Arkansas thought they hit the jackpot with John Calipari. But with the team’s current state, it doesn’t look like they hired the coach who took Kentucky to seven Elite Eights, four Final Fours, and one national championship in his first 10 seasons. After five back-to-back losses, it looks like the $38 million contract the Razorbacks signed with him was a mistake. Sure, it’s his first season with the team, but it would be wrong to have some lofty expectations.

On the other hand, Mark Pope, who is the head coach at Kentucky, has been doing great. His first year started off quite well. Through 18 games, Pope’s team ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll, is sitting 14-4 overall and 5-1 against ranked opponents. This stark comparison between both coaches has started raising several questions about Calipari’s efforts.

When Calipari came to Arkansas, they were relying on his big name and impressive resume. His previous contract? Eye-popping. With a base salary of $7 million a year and bonuses that could push his earnings to $60 million over seven years, the Razorbacks weren’t messing around. But things haven’t gone as planned. 

For instance, on the ‘To The Baha’ YouTube channel, Theo Pinson had some thoughts about the coach. He stated:

“You know what makes it worse for him? Kentucky is balling and Kentucky is doing things with less talent. Less name talent. The names aren’t as big. But everything is sped up now because of NIL, right? If it was back in the day and Cal just got to Arkansas and just had a team he just had to just work with, then yeah, they’d be like ‘All right, we’ll give you three to four years to figure this s–t out.

“Why is Mark Pope successful? Why is he winning with that crew? Bro, I’m telling you, [Calipari’s] in trouble because the SEC isn’t going to do anything but get better. […] And I’ll tell you another thing. Just as fast as they bought you in that month, they send you right out. You kinda hate it for him.”

It’s a tough pill to swallow. In today’s world of college basketball—where NIL deals are changing the game—results are expected fast. Unfortunately, Arkansas has struggled to keep up. They’re not even in the top 25 right now, despite having a roster full of talent and a coach for whom they rolled out the red carpet and handed the treasure chest. But contracts don’t win games. And right now, Arkansas isn’t seeing a return on its investment. 

When Calipari walked in, he was supposed to make Arkansas fans forget about Eric Musselman—the man who put them on the map. Instead, they have been left wondering if the coach has not evolved like the sport has. After all, today, teams are not filled by freshmen (like his best Kentucky team) and have experienced transfers dominating.

Meanwhile, Mark Pope shines in Kentucky!

While Calipari struggles, Mark Pope is thriving in his first season as head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. His team? A strong 14-4 record as of January 2025. And Pope isn’t just winning games—he is winning hearts. He has breathed fresh air owing to his connection with fans and his ability to build a cohesive team.

That’s not to say it’s been smooth sailing. Kentucky suffered their first home loss under Pope to Alabama in a nail-biter that ended 97-102. That was a tough one, especially considering it was their first loss to a Top 15 team this season. Pope didn’t sugarcoat it, admitting that the team left opportunities on the table. But instead of excuses, he talked about improving and moving forward.

Interesting Fact: Mark Pope is an alum of Kentucky. He was a captain on their 1996 national championship team.

The contrast between Calipari and Pope couldn’t be sharper. On one hand, you’ve got Arkansas, struggling under the weight of big expectations and an even bigger paycheck. On the other, Kentucky is thriving, thanks to a coach who’s making the most of what he has.

As the season unfolds, the spotlight will stay on these two programs. Will Calipari turn things around and silence the critics? Or will Pope continue to set the standard in the SEC? One thing’s for sure: college basketball is as thrilling as ever. Whether you’re rooting for the Razorbacks or the Wildcats, this season has plenty of twists and turns left.