Three summer questions for John Calipari and Arkansas basketball

FAYETTEVILLE — Summer practices are off and running for an Arkansas basketball team embarking on a new and exciting era.

John Calipari and the Razorbacks have four months to get an overhauled roster clicking in time for the regular season. Arkansas already has key non-conference games reported against Miami, Illinois, Michigan to go along with its difficult slate in the SEC.

Here’s a look at three summer questions Calipari and the Hogs will look to answer before the season arrives.

What is the identity of this Arkansas basketball team?

Calipari is already embarking on a philosophical change this season. The one-and-done savant only has three freshmen on his inaugural Arkansas roster. The Razorbacks will be much older compared to any recent Kentucky team under the head coach.

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Still, it remains to be seen how Calipari intends to maximize his veteran roster. Arkansas lacked a foundation in its final season with Eric Musselman. The coach known for defensive solidity fielded a team that couldn’t keep teams out of the paint. By the time Arkansas went offense-heavy, it was too late to salvage the season.

Calipari could try to win with defense. In this scenario, Adou Thiero is a starter and one of the key cogs of the entire roster. Jonas Aidoo and Trevon Brazile eat a bulk of the minutes in the front court, and whichever freshmen are ready to contribute defensively will get the most minutes.

Feb 26, 2022; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

He could also opt for an offense-first approach. Freshmen Boogie Fland and Karter Knox become potential starters under this mindset. Zvonimir Ivišić also plays a key role as a big off the bench who can…

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Author : Ft. Smith Southwest Times Record

Publish date : 2024-07-04 09:02:00

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