John Calipari goes to Sweet 16 for the 16th time, and this could be the sweetest of all.
Arkansas Razorbacks of Calipari beat Nemesis Rick Pitino for a long time and the number 2 of St. John’s 75-66 Saturday by sending his traveling coach on the second weekend of the weekend NCAA Tournament with his fourth school.
Billy Richmond III scored 16 points and Karter Knox had 15 for the Razorbacks of the tenth plantation, which they sent to Kansas and his coach of the Bill Self Fame of the “Coach Region” in the first round.
But the victory over his long time was especially sweet for Calipari, who brought the razorbacks (22-13) to the tournament in his first season in Fayetteville, despite the first season injuries that left them 0-5 to start the Southeast Conference Calendar.
“I told them:” This is as rewarding as a year I have had, depending on the distance we have arrived, “he said.
Charles Krupe / AP
Zuby Ejiofor had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Big East St. John’s (31-5). Player of the Conference of the Year RJ Luis Jr. It had nine points, half of the average of the season, in 3 of 17 years.
“We were overcome. They deserve to move on and not,” said Pitino. “This is what March Madness is about. No matter how good you have a regular season, you play like that, you will beat you.”
Pitino’s story in Providence-had taken the friars to the 1987 Final Four, gave an advantage at home when he came to the March madness with an unprecedented sixth school.
Many of these teams were built with a full defense and three -point shot.
St. John, who beat Omaha in the first roundhad the number 1 defense in the country this season To win the Grand EastReturning to the tournament for the first time since 2019 With a seed number 2 that was the best in 25 years.
But the Red Storm shooting was deserted on Saturday and they became the first team seemed fourth or better to get out of what has been a Chaalky tournament so far.
“Rick did a good job with his team throughout the year,” said Calipari. “If they made a few shots, they probably beat us. We were lucky to get out.”
The teams combined to make four points in 41 attempts, with St. John’s shooting 28% from the flat in general.
“I hate to see them out that way,” Pitino said. “We thought we were promoted by the championship in our minds, but before that I was disappointed with it. I hate to see ourselves play like that.
“I don’t mind going out with a loss, I just hate to see ourselves play so,” he said. “It’s just a bitter pill to swallow this type of performance.”
End game
Arkansas led 13 in the first half and had an eight-point lead with eight minutes to play before the Johnnies cut him at 62-60 with 6:11 on the left. But St. John has lost his next six 3 -point range attempts, and made only one of his last shots: Ejiofor’s Dunk Dunk with 20 seconds.
Knox made a couple of free launches, and after Deivon Smith raised the ball from his knee and outside the limits. When Richmond was failed with 5 seconds, the Razorbacks ran to the court to celebrate -shaking their arms for Arkansas fans who beat the crowd.
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Arkansas goes to San Francisco to play the winner of the Saturday Night match in Wichita, Kansas, between Texas Tech de third plantada and Drake number 11.