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The Arkansas basketball team just wrapped up its first regular season of the John Calipari era with an upset of 25th-ranked Mississippi State. That win was the Hogs’ fourth in its last five tries.
The late surge has provided the Razorbacks with NCAA Tournament hopes despite early struggles in SEC play. They’ll now look ahead to the conference tournament to solidify their standing further.
At last look, bracketologist Joe Lunardi ranks Arkansas as a bubble team. He’s given them “last four byes” status with a game against last-placed South Carolina looming.
The Razorbacks’ SEC Tournament performance could have a major impact on their Big Dance future. Not only does picking up wins further boost postseason stock, but they’ll also be directly competing against fellow bubble rivals in Texas and Oklahoma for one of those final at-large bids.
Stumbling could prove detrimental. Still, John Calipari says he doesn’t care how the team performs.
“I don’t care about the conference tournament, which is why we’ve won it so many times. Because I could care less. The tournament that matters is the NCAA Tournament. You play the SEC Tournament to get the best seed. If you get to the finals, win. Don’t go to the finals and lose because you’re exhausted.”
In some ways, he has a point. The grind of the conference tournament can have a negative effect in terms of fatigue. Rest is sometimes the best outcome, even if it means dropping out of the event early.
That said, those early exits are only beneficial for teams considered locks to be invited to the Big Dance. John Calipari’s squad is not. He admitted as much after his season finale.
“You never… the committee will make a decision. You can’t get out ahead of yourself. We just have to keep trying to get better.”
-John Calipari
Right now, Arkansas appears to be on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Winning a few more games would only help their case. A quick departure might leave the Hogs’ future in the hands of the selection committee.