No 'Coaching Mismatch' Between Hogs, Red Raiders This Go Around

SAN FRANCISCO — Thursday evening is the start of the NCAA Tournament's second weekend as six coaches vy for their first Elite Eight appearance.
Arkansas is in a great spot once again, even as a No. 10 seed, to advance to the next round based off tournament coaching experience. Not to discredit Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland, who is one of the rising stars in his profession, but he is trekking through uncharted territory right now.
Razorbacks coach John Calipari makes his 16th appearance in the Sweet 16 with an overall record of 12-3 in such games, which leads all coaches remaining in the tournament field. He's also tied with Tom Izzo for most appearances among the same group which is an impressive feat, but also shows how he's sustained success at four programs over five decades.
Still, let's refrain from calling this a "coaching mismatch" like CBS Sports' college basketball analyst Todd Fuhrman did last time these two teams played each other four years ago. Although Eric Musselman and Chris Beard have moved on, this is still a similar situation.
“When you look at the head coaches in this game, I think it’s one of the biggest mismatches you’re going to see round of 32... Chris Beard has to be licking his chops knowing Eric Musselman is on the other sidelines.”
— Tye Richardson 🐗 (@TyeSportsRadio) March 21, 2021
- @ToddFuhrman on @CBSSportsHQ
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This is a Naismith Hall of Fame coach at Arkansas going up against another coach who has proven himself at each stop whether it was JUCO, Division II, Sun Belt, Conference USA or Big 12. Once tip-off between the Razorbacks and Red Raiders happens, McCasland will have coached in the Sweet 16 at each level, holding a 4-0 record, an impressive feat nonetheless.
Calipari is among a dying breed of men who are genuinely respectful toward coaches on the opposite sideline. McCasland, in his second season at Texas Tech, has guided the Red Raiders to road victories against Sweet 16 qualifiers No. 1 seed Houston and No. 6 seed BYU.
Coach | Sweet 16 Record |
---|---|
John Calipari, Arkansas | 12-3 |
Tom Izzo, Michigan State | 10-5 |
Rick Barnes, Tennessee | 4-5 |
Kelvin Sampson, Houston | 4-5 |
Matt Painter, Purdue | 2-5 |
Bruce Pearl, Auburn | 2-3 |
Nate Oats, Alabama | 1-2 |
Chris Beard, Ole Miss | 1-2 |
Tommy Lloyd, Arizona | 0-2 |
Dusty May, Michigan | 1-0 |
John Scheyer, Duke | 1-0 |
Todd Golden, Florida | 0-0 |
Grant McCasland, Texas Tech | 0-0 |
Kevin Young, BYU | 0-0 |
Mark Pope, Kentucky | 0-0 |
"I'm watching tape and I say, in that league, to have that record, to go on the road and win the games [McCasland] has won, that team, he's got them playing together and for each other," Calipari said Wednesday. "They can shoot the three or, if you try to take that away, they can post it. And they play that way. And they'll figure out where there's an advantage and they go right after it. He's done a great job. He really has."
This game is no coaching mismatch between Calipari and McCasland at all, actually. It's a face-off between two men who just want to survive and advance.