It was really “fried calipari” on Thursday night.
The Arkansas Razorbacks struggled to blow a 13-point lead to Texas Tech in the final five minutes as the attack was bottled, and to keep the Red Raiders away from the attacking board with the Sweet 16 Showdown.
Darrion Williams hit a three-pointer forcing overtime and knocked on the shot to give Texas' skill an 85-83 advantage, with overtime in just 7.3 seconds.
Calipari decided to attack the Razorback rather than calling a timeout to set up plays that determine the team's NCAA Tournament fate.
Guard DJ Wagner ran down the court, dribbled the ball into traffic, and after a disappointing defeat in Razorbacks season, he squealed the contested jumper from the side of the rim as Calipari made his final timeout in the locker room with him.
“I usually let it go,” Calipari said. “Now that's over, so yeah, I wish I had called a timeout, but 99% of the time I let it go.
Disappointed, Wagner was able to look down on the disappointment only after the mistake of sending his team packaging.
Wagner, which followed Calipari from Kentucky and Arkansas, started 28 games with the Wildcats last season, making this a key piece of Lazole Bucks puzzles.
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“I told them how proud I was for them. There's nothing they can do to disappoint me,” Calipari said. “Yeah, there were plays that they wanted to do or make differently, but these kids gave it everything. Even in this game, they gave it everything they wanted to win the game.”
Arkansas' memorable NCAA tournament run defeated Kansas and St. John's to reach the Sweet 16 in Calipari's first season at Fayetteville.
Texas Tech will be appearing in the Final Four on Saturday as Florida No. 1 seed.
