John Calipari Jokingly Says Arkansas Was 'Failing' While Scheduling

John Calipari joked that while scheduling Arkansas Razorbacks games against Virginia, Michigan State and Arizona this season, he was likely 'failing.'

The expansion of the NCAA tournament is causing a big gap among the elite coaches of college basketball Don't @ Me w/ Dan Dakich

Dan Dakich tackles the controversial expansion of the NCAA Tournament to 76 teams and offers unfiltered reactions from coaching legends like Tom Izzo, Mark Few and John Calipari.

To say the Arkansas Razorbacks will be tested during their non-conference run as the college hoops season begins is an understatement. Now, with just a few weeks left until his team's season begins, head coach John Calipari doesn't mind making plans.

Speaking to the media at the SEC Basketball Tipoff event in Birmingham, AL, Calipari called the Hogs' schedule "ridiculous," but he didn't just call it quits. He joked that he must have been "breaking down" when finalizing his team's fixture list.

"That's part of my job, teaching them how to win and how to play in tough games," Calipari explained while going through his roster. "Our schedule is ridiculous. Why I opened the season with Virginia, I should have been in Kirk. Then you go to Michigan State, what? Then you want to play Phoenix, play Arizona. Indiana, way better than I thought, we play them in New York."

While Calipari looked like his team was on fire in the season opener against Virginia, the Razorbacks opened their campaign against Arkansas in Pine Bluff on Nov. 3 before taking on the Cavaliers in Washington, D.C.

An unapologetic, unapologetic, unforgivable Craigslist cartoon show. Download his daily podcast now!

Arkansas' games against Indiana and Michigan State also come on neutral ground, but the Hogs face North Carolina in a real road test on Dec. 1 in Chapel Hill. The matchup against the Heels is actually Arkansas' only true road game until SEC play begins in January.

Arkansas was ranked No. 3 in the SEC in the preseason media poll, with Florida tied for No. 1, followed by Texas. Calipari's previous employer, Kentucky, was seeded seventh in the conference.

Calipari is entering his third year as the Blades' head coach and has led the program to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons at the helm.

Arkansas was led by Darius Acuff Jr. last season and will look to fill his void after the Sacramento Kings selected him seventh overall in the 2026 NBA draft.

Get all the stories you need to know from the most powerful names in news delivered to your inbox every morning.