Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers guard and proud Iowa State alum, couldn’t resist a playful jab at the Kentucky Wildcats after their 83-62 loss to the Iowa State Cyclones in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. Haliburton took to X, humorously suggesting that former Kentucky players now see themselves as Arkansas alumni, thanks to their loyalty to ex-coach John Calipari.
The joke hits close to home. Since Calipari’s move to Arkansas in 2024, many of his former Kentucky players have thrown their support behind the Razorbacks.
This allegiance was evident before March Madness when Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace, both Calipari protégés, picked Arkansas to win it all. While Gilgeous-Alexander gave a nod to Kentucky as his second choice, Wallace was fully committed to Arkansas.
Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, another Calipari disciple, showcased his support by gifting the Razorbacks shoes and sporting their colors during the SEC Tournament. This kind of endorsement from NBA stars could be a game-changer for recruiting, drawing top talent to Arkansas despite its non-traditional basketball powerhouse status.
Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. is a testament to this trend. A first-team All-American, Acuff has been dazzling in March Madness, averaging 30 points per game and leading the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16 with a standout 36-point performance against High Point. Arkansas, now boasting the top-ranked 2026 recruiting class in the SEC, is clearly on the rise under Calipari’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Kentucky finds itself navigating new waters under head coach Mark Pope, who succeeded Calipari. With a hefty $22 million investment in their roster, Kentucky’s early exit from the tournament for the fourth time in five years raises eyebrows about their recruiting strategies.
Pope remains optimistic, asserting the Wildcats’ legacy as a premier basketball destination. Yet, the allure of playing for a coach with a proven NBA pipeline, like Calipari at Arkansas, is undeniable for many players.
As the Razorbacks prepare to face the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats, the shift in loyalty from “Go Big Blue” to “Woo Pig Sooie” among Calipari’s former players highlights a changing landscape in college basketball recruitment.