John Calipari is still piecing together a mostly new Arkansas roster, and the early read on his frontcourt is encouraging. The Razorbacks’ post depth is giving him two different looks: a proven transfer in Cooper Bowser and a young, physical center in reclassified freshman Caleb Ourigou.
Bowser is expected to start at center after transferring from Furman, where he put together a breakout season despite missing all of January with a toe injury. In 25 games and 22 starts, the 6-foot-11, 230-pound big man averaged 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and one block in 30 minutes per game. He scored in double figures 20 times and made over 77% of his shots, including nearly 82% at the rim, according to CBB Analytics.
Calipari sounded eager to get him on the floor after Bowser dealt with a hand injury that kept him out of contact work.
"You know what, he's been out I think three weeks, maybe four, with a hand [injury], Calipari said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. "He's been doing no contact with us.
He'll start Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday we'll practice with him. I need him to have an impact.
"He was Defensive Player of the Year because he blocked shots, went after balls, rebounded in traffic. You know you can throw lobs to him.
Like, he'll go get the ball. Want him to be better in short rolls, making those kind of decisions.
I like to play through him some as a five man."
While Bowser is the more established option, Ourigou has also given the staff something to work with. After spending last season with Overtime Elite, he skipped his senior year of high school and arrived in Fayetteville as a reclassified freshman trying to push for rotation minutes.
At 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, he already has the size and physical edge coaches can’t manufacture, even if he’s still raw.
"Caleb is a reclass, 6-foot-11, 250, but he's not ready yet," Calipari said. "Now, if he's ready to play 20 minutes by January, we'll probably be really good because you got 6-11, 250.
Just going by him, he hurts you. 'Like, Dude, you hit me in the face?'
What are you talking about? He doesn't even know.
Arkansas has been without that kind of force in the paint since Jonas Aidoo two years ago, when Calipari was in his first season with the program. Last year’s team leaned on an explosive offense led by Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle, but it did not bring the same physical presence inside.
Ourigou may not be ready to score right away, but Calipari sees value in the details that often decide whether a big man stays on the floor. Screening, defending without fouling, rebounding and shot-blocking are the jobs he wants him to own.
"I told him, I want you to be the best screener so these guys are begging," Calipari said of Ourigou. "We have guys hitting the floor right now.
Caleb is knocking them down. He's not ready like Cooper Bowser.
He's going to be important to this team."
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