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

Calipari has won more in Sweet 16 round than any coach remaining in NCAA Tournament field, don't dismiss Texas Tech's McCasland though
Mar 26, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari watches during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Mar 26, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari watches during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images / Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

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.

Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland
Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland smiles during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. / Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

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.

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.

HOGS FEED:

• Sweet 16 notebook: Hogs hold final practice in prep for Texas Tech

• Kozeal Returns to Former Home Field at New Position with Razorbacks

• Former Razorback Stepping Up NBA Game in March

• Pittman feels better about Hogs' defense midway through spring practice

• Calipari Not Working Transfer Portal Even Though It's Open


Published |Modified
Jacob Davis
JACOB DAVIS

Jacob Davis is a reporter for Arkansas Razorbacks on SI, with a decade of experience covering high school and transfer portal recruiting. He has previously worked at Rivals, Saturday Down South, SB Nation and hosted podcasts with Bleav Podcast Network where his show was a finalist for podcast of the year. Native of El Dorado, he currently resides in Central Arkansas with his wife and daughter.