One week after Miikka Muurinen was cleared by the NCAA, Arkansas coach John Calipari said the decision brought an obvious sense of relief inside the program.
For Calipari, the biggest part of it was simple: Muurinen no longer has to sit in limbo wondering whether he’ll get to play.
"Can you imagine having to be 19, and at the end of the year you're going to be 19 - could you imagine being 19 and not kowing if you're going to play or not?," Calipari said. "Or that you're going to be sent home?
Could you imagine what he went through? That's why it was hugging and crying."
The reaction, Calipari said, showed up quickly. Social media videos captured how much the moment meant to Muurinen and his teammates, and the coach said the freshman sent him a message that night.
"He texted me that night, 'Coach, I can't think you enough.' And he's been terrific in practice, because he was bad for a couple.
I'm like, 'what's wrong with this kid in there?' Like, you're joking, Coach - one of the staff.
We know this is weighing on him. So that being done, it's not weighing on anybody now.
We know he's there. Let's see how he is.
I got to get him to do some things that he's not going, but that's on me."
Calipari also spent Wednesday talking through the state of his roster, especially the frontcourt. Cooper Bowser has been sidelined and is expected to remain out for about another 10 days, which means he will not take part in Friday’s Primetime At The Palace event.
"It's given our big guys, the other big guys, a chance to get really good reps," Calipari said. "So that's been pretty good."
Among that group, Calipari singled out 7-foot freshman Maper Maker, while also pointing to Caleb Ourigou as the Razorbacks’ most physical option inside. Ourigou is listed at 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds.
"Caleb will do something we don't have," Calipari said. "He's 245 pounds.
My big guys right now are 223 and 216, and he's 245, 247. So he gives us the big, and there may be a game like, okay, he's gonna be that guy."
He also praised the team’s guards, including JJ Andrews, Jordan Smith Jr. and Davion Thompson.
Fans will get their first look at the 2026-27 Razorbacks on Friday at Bud Walton Arena. Admission to Primetime at the Palace is free, and Calipari urged supporters to make the trip to Fayetteville. After the event, players will be available to take pictures and sign autographs.
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