John Calipari played possum. Now, he's got Arkansas back to Sweet 16

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John Calipari played possum. Now, he's got Arkansas back to Sweet 16

John Calipari played possum. Now, he's got Arkansas back to Sweet 16

Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sun, Mar 22, 2026 ·

5 min read

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John Calipari , that clever ol' dog. He just unleashed the oldest strategy in the book.

Calipari played possum his final few NCAA Tournament appearances at Kentucky . Jack Gohlke poked Cal with a stick, and there was no movement. Big Blue Nation took Calipari for roadkill, boxed him up and gladly shipped him off to Arkansas .

Enjoy your dead possum stew, Hog heads!

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Calipari continued the act and rolled over the first few months into his first season at Arkansas . Kentucky fans must have thought they'd suckered Arkansas with a Trojan horse, while the Razorbacks lost six straight games in January 2025.

Stick a fork in him, eh? Calipari's been cooked to a crisp, right?

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders perform before a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the St. John's Red Storm at Viejas Arena on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)

Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)

VCU Rams fans react after a 3-pointer by Terrence Hill Jr. #6 of the VCU Rams in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)

Howard Bison cheerleaders perform during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at Keybank Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.
(Mark Konezny, Imagn Images)

BYU Cougars cheerleader in the second half against the Texas Longhorns during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

Former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams is seen in the crowd against the VCU Rams in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Mar 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

Texas A&M Aggies cheerleaders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(William Purnell, Imagn Images)

Texas Longhorns band in the first half against the BYU Cougars during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

St. John's Red Storm mascot Johnny Thunder mixes with players prior to taking the court during practice day ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 19, 2026 in San Diego, California.
(Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

The High Point Panthers fans cheer during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)

The High Point Panthers cheerleaders react during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Troy Wayrynen, Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)

The North Dakota State Bison mascot and cheerleaders pose for a photo before the game against the Michigan State Spartans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY
(Gregory Fisher, Imagn Images)

Nebraska Cornhuskers fans cheer after defeating the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)

The Wisconsin Badgers mascot performs during a time out during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

A view of Buddy the Street Dog as Queens University of Charlotte Royals guard Yoav Berman talks to the media during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on March 19, 2026.
(Jeff Le, Imagn Images)

The High Point Panthers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

The Wisconsin Badgers cheerleaders preform during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

The South Florida Bulls mascot performs during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.
(Mark Konezny, Imagn Images)

The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleaders perform in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Jim Dedmon, Imagn Images)

The Troy Trojans mascot dances on the floor during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(William Purnell, William Purnell-Imagn Images)

The UCF Knights band performs during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)

Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleaders perform during the second half against the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(William Purnell, Imagn Images)

A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader performs during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

The Ohio State Buckeyes cheerleaders perform in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

Akron Zips fans in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders in the first half against the Akron Zips during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Santa Clara Broncos fans react to game play against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St. Louis, MO.
(Jeff Le, Jeff Le-Imagn Images)

Akron Zips cheerleaders and mascot in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Wright State Raiders fans celebrate after a Wright State Raiders guard TJ Burch (22) scores during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Hofstra Pride cheerleaders in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Garth Noble of the Louisville pep band is amped at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)

Michigan head coach Dusty May high-fives players after 95-72 win over Saint Louis at the NCAA Tournament Second Round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
(Junfu Han, USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish band and spirit squad cheer during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Fairfield Stags at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Nope, just a veteran move. Never set the bar too high, too fast. Rein in expectations, then hit the gas.

Well, look at Calipari now. He's speeding into a second consecutive Sweet 16 with Arkansas, pedal to the metal, cruise set to 90 in the hammer lane.

Folks, this rascal rope-a-doped us! He's still got a punch left in him yet.

How John Calipari doubled down at Arkansas

Calipari hasn't changed all that much, either. When he crashed out at Kentucky, he encountered fair criticism he'd not leaned into the transfer portal enough, preferring instead to stick to an assembly line of A-list freshmen. Calipari's one-and-done bonanza worked well for a while at Kentucky, but then old teams started winning in March, and Calipari's 'Cats took a beating from a 24-year-old sharpshooter who transferred to Oakland from Division II.

Surely, for Calipari to resurrect his career, he'd have to navigate away from his super frosh ways, yes?

"It's going to be hard for me to change," Calipari said of how he builds his roster, two weeks before he left Kentucky for Arkansas.

Well, perhaps he won't have to change.

Instead of entering the transfer sweepstakes, Calipari doubled down with more McDonald's All-Americans. Combine Calipari's recruiting chops with the Tyson chicken man's checkbook , and Arkansas' roster swiftly took on a shade of blue-chippers.

Never mind transfers, because Calipari hooked five-star teenagers Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas .

Roll out the basketball, and wee! Look at them go.

Acuff went off for 36 points in a second-round win against High Point. Thomas added 19.

Who needs transfers, when you've got freshmen like these two?

Arkansas will go as far as Darius Acuff takes it

To be fair, Calipari did crack the door to some transfers. His lineup features a healthy mix of youngbloods and old bucks who've made a few laps around the schoolyard.

Make no mistake, though, this is Acuff's team. It's the freshman's show.

"We put it in his hands, and I trust him, and the team trusts him," Calipari said on TNT after the second-round win against an upset-minded High Point team.

This being the year of the freshman in college basketball, Duke's Cameron Boozer sucks up a lot of the spotlight, and still nobody's outplaying Acuff. He's surging up the NBA mock draft boards, too.

Acuff's point totals in the past six games: 36. 24. 30. 24. 37. 28.

Mercy, he's good, and he needed to be against High Point, considering Arkansas' defense took a nap.

Kentucky fans must be having flashbacks. Acuff is just the type of talent Calipari used to bring to Lexington, Kentucky. More studs are on the way, too. Calipari's latest signing class includes three five-star recruits. And, at Kentucky? Zero. As in, zero recruits, period.

Mark Pope is toiling away with pricey transfers, and while the second-year Kentucky coach tries to meet the unrelenting demands of college basketball's most rabid fan base, Calipari's got his swagger back at Arkansas, free of the pressures of the Kentucky job.

To be clear, 'Cats fans were within their right to be miffed at Calipari in the last few years of his tenure. He wasn't meeting the standard, particularly in March. But, Pope's team has been no great shakes this season, either, and now Calipari is off the mat, looking rejuvenated with an SEC rival. If you had to pick either Arkansas or Kentucky to reach the Elite Eight, the team in red with the bucket-burying freshman sure seems like the smarter play.

Don't confuse Arkansas or Calipari for an underdog's story. High Point was Cinderella, not Arkansas. Underdogs don't land players like Acuff. This roster didn't come from the bargain rack. Arkansas is fully invested in the Calipari era, and the Razorbacks need to win another game or two for this to truly be a season worthy of adoration.

The way the Razorbacks are playing, fresh off an SEC tournament title, you sure wouldn't want them located within your region.

Apparently, Calipari didn't need to change his ways. He just needed a change of scenery and for one of his blue-chip freshmen to play in March Madness like Acuff did against High Point.

Meanwhile, that ol' possum Calipari has his bite back.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Calipari didn't need to change his ways, just a change of scenery

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F1 São Paulo GP 2026 – Practice 3

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How John Calipari doubled down at Arkansas

Arkansas will go as far as Darius Acuff takes it