John Calipari has turned the Thunder locker room into Arkansas fans

There’s something unusual happening this March, and it has less to do with brackets and buzzer-beaters, and more to do with loyalty.

A recent video posted by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s social media team asked players for their March Madness predictions. What should’ve been a routine, throwaway segment instead revealed a fascinating trend: a noticeable chunk of the roster is backing Arkansas to make a serious run. That alone might not raise eyebrows, until you look closer at who’s doing the picking.

John Calipari Turns Razorbacks Into Top March Madness Pick

Former Razorbacks like Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe being all-in on Arkansas makes perfect sense. That’s school pride. That’s expected. But the real surprise came from two players with no direct ties to Fayetteville, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace. Both former Kentucky Wildcats. Both firmly on the Arkansas hype train.

It doesn’t take much digging to understand why.

The common thread isn’t the jersey, it’s the coach.

John Calipari has long been one of college basketball’s most influential figures, and his impact clearly extends far beyond his time at Kentucky. Players don’t just play for programs anymore, they play for people. And Calipari, more than most, has built a reputation not just as a recruiter, but as a developer of NBA-ready talent and long-term relationships.

That influence is showing up in subtle but telling ways. When Gilgeous-Alexander and Wallace publicly throw their support behind Arkansas, it suggests their allegiance might not be tied to Kentucky blue as much as it is to the man who coached them there.

And they’re not alone.

Devin Booker, another Calipari product, was recently spotted wearing Arkansas-themed shoes from his latest collection. It’s a small gesture, but one that reinforces a bigger idea: Calipari’s former players aren’t just fans of a school, they’re part of a coaching tree, a network, a culture that travels with him.

It raises an interesting question: were these players ever truly “Kentucky fans,” or were they always Calipari fans first?

If the answer leans toward the latter, it’s hard to blame them.

Calipari’s track record speaks for itself. Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace, and Booker all developed into lottery picks under his system, each carving out successful NBA careers. His emphasis on player growth, pro readiness, and trust has created a level of loyalty that doesn’t fade when players leave campus. If anything, it strengthens.

Now, that loyalty appears to be boosting Arkansas in real time.

The Razorbacks are also emerging as one of the more popular picks to win the national championship, consistently landing inside the top 10 of fan brackets. That surge in belief isn’t just about roster construction or matchups, it feels cultural. There’s a growing sense that wherever Calipari goes, attention follows.

Call it influence. Call it brand power. Call it what you want.

But as March unfolds, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Arkansas isn’t just building momentum on the court. It’s building a fanbase that stretches deep into the NBA, fueled by players who still believe in the coach who helped shape their careers.