In a high-octane matchup at Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas men's basketball coach John Calipari added another chapter to his illustrious Naismith Hall of Fame career with a 94-86 victory over Missouri. This win marks Arkansas' 20th of the season, bringing Calipari's impressive record to 31 seasons with at least 20 victories out of his 34 in Division I basketball. This achievement places him third all-time, trailing only Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski.
Earlier in the season, Calipari surpassed North Carolina legend Dean Smith on the all-time wins list with a victory over Samford. Reflecting on Smith's influence, Calipari noted, "A lot of the stuff I was doing was trying to emulate what he did and how he did it."
As the season progresses, Calipari is on the brink of reaching 900 career wins, a milestone achieved by only 15 other coaches in men's and women's college basketball. However, it's worth mentioning that the NCAA vacated some of his wins from his time at Memphis and Massachusetts.
Despite Arkansas' strong season, the NCAA men's basketball selection committee's latest reveal of the top 16 seeds did not include the Razorbacks, placing them just outside the field. Committee chair Keith Gill emphasized that there is still time for changes before Selection Sunday on March 15.
In the game against Missouri, Trevon Brazile faced his former team for the fourth time since transferring to Arkansas. Despite missing two games last season due to an ACL injury, Brazile has been a key player for the Razorbacks, who are 5-2 since his arrival. He contributed 12 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in the latest win.
During halftime, former Arkansas player and assistant coach Pat Foster was honored. Surrounded by a host of former players, Foster addressed the crowd, urging them to support the team. His storied coaching career included a 366-203 record over 19 seasons at various institutions.
The game wasn't without its tense moments. A near-altercation between Arkansas' Billy Richmond and Missouri's Jacob Crews at halftime led to Richmond receiving a flagrant 1 foul. The Razorback faithful cheered as Crews missed his free throw attempts.
D.J. Wagner stepped up during a crucial stretch in the first half, helping Arkansas maintain their lead with a plus-7 plus-minus rating during his 10-minute stint. His backdoor cut and subsequent three-pointer were highlights of his performance.
In a wild sequence during the second half, Brazile found himself face-down on the court amidst a turnover, only to recover and assist on a key three-pointer that extended Arkansas' lead.
Arkansas continues to dominate the series against Missouri, with their latest win extending their lead to 37-28 overall and 22-10 in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks have won 10 of the last 13 matchups, solidifying their edge in this SEC rivalry.