The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team, led by head coach John Calipari, is set for a tough non-conference schedule this season. Coach Calipari, speaking at the SEC Basketball Tipoff event in Birmingham, Alabama, humorously criticized the schedule by calling it ‘ridiculous.’ He even quipped that he must have been ‘on crack’ while finalizing it.
Calipari explained that part of his responsibility is teaching his team how to win tough games. He noted scheduling strong opponents like Virginia, Michigan State, and Arizona reflects this objective. Despite his comedic remarks, the intensity of the schedule aligns with his philosophy.
The Razorbacks opener against Virginia is not their first game as they initially face Arkansas Pine-Bluff on November 3, in Washington, D.C. Their schedule remains demanding with games against Indiana and Michigan State on neutral grounds. A notable true road test against North Carolina in Chapel Hill on December 1 adds to the challenge. This will be Arkansas’ only true road game until SEC play starts in January.
The Razorbacks are predicted to finish third in the SEC’s preseason media poll, trailing Florida and Texas. Calipari’s former team, Kentucky, is projected to place seventh.
Calipari is entering his third year as head coach of the Razorbacks, having guided the team to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament during his first two seasons. This year, the team must adapt to the absence of Darius Acuff Jr., the key player from last season who was drafted seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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