John Calipari is still sorting through Arkansas’ mix, and Wednesday night’s 76-53 win over Robert Morris gave him more to chew on.
With eight freshmen and three veterans still working toward real chemistry, the Razorbacks looked a little uneven at times. But the bigger picture is clear: Calipari finally has enough pieces to move players around and keep the rotation flexible.
That flexibility showed up in a big way with Billy Richmond III, who spent time handling the ball and looked far more comfortable once the game settled in. Calipari said the move was intentional after the loss to Virginia.
“I'm having to step into the void of what we're doing," Calipari said. "And part of what I did after (the loss to) Virginia, I told the team, ‘Billy's got to have his hands on the ball more.’
Which is, what did I do today? If you happen to be watching, I played him at point.
You know why? Guarantees he's getting the ball.
Guarantees he's having the ball. He's the point guard.
That's why I did it.”
Richmond answered with his best outing of the season, finishing with a team-high 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He added four rebounds, four assists and one steal, and Arkansas was a plus-20 with him on the floor.
The other piece of the backcourt puzzle was Jordan Smith Jr., who was used more off the ball than usual. Smith finished with three points on 1-of-8 shooting, but Calipari said he liked what he saw from the true freshman and from Davion Thompson, who can function as either a 1 or a 2.
“I wanted Jordan off the ball," Calipari said. "I thought he looked good off the ball.
Good on the ball, good off the ball. He's going to be both for us.
Davion can come in and run point. JJ [Andrews] can be a three or a four.
There may be games it'll be a little harder for him. Well, then maybe I go Billy at two or Billy at one, JJ at three, and have a two guard and then have the four and a five.
Do that. I can do that.”
Thompson also made his case in a strong way, finishing with 15 points, seven assists and no turnovers. He showed during preseason play that he can do more than just distribute, and that matters for a team built around interchangeable parts.
Andrews was another bright spot. He gave Arkansas 11 points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes, including two offensive boards, while shooting 4-of-7 from the field. He also hit a 3-pointer and didn’t turn the ball over.
That kind of versatility is exactly what Calipari is looking for, especially with wings who can slide between positions and stretch the floor. Richmond, in particular, gives him a player who can shift roles depending on the matchup.
“But the guys, who decides who plays? They decide, not me," Calipari said.
"And if you're not playing, then prove you should be playing more. Who proved it today?
Billy's Billy. The other two proved it.
Davion and JJ.”
The depth is also creating real competition for minutes, and Calipari has joked about asking the NCAA to add a couple more minutes to regulation. He even said he came close to starting a lineup that included Jeremiah Wilkinson, Smith and Thompson, but stayed with the group he has opened with earlier in the season.
For now, everything remains in flux. That’s the tradeoff - and the advantage - of having so many options.
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