The 2024-25 school basketball season will mark a brand new period for John Calipari, as the previous Kentucky coach can be roaming the sidelines at a distinct location within the SEC. After spending the final 15 seasons with the Wildcats, Calipari left his publish in Lexington to exchange Eric Musselman because the coach at Arkansas in one of many largest strikes of the offseason.
No. 16 Arkansas opens the season on Nov. 6 at Bud Walton Area in opposition to Lipscomb earlier than dealing with No. 8 Baylor at American Airways Heart in Dallas 5 days later. The Razorbacks even have intriguing matchups in opposition to Illinois, Miami and Michigan on their nonconference schedule.Â
Calipari has landed serval high-profile commitments this offseason to reshape the Arkansas roster, together with former Florida Atlantic star Johnell Davis and Tennessee ahead Jonas Aidoo. Davis, the No. 1 participant within the CBS Sports activities Switch Rankings, was the 2023-24 AAC co-Participant of the Yr. Aidoo is one the most effective 2024 transfers in school basketball and was among the finest defensive gamers within the nation at his place.Â
The Razorbacks additionally added three members of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class: Karter Knox, Billy Richmond and Boogie Fland. All three gamers have been beforehand dedicated to Kentucky and adopted their future coach to Fayetteville.
Listed below are the highest 5 Arkansas nonconference video games to observe this season.
1. vs. Baylor
When:Â Nov. 9, 2024 |Â The place: American Airways Heart (Dallas)
The most effective nonconference sport on Arkansas’ schedule is a sport in Dallas in opposition to Baylor. The Bears loaded up within the switch portal by touchdown former Duke star guard Jeremy Roach and Miami large man Norchad Omier to pair with returning guard Langston Love. Â
Baylor additionally has three top-100 recruits from the 2024 recruiting cycle coming to campus: V.J. Edgecombe, Rob Wright, and Jason Asemota. Edgecombe initiatives as a possible top-5 choose within the 2025 NBA Draft.
2. vs. Illinois
When:Â Nov. 28, 2024 |Â The place: T-Cellular Heart (Kansas Metropolis)
How a few showdown on Thanksgiving as an earlly appetizer earlier than turkey dinner?
Illinois misplaced Terrence Shannon Jr. (NBA Draft) and Coleman Hawkins (switch to Kansas State) from a staff that reached the Elite Eight for the primary time since 2005 however reloaded by including blue-chip prospects Will Riley, Morez Johnson, Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivišić, the brother of Arkansas large man Zvonimir Ivišić. Brad Underwood additionally landed former Arizona guard Kylan Boswell and Notre Dame ahead Carey Sales space through the switch portal to compete in a new-look Large Ten.
3. vs. Michigan
When: Dec. 10, 2024 |Â The place: Madison Sq. Backyard (New York)
Arkansas’ matchup with Michigan at Madison Sq. Backyard must be a great one. New Michigan coach Dusty Might is in an amazing place to show the Wolverines again right into a Large Ten contender due to what he did within the switch portal. Michigan added Ohio State‘s Roddy Gayle Jr., Yale‘s Danny Wolf, Auburn‘s Tre Donaldson, Alabama‘s Sam Walters, and his former participant at FAU, Vladislav Goldin, and added four-star guard Justin Pippen, the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, through highschool recruiting.Â
This sport can be must-watch TV.
4. at Miami (ACC/SEC Problem)
When:Â Dec. 3, 2024 |Â The place: Watsco Heart (Coral Gables, Florida)
Arkansas will journey to Coral Gables through the first week of December to face Miami within the ACC/SEC Problem. The Hurricanes misplaced their star large man (Omier) to Baylor however added one of many prime incoming recruits within the 2024 recruiting cycle: Jalil Bethea.
Bethea is projected to begin within the backcourt subsequent to Nijel Pack, and people two ought to provide coach Jim Larrañaga a dynamic 1-2 punch. Do not be stunned if this finally ends up being one of many prime video games from the multi-day occasion.
When: Dec. 30, 2024Â The place: Bud Walton Area (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Earlier than the calendar turns to 2025, Calipari will face an opponent he’s very conversant in. Calipari’s closing sport at Kentucky was a loss to this identical Oakland squad within the NCAA Event. Though the brand new head man at Arkansas is at a distinct faculty within the SEC, this can be must-watch TV due to that storyline alone.Â
Oakland misplaced its greatest participant (Trey Townsend) to the switch portal, however coach Greg Kampe can have his staff able to compete.
Arkansas’ 2024-25 schedule
| Date | Opponent | Web site |
|---|---|---|
| Wed., Nov. 6 | Lipscomb | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Sat., Nov. 9 | vs. Baylor | Dallas |
| Wed., Nov. 13 | Troy | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Mon., Nov. 18 | Pacific | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Fri., Nov. 22 | Little Rock | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Mon., Nov. 25 | Maryland-Jap Shore | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Thu., Nov. 28 | vs. Illinois | Kansas Metropolis, Mo. |
| Tue., Dec. 3 | at Miami | Coral Gables, Fla. |
| Sat., Dec. 7 | UTSA | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Tue., Dec. 10 | vs. Michigan | New York (Jimmy V Basic) |
| Sat., Dec. 14 | vs. Central Arkansas | North Little Rock, Ark. |
| Sat., Dec. 21 | North Carolina A&T | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Mon., Dec. 30 | Oakland | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Sat., Jan. 4 | at Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Wed., Jan. 8 | Ole Miss | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Sat., Jan. 11 | Florida | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Tue., Jan. 14 | at LSU | at Baton Rouge, La. |
| Sat., Jan. 18 | at Missouri | at Columbia, Mo. |
| Sat., Jan. 25 | Oklahoma | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Sat., Feb. 1 | at Kentucky | at Lexington, Ky. |
| Wed., Feb. 5 | at Texas | at Austin, Texas |
| Sat., Feb. 8 | Alabama | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Wed., Feb. 12 | LSU | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Sat., Feb. 15 | at Texas A&M | at Faculty Station, Texas |
| Wed., Feb. 19 | at Auburn | at Auburn, Ala. |
| Sat., Feb. 22 | Missouri | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Wed., Feb. 26 | Texas | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Sat., Mar. 1 | at South Carolina | at Columbia, S.C. |
| Tue., Mar. 4 | at Vanderbilt | at Nashville |
| Sat., Mar. 8 | Mississippi State | Fayetteville, Ark. |