Providence, R.I. — John Calipari has made his mark once again in the world of college basketball, successfully leading the Arkansas Razorbacks to the Sweet 16 for an impressive 16th time. This particular journey could prove to be the most rewarding yet. The Razorbacks triumphed over their long-standing adversary, Rick Pitino, and the No. 2 seed St. John’s, securing a 75-66 victory on Saturday. This win propels Calipari to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament with his fourth different school.
Billy Richmond III was a standout for the 10th-seeded Razorbacks, contributing 16 points, while Karter Knox added 15 points to the scoreboard. The Razorbacks, with a current record of 22-13, previously sent home the No. 1 seed Kansas and their Hall of Fame coach, Bill Self, in the first round of the tournament. Calipari's ability to navigate his team through early-season injuries, which left them at 0-5 in the Southeastern Conference, has been particularly impressive during his inaugural season in Fayetteville. Next, Arkansas is set to face the third-seeded Texas Tech in the West Region semifinals in San Francisco.
Reflecting on the season, Calipari expressed, “This is as rewarding as a year I’ve had, based on how far we’ve come.” The Razorbacks demonstrated resilience throughout their journey in March Madness, showcasing their growth as a team.
On the other side of the court, Zuby Ejiofor led St. John’s with an impressive 23 points and 12 rebounds. However, RJ Luis Jr., the conference player of the year, struggled significantly, scoring only nine points on a disappointing 3-of-17 shooting. Pitino acknowledged the Razorbacks' superior performance, stating, “They outplayed us. They deserve to move on and we don’t.” His comments highlight the unpredictable nature of March Madness, where even teams with stellar regular-season records can falter.
Rick Pitino, who has a storied history in Providence, including taking the Friars to the 1987 Final Four, arrived at this year’s tournament with unprecedented experience, coaching six different schools. St. John’s, which had the No. 1 defense in the country this season, returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 as a No. 2 seed—their highest ranking in 25 years. However, their offense faltered against Arkansas, making them the first team seeded fourth or higher to exit a tournament that has, so far, favored higher seeds.
Despite leading by 13 points in the first half and maintaining an eight-point lead with just eight minutes left, the Razorbacks faced a challenge as St. John’s closed the gap to 62-60 with 6:11 remaining. However, the Red Storm missed their subsequent six attempts from beyond the arc and managed just one of their last nine shots, with Ejiofor’s dunk coming too little and too late.
In the final moments of the game, Knox sealed the victory with a pair of free throws, and a crucial turnover from Deivon Smith—who dribbled the ball off his knee and out of bounds—essentially ended St. John’s hopes. As the clock wound down, when Richmond was fouled with just five seconds left, the Razorbacks celebrated their victory, energizing their enthusiastic fans in attendance.
As March Madness continues, the Arkansas Razorbacks are poised for further success, while St. John’s will reflect on a season filled with promise that ended in disappointment.
