“Outdated.” “Lost.” Insiders on John Calipari and Arkansas

Well it was quite a week in men’s college basketball. In total, 19 of the teams ranked in the AP’s Top 25 poll lost. Many of those were on the road, but not all of them. Alabama lost to Ole Miss, Florida lost to Missouri, Kentucky lost to Alabama, UConn lost to Creighton and Marquette lost to Xavier – all at home. It was an awesome reminder that the only thing that’s predictable about this sport is the unpredictability. That’s what makes it so much fun to watch and cover. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Speaking of next, today we have our first article from our newest Senior Correspondent, Krysten Peek. Krysten worked for many years at Yahoo!, where she established herself as one of the foremost experts on the NBA Draft. Krysten offers a peek (sorry, I couldn’t resist) at a young player who’s also got next, Bryce James, he of the famous father (LeBron) and brother (Bronny). Bryce has flown under the radar for a while, but he just turned in perhaps his best high school game over the weekend in Springfield, Mass. Krysten was there and explains what happened and what it all means.

We also have a very thoughtful and opinionated take from Jeff Goodman on the already rocky tenure of first-year Arkansas coach John Calipari. It’s fair to say that when Calipari shocked the college basketball world and left Kentucky for Arkansas, no one suspected his team would start out 0-5 in the SEC. Can Cal recover? Has he lost his fast ball? As usual, Jeff does not shy away from asking the tough questions – and answering them.

We’ve got lots more for you in today’s newsletter (including my always correct top 25 men’s rankings). With March Madness fast approaching, rest assured that the Hoops HQ team is very busy making plans to have everything in place so you can enjoy the world’s greatest sporting event to the fullest. That means adding more terrific, authoritative journalists. So keep it right here and by all means, tell your friends about what we’ve got going.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend and thank you as always for supporting Hoops HQ.

—Seth

Opposing Coaches on John Calipari and Arkansas: “Outdated.” “None of Their Pieces Fit.”

By Jeff Goodman

When word spread on April 7 that John Calipari was leaving the Kentucky Wildcats and was heading to Arkansas, it shook the college basketball world to its core. Cal and Big Blue Nation were the ideal fit when he was hired in 2009, but the relationship had grown stale. Most Cats fans weren’t shedding tears when Calipari departed Lexington following four seasons with just a single NCAA Tournament victory.

In Fayetteville, meanwhile, Arkansas fans rejoiced.

Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek won the press conference.

But Calipari hasn’t won enough games. Now, with the Razorbacks sitting in last place in the SEC with a 0-5 record, there are plenty wondering whether Calipari was the right hire after all.

Has Bryce James Arrived?

By Krysten Peek

Like his older brother Bronny, Bryce James, the youngest son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, has been under the microscope from a young age. Now a 6-foot-4 senior wing at Sierra Canyon (Calif.) High School, James makes waves every time he steps onto a basketball court. Such was the case again on Saturday at the Hoophall Classic. When James entered the game early in the second quarter, the crowd of around 4,000 greeted him with a standing ovation.

After missing his first two shot attempts, he settled in, buried a three-pointer and never looked back. Every time Bryce touched the ball, the whole crowd cheered, even if he just passed to one of his teammates. He finished with 16 points (4 of 7 from three) and added five rebounds, and received MVP honors at the end of the game as his teammates surrounded him and dapped him up. It was by far the best game James has played in his career. His performance immediately had social media buzzing. His famous father chimed in as well....

In Case You Missed It...

🏀 Ranking the Top 5 Candidates for Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Transfer of the Year. At least one of those categories does not include Cooper Flagg.

🏀 Outside of Auburn, the hottest team in the country may be Arizona. The Wildcats have won seven straight and are 5-0 in the Big 12.

🏀 Doug Gottlieb, a longtime hoops analyst and as of this year, a first-time D1 had coach, writes a regular diary column for Hoops HQ. This one is about how he's stayed optimistic during a brutal 13-game losing streak. Since he wrote it a few days ago, that streak is now 15.

No. 7 Texas vs. No. 8 Maryland: Two elite offensive teams meet in Newark, NJ at the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic. Led by guards Kaylene Smikle and Shyanne Sellers, the Terrapins are 16-1, with their lone loss coming to No. 4 USC. Beating Texas would be huge for Brenda Frese's program, but it will be a massive challenge — only No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 2 South Carolina have been able to defeat Madison Booker and the Longhorns. 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX.