Arkansas head coach John Calipari is sounding alarms about the Razorbacks’ culture, insisting that significant changes are on the way if the team expects to compete against one of the nation’s toughest upcoming stretches.
Despite a rout of Jackson State last week, Calipari said the performance was terrible and not the standard he's used to expected from his players. He criticized his team for continuing to “do what they choose to do” rather than embracing the guidance he expects.
“Look, I’ve got a lot of work to do with this group,” Calipari said in the postgame press conference “Last year, the culture at the end of the year was right where I wanted it. Right now, the culture is not there because guys are still trying to do what they choose to do. You have a choice. You do what we’re asking you to do.”
Calipari added that players who feel they cannot meet those expectations should step forward. “If you’re not capable of doing what I’m asking, come see me. If you can’t do it, there’s a towel. Go wave it on the sideline,” he said.
The veteran coach went further with his assessment. This isn’t about skill, but effort and commitment. “You just have to be locked in, talking, spirited, enthusiastic,” he said. “Can we get a team connected? Can they lose themselves in the team?”
The Hogs will need to quickly adjust Arkansas faces four ranked opponents in its next six games, including No. 4 Duke, No. 6 Louisville, No. 20 Texas Tech and No. 3 Houston. Calipari will be waiting to see whether the Razorbacks are truly ready to buy in.
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