Even though it hadn't even been scheduled yet, the basketball world looked forward to Saturday's game against Kentucky when Arkansas hired John Calipari. It's a rivalry that's relatively new but quickly heating up. And despite what Coach Cal says, he's had to have had this game circled since April of 2024.
The Wildcats are one of the best offensive teams in the country, scoring nearly 90 points a game. Arkansas, on the other hand, has struggled to put the ball through the hoop, but its defense has kept the Hogs in games against Georgia and Florida. To learn more about what Kentucky brings to the table, Razorbackers sat down with the site expert of Wildcat Blue Nation, Drew Holbrook, for a look 'behind enemy lines.'
Behind Enemy Lines Q & A with Wildcat Blue Nation's site expert Drew Holbrook
Q: Arkansas fans know Jaxson Robinson well. He signed with Arkansas out of high school when Eric Musselman was here and always had great potential as a Hog. Some would even argue he was underutilized. How has he impacted Kentucky's season so far and what can we expect to see from the former four-star prospect?
A: Jaxson Robinson is an enigma for the Cats. There are times he looks like he might be the best player on the floor and other times, you forget he is out there. If he is engaged and playing ready, you'll get a dynamic 3-level scorer who can be a shutdown defender. If he's passive, you'll probably forget he is on the floor.
Q: The Wildcats had a major midweek game against Tennessee, while Arkansas received some much-needed rest. How do you think it'll affect Kentucky's performance going into the game against Arkansas?
A: The midweek game against the Vols was huge, and fatigue is going to play a massive part. From the interviews Pope has given, it doesn't seem like Andrew Carr is anywhere near being ready to play. He said he can't practice and sometimes has a hard time walking.
Add that to Kerr Kriisa being out, a banged-up Butler, and a physical Tennessee team that needed a win; it was draining. And who can afford a three-game losing streak in this league and try to get a top 4 finish? So, to circle back, it will play a significant factor.
Q: Kentucky is one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country, ranking No. 4 in offensive efficiency, according to Kenpom. Who are some players Arkansas fans need to know before tipoff on Saturday night?
A: Pope's team is at its best when it's balanced and free-flowing. The players Arkansas fans need to watch are Koby Brea, who has been in a slump, Ansley Almonor, and Trent Noah, who will fill in for Carr if he can't go.
They haven't played a lot pre-Carr injury, Noah especially. Maybe the most important player is Otega Oweh. Oweh has the ability to take over a game for big stretches both offensively and defensively. If he gets in a zone, he can score 20+ easily, and he has been in double figures every game this year.
Q: On the other hand, the Wildcats are No. 82 in defensive efficiency. Where does Kentucky fall short there, and who are some of the best defensive players Arkansas will face?
A: The defense is just horrid at times, especially in a pick-and-roll. So Arkansas will be able to have success just doing what Cal loves doing, PNR at the top. While team defense isn't great, there are some individuals who perform pretty solid. Butler is a pest who can guard 94 feet and never tire. He will hound DJ or Johnell or anyone bringing the ball up.
Williams is a nice shot blocker, nothing game-changing, but he will get 2 or 3 a game. Oweh is a passing lane guy. He will take chances for steals. Everyone else has their moments but mostly struggles to contain drives, which is why Williams is key.
Q: When Kentucky hired Mark Pope, it was a shot out of left field for most people who follow college basketball. However, it seemed Big Blue Nation took the change in stride, and it's paying off. What does he bring to the program that’s different than the former staff?
A: A few things drove fans crazy near the end of Cal's Tenure. He stopped doing interviews. It was mostly Bruiser Flint or Chin. The ones he did do were cut short, or he called people basketball bennies (fans who would watch the tape and offer breakdowns on X or social media in general). He always talked of a tweak and how no one noticed it but him.
And most damning, there was a story about Kentucky spending a ton of money on a scouting system that tracked player performance, and some assistants didn't even know the login. The biggest change there is Pope does all the interviews, then he goes out after games to sign autographs and take pictures.
And his team openly talked about their scouting reports on players, something that Cal said they didn't worry about. He wanted them to focus on what they were doing and not worry about the other team. It would drive the internet fans crazy. So basically, in short, Pope just embraced the fans in a way Cal stopped doing.
Q: With the success Kentucky’s seeing under a first-year coach, there have been an awful amount of Kentucky fans medaling in all things Arkansas. Whether it be a video, an article, a Facebook post, or one on X, there seem to be just as many BBN representatives in the comments as Razorbacks fans.
Even UK sports media can’t go a few days without mentioning Calipari and Arkansas. I know Cal was at UK forever, but I have to ask, what’s with the obsession?
A: Obsession is a strong word, but you're right. I think it's just about who won the breakup. You're dating a girl forever, and she moves on to a new guy, and you get a new girl, and you're comparing who is now better off. And a massive element to it was a narrative that Cal was bigger than Kentucky, and without him, they'd fall into irrelevance.
So, a portion of the fanbase wants to show Kentucky is Kentucky, and it will always be bigger than the person coaching it. And, of course, I think some of it is just a desire to see Cal fail. The end-of-year losses the last 3 years had broken fans, and now they want to watch him be broken. That's not all of them, and it's not fair to Cal, but it's just true. So, yeah just about being right and who is better.