Arkansas
Three John Calipari-themed questions for Arkansas basketball in 2024-25
Speaking to the media last week, John Calipari insisted he still doesn’t know who will take the ball after a made basket out for Arkansas basketball this season.
With something so simple up in the air, it’s safe to assume there are plenty of other questions still unanswered for the Razorbacks.
The season is rapidly approaching. The Southeastern Conference will host its annual media day on Oct. 16, and the Razorbacks will send Adou Thiero and Johnell Davis to accompany John Calipari in Birmingham, Ala. Arkansas will open its first campaign under Calipari against Lipscomb on Nov. 6.
Here’s a look at three Calipari-related questions for Arkansas basketball to answer this season. There are high hopes that Calipari can translate his success to Fayetteville, but he will have to alter some foundational strategies behind all his wins at Kentucky.
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Is there a first-round pick on the roster?
Calipari has a streak of 17 consecutive drafts with a first-round pick, but that run might be in jeopardy in 2025.
ESPN released its top-100 NBA Draft Prospects on Wednesday, and Arkansas doesn’t have a player inside the top-30. Guard Boogie Fland (No. 32), forward Adou Thiero (No. 40), center Zvonimir Ivišić (No. 45), center Jonas Aidoo (No. 71) and guard Johnell Davis (No. 99) are all within the top-100.
This will likely be a one-year issue for Arkansas, with Calipari expected to reel in top recruiting classes moving forward, but this is an opportunity for the head coach to solidify his reputation as a developer of talent.
If someone does turn into a first-round pick, it raises the ceiling of this year’s team.
Does age make a difference in March?
Calipari is embarking on a new adventure this season with an older roster that isn’t reliant on one-and-done freshman talent. He hopes it’ll lead to a revival in his NCAA tournament success after failing to make it out of the first weekend the past four years.
“We’re playing against a team and the guy is waving to his two kids in the stands,” Calipari said. “You’re just saying, ‘This got a little old now, what are we doing here?’ So, to say you’re going to do it with 18- and 19-year olds, 24- and 25-year olds, you got to make that adjustment.”
Calipari is making such a significant shift there’s a chance none of his three freshmen are starters this season. Multiple freshmen made at least 20 starts in every season while Calipari was at Kentucky.
Do Hogs play big or small?
Calipari’s most successful teams at Kentucky typically featured plenty of length.
The 2012 squad that won the national championship featured three players in the starting five who were at least 6-foot-7. The entire starting lineup from the 2014 team that lost in the national championship didn’t have a starter under 6-6.
That trend extends throughout Calipari’s career, but he might go a different route at Arkansas. None of the freshmen are taller than 6-6, and Adou Theiro would have to start at the three-position for the Hogs to have quality length in their starting five.
Arkansas
No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks’ Historic Season Comes to an End at WCWS
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 5 National Seed Arkansas Razorbacks’ historic season came to an end on Friday night with an 11-0 (5 inn.) loss to UCLA at the Women’s College World Series inside Devon Park.
With the loss, Arkansas finished its season with a 47-13 record that culminated in the program’s first Women’s College World Series berth. The Hogs’ 47 wins were the second-most in program history, trailing only the 2022 team’s 48-11 overall record.
Tianna Bell, Atalyia Rijo, and Kailey Wyckoff all recorded base hits for Arkansas in the loss. Wyckoff and Karlie Davison both drew walks. Payton Burnham (14-4) took the loss for Arkansas after allowing four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.
Taylor Tinsley (33-7) took the win for UCLA, pitching five shutout innings while striking out two and allowing three hits and two walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Payton Burnham made her 19th start of the season for Arkansas, while UCLA went with senior Taylor Tinsley.
In the top of the first inning, Atalyia Rijo had a hand in all three outs of a 1-2-3 frame that featured a pair of groundouts and a popout. Tinsley responded with a 1-2-3 inning herself, courtesy of a strikeout, flyout, and lineout in the home half of the first inning.
Aleena Garcia gave UCLA a 1-0 lead with a lead-off solo home run to dead center field in the top of the second inning. Kaniya Bragg got hit by a pitch, and Alexis Ramirez singled before Soo-Jin Berry made it a 4-0 game with a three-run home run to left field. Following Ramirez’s homer, Saylor Timmerman entered in relief for Arkansas. Megan Grant later extended the Bruins’ lead to 7-0 by way of a three-run home run to center field, her 42nd of the season. Senior LHP Robyn Herron entered with two runners on and two outs in the inning. UCLA extended its lead to 9-0 courtesy of a two-RBI double off the top of the wall in right field by Bragg.
In the bottom of the second inning, Karlie Davison became the first baserunner of the game for Arkansas after reaching on a two-out walk. She later advanced to second base on a single from Atalyia Rijo. Kailey Wyckoff later walked to load the bases, but UCLA would escape with a flyout to get out of the inning.
In the top of the third inning, Herron registered a pair of strikeouts while UCLA made it 10-0 by scoring a run by way of a wild pitch. Tinsley retired the Hogs in order in the bottom of the third inning.
Herron retired UCLA in order in the top of the fourth inning while picking up a pair of strikeouts. Tianna Bell singled down the third-base line to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Bruins’ Jolyna Lamar increased the UCLA lead to 11-0 with a solo home run to right field.
Kailey Wyckoff singled down the third-base line to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning before UCLA retired three consecutive batters to end the game.
NOTABLES
- Arkansas finished the season with a 47-13 overall record. The Razorbacks’ 47 wins were the second-most in program history, trailing only the 2022 team’s 48-11 overall record.
Up Next
The Razorbacks will be back in action in the spring of 2027.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Arkansas
Arkansas men’s track and field sends 21 entries to NCAA Outdoor Championships | Whole Hog Sports
Arkansas
What channel is UCLA vs Arkansas softball on? Time, TV for WCWS elimination game
Alabama softball ace Jocelyn Briski is prepared for opportunity vs UCLA in WCWS
Alabama softball ace Jocelyn Briski is prepared for the Crimson Tide’s opportunity vs. UCLA at the Women’s College World Series.
It’s win or go home for half of the Women’s College World Series field on Friday, May 29.
In the nightcap of the WCWS elimination games is No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arkansas, two teams that suffered come-from-behind wins on May 28 by Alabama and Nebraska, respectively. The Bruins couldn’t take advantage of back-to-back home runs against Jocelyn Briski in the third, eventually falling 6-3 to the top-seeded Crimson Tide.
Watch UCLA vs Arkansas softball live with Fubo (free trial)
The Razorbacks’ loss was arguably more painful (or, at least, took longer). Arkansas twice led against Nebraska and USA Softball Player of the Year Jordy Frahm, but was unable to maintain either lead before Ava Kuszak walked the Razorbacks off in the bottom of the 10th inning in the 5-3 defeat.
Now the Bruins and Razorbacks both must gear up for a second game in as many days, with their WCWS hopes on the line. Here’s how to watch as UCLA takes on Arkansas in a pivotal win-or-go-home game:
What TV channel is UCLA vs Arkansas softball on today?
ESPN will broadcast Friday’s elimination game between UCLA and Arkansas. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream WCWS games live with Fubo (free trial)
UCLA vs Arkansas softball time today
- Date: Friday, May 29
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET | 8:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)
First pitch for UCLA vs. Arkansas is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on May 29 from Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
WCWS bracket, schedule 2026
All times Eastern
Thursday, May 28
- Game 1: No. 11 Texas Tech 8, Mississippi State 0 (5 innings) (RECAP)
- Game 2: No. 7 Tennessee 6, No. 2 Texas 3 (RECAP)
- Game 3: No. 1 Alabama 6, No. 8 UCLA 3 (RECAP)
- Game 4: No. 4 Nebraska 5, No. 5 Arkansas 3 (10 innings) vs. (RECAP)
Friday, May 29
- Game 5: Mississippi State vs. No. 2 Texas | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
-
Game 6: No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arkansas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, May 30
- Game 7: No. 11 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 8: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 1 Alabama 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Sunday, May 31
- Game 9: 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 10: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Monday, June 1
- Game 11: Noon | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 12 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 13: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
- Game 14 (if necessary): 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Wednesday, June 3
- WCWS finals Game 1: 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Thursday, June 4
- WCWS finals Game 2: 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Friday, June 5
- WCWS finals Game 3 (if necessary): 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
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What channel is Nebraska softball vs Alabama on today? WCWS game time, TV schedule
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