Arkansas
Hot chicken! John Calipari cooks spicy dish for Arkansas Razorbacks basketball | Toppmeyer
John Calipari to Arkansas: Current and former college coaches weigh in on the move
John Calipari shocked the college basketball world with his announcement that he’s heading to Arkansas and we asked his fellow coaches what they thought of the move.
The last time a chicken man and an antihero teamed up, both fellas met grisly ends.
“Breaking Bad,” that story was called.
For the sequel, a tastier development is unfolding for the Arkansas Razorbacks, where mega-booster John Tyson and John Calipari are cooking up some spicy kind of dish.
The former Kentucky coach is building the best roster chicken patties can buy.
Neither Calipari nor Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek hid the reality that Tyson, the chairman of the Tyson Food company’s board, wielded significant influence in getting his friend, Calipari, to leave Kentucky for Arkansas.
The unstated implication: Calipari would enjoy rich NIL backing to reload Arkansas’ roster.
Arkansas basketball transfers came from Florida Atlantic to Tennessee
Just look at what Calipari already has on the grill.
He’s assembled a robust transfer class featuring Florida Atlantic’s Johnell Davis, Tennessee’s James Aidoo and Kentucky’s Zvonimir Ivisic.
Big Blue Nation must be wondering, where was this Calipari in Lexington? This marks a pivot from how Calipari built his Kentucky rosters, where he relied on blue-chip youngsters, even after the transfer era took hold. Although Calipari didn’t completely ignore transfers, he undervalued them.
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While transfers starred for other teams making deep NCAA Tournament runs, Calipari insisted on doing things the old way at Kentucky, signing one ballyhooed recruiting class after another of talented teenagers, rather than stock up on a few more experienced veterans from the portal.
As Kentucky’s coach, Calipari stubbornly admitted he wouldn’t adapt how he built his roster.
“I’ve done this with young teams my whole career. It’s going to be hard for me to change that. … I don’t see myself just saying, ‘OK, we’re not going to recruit freshmen,’ ” Calipari said after his final game at Kentucky, a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to 14th-seeded Oakland.
While UK’s freshmen struggled in that loss, Oakland rallied around the sharp shooting of 24-year-old Jack Goelke, a Division II transfer.
By leaving Kentucky, John Calipari forced himself to adapt
Change is more difficult when surrounded by temptation.
If you want to lose weight, you don’t stock the cupboard with sweets. Likewise, Calipari enjoyed the ability to stockpile McDonald’s All-Americans at Kentucky, making it difficult for him to reserve more roster spots for proven transfers.
Now, he’s forced to adapt.
Calipari inherited an Arkansas roster with one player on it. Literally, one guy: walk-on, Lawson Blake.
As Calipari quipped shortly after his hire: “I met with the team. There is no team.”
Calipari could not possibly field a competitive roster next season without relying on transfers.
Fueled by necessity and chicken bucks, he’s landed some good ones – none better than FAU’s Davis. You’ll recall Davis starred in the 2023 NCAA Tournament while the Owls hooted and hollered into the Final Four. Aidoo and Ivisic are no Zach Edey, but they’re helpful big men with March Madness experience.
By escaping out Kentucky’s hatch door while the posse closed in, Calipari bolted off the hot seat and ran toward freedom. He also gave himself permission to change his ways, because he has no other choice.
Arkansas afforded Calipari a fresh lease on coaching. This may be no “dream job,” as Calipari called blue-blooded Kentucky, but it’s a good job with ample resources. And Calipari is proving that, whatever coaching shortcomings he might have displayed throughout a few disappointing NCAA Tournament exits these past few years, he remains a master at luring talent.
As Calipari correctly stated after his hire, the best teams don’t rely exclusively on transfers, but feature important players whom the program signed, retained and developed.
Look to UConn for the model. The Huskies’ top two scorers were transfers, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer. They melded one-and-done freshman Stephon Castle and a few talented veterans whom UConn developed in-house.
That’s the golden ticket.
Calipari never will completely turn his back on elite recruits. Three national top-30 prospects who had planned to play for Calipari at Kentucky will follow him to Arkansas. They’ll blend with this impressive transfer haul. Building roster chemistry will form Calipari’s next task.
Calipari is damaged goods, but this forced reboot could do him good. Now, this antihero enjoys the power of pollo behind him.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s SEC Columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.
A digital subscription will allow you access to all of his coverage. Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered, or access exclusive columns via the SEC Unfiltered newsletter.
Arkansas
What channel is Arkansas basketball vs Arizona on today? March Madness game time, TV, streaming
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Darius Acuff Jr. and the fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks will face Brayden Burries and the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats as the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament continues with the Sweet 16 Thursday in San Jose, California.
The Razorbacks (28-8) reached the West Region semifinals by beating Hawaii and High Point. Meanwhile, the Wildcats (34-2) beat Long Island and Utah State.
Here’s how to watch the Razorbacks-Wildcats game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
Watch March Madness live with Sling TV
What time is Arkansas vs Arizona today? When is NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game today?
- Date: Thursday, March 26
- Start time: 8:45 p.m. CT
- Where: SAP Center in San Jose, California
What channel is Arkansas vs Arizona on today? How to watch, stream NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
- TV: TBS/truTV
- How to watch online: Sling (free trial)
Arkansas vs Arizona betting odds for March Madness Sweet 16 game
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, March 26:
- Moneyline: ARI -375 | ARK +290
- Spread: Arizona (-8.5)
- Over/under: 165.5
All times CT
All times CT
Print your own March Madness bracket for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament
The Arkansas Razorbacks parlayed an SEC Tournament Championship into two straight wins to start their NCAA Tournament run, getting past Hawaii and High Point in impressive fashion. Now, they’ll face their toughest challenge yet, a Sweet 16 showdown with the 1-seed Arizona Wildcats.
Arizona cruised past both Long Island University and Utah State in the first two rounds, and still has just two losses on its record all season. As you’d expect, they’re favored in this SEC vs. Big 12 showdown. Let’s take a look.
Arkansas vs. Arizona Odds, Spread, and Total
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Spread
- Arkansas +7.5 (-110)
- Arizona -7.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Arkansas +278
- Arizona -355
Total
- OVER 166.5 (-110)
- UNDER 166.5 (-110)
Arkansas vs. Arizona How to Watch
- Date: Thursday, March 6
- Game Time: 9:45 pm ET
- Venue: SAP Center at San Jose
- How to Watch (TV): CBS
- Arkansas Record: 28-8
- Arizona Record: 34-2
Arkansas vs. Arizona Betting Trends
- The OVER is 9-2 in Arkansas’ last 11 games
- The OVER is 5-1 in Arkansas’ last six games vs. Big 12 opponents
- Arkansas is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games as an underdog
- Arizona is 4-1 ATS in its last five games
- The OVER is 4-2 in Arizona’s last six games
- Arizona is 5-1 ATS in its last six games vs. SEC opponents
Arkansas vs. Arizona Best Prop Bet
- Brayden Burries OVER 17.5 Points (-106) via FanDuel
Brayden Burries has a chance to have a phenomenal performance on Thursday night. Arkansas may be a strong offensive team, but its defense leaves a lot to be desired. They rank 200th in the country in defensive efficiency and are allowing 80.3 points per game this season, which ranks 325th. If Burries brings his best stuff, the Razorbacks are going to be in trouble.
Arkansas vs. Arizona Prediction and Pick
Let’s try our best not to overreact to Arkansas being in the Sweet 16. They had a relatively easy path to win the SEC Championship, squeaking by both Oklahoma and Ole Miss by just three points before beating Vanderbilt in the final, completely avoiding the Florida Gators. Then, in the NCAA Tournament, they had the easiest path to the Sweet 16, getting to face a 13-seed and a 12-seed in the first two rounds.
The Arizona Wildcats are no joke and will be by far the Razorbacks’ biggest challenge. There’s a case to be made that Arizona is the best team in the country, and they have the interior defense to completely shut down the Arkansas offense. The Razorbacks rank 50th in the country in two-point shot rate. Now, they have to face an Arizona defense that ranks second in the country in opponent two-point field goal percentage, keeping teams to shooting just 43.7% from two-point range.
Arizona also mainly shoots two-point shots, ranking third in two-point shot rate, and now they get to face an Arkansas team that ranks 278th in opponent two-point field goal percentage, allowing teams to shoot 54% from two-point range.
This is a nightmare matchup for Arkansas.
Pick: Arizona -7.5 (-110)
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LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — An Arkansas mother fighting for her life is now facing her transplant journey with renewed hope after an overwhelming surge of community support.
Just one day after sharing her story, 31-year-old Brittany Slater’s GoFundMe has skyrocketed from $4,300 to over $22,000; more than doubling her original $10,000 goal in less than 24 hours.
Slater, a mother of two, is battling both advanced kidney disease and heart failure.
She has been approved for a rare dual kidney and heart transplant, but needed financial help to cover expenses during a required 12-week recovery period away from home.
Since the story aired Tuesday afternoon, donations have poured in from 249 contributors. Among them, one person gave $2,000, three donated $1,000 each, and several others contributed hundreds more, reflecting what Slater calls an outpouring of love from both her local community and strangers.
“I was actually at the grocery store when it happened,” Slater said. “My mom called and told me to check it, and I just sat in the parking lot for about an hour crying. I was just full of joy. It was wonderful.”
The financial milestone is doing more than easing immediate concerns; it’s shifting Slater’s mindset as she prepares for the fight ahead.
“It’s making me want to push even harder, to keep fighting even harder,” she said. “If you’re going through something like this, don’t give up. Just keep going and have faith.”
The funds will help cover temporary housing near the transplant center, caregiving needs, childcare for her children, and basic living expenses like food and gas during recovery.
While insurance, including Medicare, is expected to cover much of the transplant itself, the additional costs tied to recovery created a significant burden for the family.
Slater’s mother, Carmenlita Bryant, who is also undergoing chemotherapy, started the fundraiser and said the response has brought both relief and reassurance during an already difficult time.
“It brings a lot of relief,” Bryant said. “Just knowing she’ll be away for three months and we have to figure out care for her children, this takes a huge burden off of us.”
Bryant said she never expected the level of support her daughter received, calling the response overwhelming.
“It just showed me that humanity still exists,” she said. “People who don’t even know us read her story and gave. We’re just so grateful.”
For Slater, the support goes beyond financial help; it’s a message she plans to carry with her into surgery and recovery.
“I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “Every donation, every prayer, it all means so much to me and my family.”
If you would like to support Brittany, you can access her GoFundMe here.
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