In a training rematch of the 1996 Final Four, John Calipari’s Razorbacks, Rick Pitino’s Razorbacks, St. John’s Red Storm on Saturday, ensuring a sweet place with a 75-66 victory.
The game was a festival with two of the most historic sport coaches, and more colorful, and the razorbacks finally remained in the second half after a physical battle, often ugly. None of the teams fired well, combining to hit only 41 of 41 triples, shooting 34.8% combined from the field in general.
After a first half-trip, Arkansas had a 7-0 race to finish the first period, taking an advantage of 35-32 at rest. In the last 20 minutes, the razorbs initially ran with an advantage of 13 points, which led to 55-42 with just over 11 minutes.
However, the red storm made its way back, gathering an 18-7 race to close the gap at 62-60 with approximately six minutes to the end. Using the Pitino Full-Court Press firm, St. John’s could bother the game to establish a close ending.
Finally, Arkansas made more plays on the section, finishing the game in a 13-6 race to close it.
The red storm could not overcome a low performance of the RJ Luis JR guard, who entered Saturday with an average of 18.5 points per game. Against the Razorbs, Luis Jr. scored only nine points in 3 of 17 shots.
Arkansas was led by the first year guard Billy Richmond III, who left the bank to score 16 points.
Calipari, in his first season leading the Razorkes after 15 years in Kentucky, advanced beyond the second round for the first time since 2019. He now has the opportunity to do what only Pitino has done in the history of the basketball of the male NCAA: he wins a national championship with two different schools.
Pitino, on the other hand, was denied the opportunity to carry a record of the fourth school to the Final Four.
