Arkansas coach John Calipari has coached and recruited plenty of elite basketball talent in his career, but on Thanksgiving night, he found himself on the wrong end of the performance he once hoped to have on his own roster. Duke freshman phenom Cameron Boozer delivered a stunning showcase, scoring 35 points and grabbing nine rebounds to lead No. 4 Duke past No. 21 Arkansas, 80–71.
For much of the first half, Arkansas appeared to have solved the puzzle, holding Boozer early on in the game through the first 13 minutes until he started to turn it up. Once the Blue Devils’ forward settled in, the game shifted and never swung back. Boozer’s surge before halftime carried straight into the second half, ultimately burying the Hogs and handing Arkansas its second loss of the season.
Calipari, who attempted to recruit Boozer at Arkansas, knew exactly what he was capable of. Seeing it unfold on the opposite sideline, however, left a lasting impression.
Calipari Highlights Boozers In-Game Adjustment
What stood out most to Calipari was Boozer’s in-game awareness and adaptability, traits rarely found in a first-year college player.
"“As soon as (Boozer) figured out, ‘I can put my shoulder into this guy’s chest and move him,’ then that’s all he did,” Calipari said postgame. “You could try 12 different things or do what you do well. Just do it over and over and over. For him, being that young, it’s pretty neat.”"John Calipari
Early on, Boozer leaned on jump shots, but once he recognized Arkansas couldn’t match his physicality inside, he shifted gears. From that moment, he became a force the Razorbacks simply couldn’t withstand.
Calipari didn’t mince words when describing the challenge Arkansas faced guarding Boozer.
"“(Boozer) was a beast,” Calipari said. “We were trying different things and trying to get guys just to stay in front and make it a tough thing.”"John Calipari
The Razorbacks rotated Malique Ewin, Nick Pringle, and Trevon Brazile in an attempt to slow Duke’s star forward, but none could. Boozer punished mismatches, powered through contact, and controlled the paint: scoring, rebounding, and drawing fouls with ease.
His physical dominance and poise in pressure moments helped Duke close out the win and improve to 8–0, marking the program’s best start since 2017.
A Performance Calipari Wishes Was in Red and White
Given his long-standing pursuit of Boozer on the recruiting trail, Calipari couldn’t help but acknowledge the sting of watching him shine for another program.
While he may prefer Boozer wearing a Razorbacks jersey instead of dealing with him as an opponent, Calipari still had nothing but admiration for the young star’s growth, toughness, and composure.
Boozer didn’t just beat Arkansas, he earned Calipari’s respect in the process.