Could young Hogs win Calipari his second national title?
John Calipari told reporters Wednesday at SEC Basketball Media Days in Birmingham, Alabama, that he plans to settle on a regular 10-player rotation for the Arkansas Razorbacks next season. After playing with a shortened roster through his first two years in Fayetteville, the coach is ready to add depth.
No one on this team is going to play 40 minutes, and no one’s going to average 30 points,” Calipari said during an appearance on the SEC Network. “It ain’t going to happen.”
The Razorbacks have looked a bit different this week while preparing for the season. Freshmen Billy Richmond and Cooper Bowser were part of the contingent at SEC Media Days, posing for photos in Birmingham while the buzz around Hog basketball buzzed. It’s a sign that Calipari’s roster is expanding just in time for the grind of a full SEC slate.
Fans inside Bud Walton and the Dickson Pavilion are used to seeing high-minute counts, especially after the Razorbacks faced roster crunches in previous campaigns. But the incoming class—which includes the freshman duo—and returning veterans present a different kind of puzzle. This roster is being described by insiders as one of the tallest, longest, most athletic and youngest squads Halberstam Stadium has seen in some time.
For a coach chasing his second national title, the chemistry between these fresh faces and the experienced holdovers is the key variable. Calipari acknowledged the youth factor during his remarks, suggesting the team will lean on its length and speed rather than trying to force rookies to carry the scoring load.
If the team can weather the growing pains of a full rotation and stay healthy, the upside is huge. A deep team means fresh legs in March and fewer opportunities for opposing defenses to isolate on one superstar.
The Hogs will look to put the pieces together quickly as the regular season approaches. Arkansas fans are always ready to sprint to the finish line, but in college basketball, it’s often about who can stay on the floor.
You can follow the Razorbacks throughout the year to see how this young depth chart develops.
Source: Fayetteville Flyer