be underestimated, and with Calipari at the helm, anything is possible.

Stay tuned, folks, because March Madness is just heating up!