Do you love conference tournaments? The drama, the upsets, the last-ditch efforts to secure a March Madness bid? Well…coaches might not feel the same way. They’ll tell you these tournaments don’t really matter, that they’re just a sideshow before the real thing. We’ve heard Kim Mulkey dismiss the SEC tournament as pointless. And then there’s John Calipari—longtime advocate for not caring about conference tourneys—who, let’s just say, didn’t exactly look indifferent when his Razorbacks lost in Nashville.

Arkansas fell 83-80 to Ole Miss in the second round of the SEC tournament. But Thursday was a chance for Calipari’s squad to keep their hot streak alive. Instead, it was a reminder that nothing has come easy for Coach Cal. And sure, any coach would be upset after a loss like that. But considering Calipari has spent years downplaying the importance of the SEC tournament, should he really care?

Going into the 2025 SEC tournament, he said, “I don’t care about the conference tournament. Which is why we won it so many times, because I could care less. The tournament that matters is the NCAA Tournament.” When asked again about his SEC Tournament stance after Arkansas’ narrow win over South Carolina, he doubled down. According to him, the goal is simple—win games to boost the team’s NCAA seeding. And for a guy who supposedly doesn’t care, well, he sure has a lot of wins. “Maybe I’m just a magician,” he joked.

And yet, when his new team lost to Ole Miss and then choked away a chance to avoid sweating on Selection Sunday, Calipari wasn’t exactly looking like a guy who didn’t care. That ‘not caring’ attitude didn’t match his expression. Kentucky beat writer Aaron Gershon posted a picture of a visibly frustrated Calipari with the caption: “Most pissed off I’ve seen him after an SEC Tournament loss. Maybe he does care. 😂” Caught right in the act!

And he had every reason to be upset. Because if not the SEC Tournament, he definitely cares about seeding—and this loss impacts that too. The Hogs came into Thursday’s game as a 9-seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, and while beating South Carolina might have secured their bid, a win here would’ve given them some real breathing room.

The team missed free throws at a crucial moment, then gave up a clutch shot in the dying seconds. If you think John Calipari wasn’t absolutely gutted when Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla drained a dagger three with 1.3 seconds left, you’re lying. Even if you ignore everything else, he clearly wanted to see his injury-ridden squad pull off a gritty win. 

And if you ask the fans, the real issue was Zvonimir Ivisic barely playing. We already know Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland are out indefinitely, so every available player matters. Big Z played just eight minutes, and fans weren’t happy. But Cal had his explanation for the controversial move: “Yeah. He hurt his wrist. I probably shouldn’t have started him. For us to advance in this next tournament, he needs to be on this team playing.”

The Razorbacks were already working with just a seven-man rotation. Then, Jonas Aidoo fouled out on a questionable call. By crunch time, they were running on fumes. But that’s not an excuse for fouling on a three-point shot with 20 seconds left. It’s not an excuse for missing crucial free throws. And it’s definitely not an excuse for letting Pedulla get an open look for the game-winner.

So, what now? Despite all the flaws, injuries, and inconsistencies, can Calipari’s crew still make a run in March? 

Can John Calipari and Co. still flip the script in March?  

So, you’re a fan of a No. 6 seed, sitting there, waiting to see your team’s first-round opponent pop up on the bracket. And then—bam—Arkansas. Yes, we wouldn’t blame you for whatever choice of words come out of your mouth in that moment. Because while this Razorbacks squad has been a chaotic mess all season, they might just be the most dangerous double-digit seed in the field.  

Why? For starters, they’ve got size in the frontcourt that can absolutely make teams scramble on the boards. They’ve got athletic wings who can attack off the dribble. They’ve got experience—one guy’s played in a Final Four, another in an Elite Eight. And they’ve got John Calipari.

The last time that happened was in 2014, when Kentucky stumbled into March as an underwhelming No. 8 seed and ended up playing for a national title. But let’s not get carried away—this Arkansas team is nowhere near that 2014 Kentucky squad. 

The Razorbacks have struggled to keep up with the SEC’s best and are one of the least efficient offensive teams in the tournament. You can’t win in March if you can’t score. Against South Carolina, they didn’t play good basketball, to say the least. The team went nearly 12 minutes in the second half without making a field goal and nearly blew the game. 

For all the talk about how this season played out, let’s not forget what John Calipari did to build this team. The season’s over, but what if they get hot at the right time? A Sweet 16 run is absolutely on the table. 

He didn’t land guys like Johnell Davis from FAU, Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee, and a trio of former Kentucky recruits just to barely sneak into the tournament. This is a serious roster. So, whether that makes this season a success is up for debate. But nobody expected it to be this hard.