Arkansas enters John Calipari’s third season in Fayetteville with two things that have been hard to come by in the first two years: real depth and a defense that looks built to hold up.
That’s the view of Razorback Sports Network analyst Matt Zimmerman, who said Tuesday on the Chuck and Bo Show that Calipari has more options than he’s had since arriving at Arkansas. In Zimmerman's eyes, that changes everything about how the roster can be managed and how hard the team can be pushed.
"He's got so many more guys than he's had," Zimmerman said Tuesday on the Chuck and Bo Show. "I think he's excited about what he's getting to do and picking guys, pushing guys. He's gotten on them a little bit more than he has the last two summers because he has more options."
The numbers from the last two seasons back up why that matters. Arkansas was ranked No. 137 nationally on defense in 2024-25, then fell all the way to No. 337 out of 361 Division I teams a year ago, even while owning one of the country’s best offenses. Calipari’s rotation over that stretch rarely stretched beyond eight players, and the lack of both depth and defensive consistency played a major role in keeping the Razorbacks from getting past the Sweet 16 in each of the last two seasons.
Zimmerman believes that problem has been addressed. He said Arkansas now has 11 players who can realistically expect to see the floor, a number that gives Calipari flexibility and makes life harder for anyone trying to prepare for the Hogs.
"You got 11 right now that think they're going to help this team and play," Zimmerman said. "In the past, we've had eight or nine.
There's a big difference between eight, nine and 11. There's much more competition.
And that's even made Jordan [Smith Jr.] and JJ [Andrews] and those guys who are going to play, it's really made them have to elevate their game."
That depth is paired with size, and plenty of it. Arkansas has six players listed at 6-11 or taller and three guards listed at 6-5 or taller, a collection of length that Zimmerman says should make the Razorbacks a problem on the defensive end, especially around the rim.
"Maper [Maker], Cooper Bowser, these guys [have] 7-4, 7-5, 7-6 wingspans," Zimmerman said. "When they jump, they're well over 10 feet in the air.
It's hard to score in practice. Best defensive team we've had in a long time.
"This is by far the best defensive team Coach Calipari has had at Arkansas. I think he sees that, he knows that.
He knows what they have. This defense is different, and I think he's going to utilize putting a little more pressure on people defensively, because he's got more depth."
Arkansas fans will get their first look at the team Friday against the Bahams National Team in the Baha Mar summer league. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT, with coverage on FloSports.
In Other News...
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Chuck Barrett did not hide the head-scratching reaction, especially with Mississippi State and Kentucky drawing significantly more respect despite recent results that do not look all that different from Arkansas. The gap in perception is what stings here, because Silverfield is walking into a season where belief outside the building is thin and the preseason message from the league was loud, leaving the Razorbacks with plenty to prove before they can change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
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Calipari also pointed out the built-in challenge of leaning on a group of 18-year-olds when other teams may be rolling out older players with far more life experience. He believes Arkansas can become a strong defensive team with rim protection and enough spacing to create problems, but he acknowledged that coaching youth comes with tradeoffs, including work in practice that may not show up right away once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Billy Richmond's Return Just Put Huge Pressure On Arkansas In Year 3
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For Arkansas, that puts Richmond in a different kind of spotlight. Calipari has leaned into his value as both a player and a leader, and the Razorbacks will need that presence to steady a young locker room and a rotation with so many new faces. Richmond is also trying to grow his own profile at the same time, which makes his third season feel like more than a simple return. It is a chance to help define how far this group can go, even if the biggest questions around his next step are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]