Basketball
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.
More: Does Arkansas basketball have enough 3-point shooting? How Hogs compare to recent Final 4 teams
More: Arkansas basketball: A way-too-early starting lineup prediction for John Calipari’s Hogs
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.
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 shoot threes and represent a connector for the offense with his passing.
The most likely approach is one with balance, relying on the two-way games of Johnell Davis and Jonas Aidoo. However, there needs to be a calling card for this team, and that’s still to be determined.
Will Calipari regret fielding such a small roster?
There are only 10 players officially on the Arkansas roster. Hawaii Pacific transfer Melo Sanchez and high school recruit Jaden Karuletwa committed to the Hogs on social media in June, but both players are unlikely to break into the rotation for the upcoming season.
Add in Lawson Blake who was a walk-on last season, and Calipari realistically has a roster with nine players ready to contribute. The head coach talked repeatedly this offseason about not wanting to develop players at the end of his bench, only for them to eventually transfer.
He’s carrying a light team. This strategy could provide flexibility in upcoming off-seasons and provide defined roles throughout the roster, which was sorely lacking last year.
But there are a number of concerns with the approach. Foul trouble, minimal options off the bench and injuries could make this look foolish by season’s end. It will be critical for Calipari to find the right rotational combinations and build trust within the entire roster this summer.
All nine players must be a factor this season. The Hogs can’t afford to give anyone a year of development.
Who is the next first-round pick for Calipari?
The 2024 NBA Draft saw Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham give Calipari’s résumé two more first-round picks. Calipari has had a player selected in 17 straight NBA Drafts.
Is there a first-round pick on this Arkansas roster? The three freshmen — Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond — all have the potential. USA TODAY Sports had Knox and Thiero as first-round picks in its way-too-early 2025 mock draft while ESPN didn’t have any Arkansas players projected with the first 30 picks.
ESPN did have Thiero and Ivisic as second-round picks, but it only reinforces that there are no obvious top prospects on this Arkansas team. It represents an unfamiliar place for Calipari, but he is recruiting multiple five-stars in the class of 2025. Arkansas fans surely won’t have to wait long to boast another first-round pick.
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