“So happy and grateful to have you”: John Calipari and Arkansas fans exchange love after “outrageous” environment vs Kansas
John Calipari’s first showing as Arkansas coach took place in front of a sellout crowd. As Calipari walked through the tunnel last Friday, the cheers of nearly 19,200 fans reverberated throughout Bud Walton Arena. His Arkansas team secured a dominant 85-69 win over the Kansas Jayhawks.
As the Razorbacks prepare for their next exhibition against the TCU Horned Frogs on Friday, Calipari urged fans to show up in similar numbers for the charity game.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), John Calipari thanked Arkansas fans for their warm welcome and urged them to watch their next game at Fort Worth's Dickies Arena, while also acknowledging the busy schedule fans might have due to the Razorbacks' football game against Ole Miss scheduled for Saturday.
Fans quickly showered their love for the new head coach in the comments section:
"Thank you Coach for bringing in some guys who love basketball and plays as a team and for each other. That’s a championship team right there," a fan commented.
"We are so happy and grateful to have you and your family as part of our Razorback family.," another fan wrote.
"Love you coach, glad you’re an arkansas razorback," another fan commented.
Additionally, several fans assured John Calipari that they would be in attendance to see the 2024-25 roster:
"Will be there Friday night and also at the @AACenter the following weekend when we play Baylor! can't wait to see the new squad play in person! thanks for everything you do @CoachCalArk #WPS," a fan wrote.
"The Dallas area is OVERRUN with UofA alumni!" another fan commented.
"Absolutely will be there to watch the Hogs beat my second favorite team... ...and then a week later I get to see the Hogs a 2nd time at the AAC. Would love to make it to San Antonio to see them in April as well if you can make that happen!," another fan wrote.
Arkansas takes playful jab at Kansas after John Calipari's dominant debut
The Kansas Jayhawks were named the top team in the AP preseason poll, signaling their status as the favorites to win the 2025 NCAA title. However, Calipari’s Razorbacks never let the Jayhawks get comfortable in their exhibition game, securing a dominant 85-69 win.
As John Calipari and his roster left the game with a strong statement, the Razorbacks’ X account also joined in with a cheeky remark about the Jayhawks' loss at the Bud Walton Arena.
"Once again pleased to inform you, it’s Kansaw now," the Hogs quipped.
The phrase plays on the long-standing conversation about the pronunciation differences between "Arkansas" and "Kansas," with the Razorbacks suggesting that their name is now pronounced the same way as Arkansas.