Calipari's Razorbacks 'refuse to lose' as Arkansas takes down Tigers at Bud Walton

It's fair to say John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks (16-11, 5-9 SEC) came into Saturday's rematch at Bud Walton Arena against their northern borderline rivals from Missouri with their backs against the proverbial wall.

Prompted by Calipari's refused to lose admonitions and visitations by the spirits that built Bud Walton 35 years ago, Arkansas responded with a much-needed 92-85 win over the visiting No. 15 Tigers (20-7, 9-5 SEC) to once again revive hopes of a extending their season into the fast-approaching Madness of March.

Everything John Calipari and players said after victory over No. 15 Missouri

"Today, I broke out the refuse to lose," Calipari told the press afterwards. "I don't care what you do, how you do it, refuse to lose. When it's late in the game, refuse to lose."

After an 0-5 start to conference play, Calipari's Razorbacks answered the call for the third time in their last five home games while winning five of nine overall since January 22. Trailing by eight at halftime, Saturday's come-from-behind win was keyed by 30 transition points off 18 Missouri turnovers.

Down the stretch, Arkansas turned a three-point deficit into an eight-point lead with 7:55 to play thanks to a pair of back-to-back three-pointers from senior guard Johnell Davis and sophomore forward Zvonimir Ivisic. Ivisic bounced back nicely from a poor shooting effort at No. 1 Auburn on Wednesday to lead the Razorbacks with 20 points and three blocked shots. Meanwhile Davis, who was the only Razorback to hit more than one three-pointer on Saturday, finished with 18 points, four assists and four steals.

"We just really stayed the course and believing in ourselves and what the coach is talking about," Davis said. "We executed the game plan and we got the W today."

Regenerating Z

The Missouri rematch marked the third time in the last five games where Ivisic scored 20 points or more. Only three times in the last 10 has he failed to score in double figures, but the worst during that stretch was a zero-for-10 shooting night at Auburn.

The 7-2 Croatian transfer from Kentucky got most of his points in the paint and the free throw line against Missouri and credited his teammates for helping him get back on track.

"Well, you know, it's the same mindset that I'll come with every game," he said. "I missed some shots against (Auburn). I mean I missed everything against Auburn. You know? So what? You know what? The next day, our team still depends on me. They need me. I need everybody. They were there with me to support me."

The ghosts on The Hill

The 1990 Razorback team which went to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament also happened to be there to support this year's team. Players and coaches from that era were on hand as their historic run was celebrated by the University of Arkansas' athletic department before the game.

Even Missouri coach Dennis Gates, whose team came into the game off a 110-98 boat racing of No. 2 Alabama on Wednesday and having thumped Arkansas 83-65 at Missouri in the first match up, said he felt a different energy from the Razorbacks on Saturday.

"It was a great game — unbelievable atmosphere. Another SEC battle," Gates said. "We knew coming in that there was going to be a different energy in this building. Obviously elebrating the (Final Four) team, the other thing is, you know (it was) a must win for both teams."

Winning one for the gippers

It was much closer to a must-win scenario for the Razorbacks who have to win out in the regular season to finish .500 in the conference. Calipari said members of that 1990 team like Todd Day and Darrel Hawkins made an impression on the current players. He credited them with inspiring the win on Saturday and hopefully making a run of their own.

"At the dinner last night — and if you were there, I mean they shed some tears now. I mean, you had players that shed tears and they hugged each other. You know, I love you. I told the team, you understand that's how you you're gonna be thirty five years from now with this team.

"The same way. There's only one group going through what we're going, and it's that team. And the adversity we've faced, the ups and downs of this, they all got through it. And by getting through it, they're gonna be better for it later. Thirty five years later, that team was there."

Calipari said the emotions from the previous night's dinner spilled over to Arkansas' pre-game shoot around — and post game locker room.

""The greatest thing about this league, every time you play, it's a quad one game. The worst thing about this league is every time you play it's a quad one game.""

John Calipari

"I invited them to the shoot around. Most of them came," Calipari said. "And they came to the shoot around, and then (Hawkins) did it on his own. I said, 'Come over here.' And Hawk went nuts.

"It was like, you're gonna do it and (the players) listened. I said, great job. And Todd Day was in there. And then after the game, they came in the locker room, and I said, 'Hawk, I need you here Wednesday for the shoot around. Do the same thing. Get these guys going.'"

Both teams ended up with five players each in double figures on Saturday. Sophomore point guard DJ Wagner had 17 points, three assists and two steals for the Razorbacks while Karter Knox and Adou Thiero added 11 points each. The Tigers were led by Mark Mitchell and Marques Warrick with 17 and 16 points respectively.

Live by the 3 die by the 3

Caleb Grill, who seemed on pace to continue the hot shooting that propelled Missouri to the win in Columbia, finished with 13 points Saturday — all in the first half. In the second half however, Missouri's live-by-the-three and die-by-the-three lifestyle caught up with them as Arkansas turned Tiger turnovers into easy baskets on 55 percent shooting overall from the floor.

Both teams shot 33 percent from three-point range with the Tigers taking double the amount of threes as Arkansas.

"We're a team that's trying to do something special. We're working on layups every day," Calipari said. "And you go, layups? Are you not watching our games? We're missing ten, twelve layups a game.

"So we're working on it. We were what I told them in halftime. 'Guys, we were one for 10 — one for 10 from the three. And it's a two, three bucket game (at halftime). So just play. We'll make some shots in the second half. We made some shots. But Seems like right away, there was a really good mindset with the team. I mean, John L was diving on the floor."

That aggressive approach lead to Arkansas' edge in a game where both teams had a high amount of turnovers. However, Calipari says he hopes his team is beginning to find an identity from their aggressive defense and attacking the rim on offense.

Gates agreed. "Oh, yeah. They just put their head down and go," he said. "When they see one lane, it's just go. I think that was one of their game plans coming in — try to drive us, go downhill. Even in the half court or when we let them get out in transition — especially on turnovers, they got a lot of points on turnovers."

In the second half, Arkansas' defense got back to their usual prowess at limiting three-point shots. Calipari said he told his players that forcing Missouri shooters to put the ball on the floor was the key.

Casting out fear

"We had guys that were either trying to play perfect," Calipari said. "You ready? Or playing not to lose. You know, prevent defense in football? It prevents you from winning. And in basketball, when you're playing not to lose, eight out of 10 you lose. You gotta play to win. You gotta stay aggressive. You gotta make the plays that are there."

Although Missouri's much deeper bench outscored Arkansas 41-12 in the game, Calipari praised the efforts of freshman guard Billy Richmond and senior center Jonas Aidoo who contributed in their reserve roles.

Both players tied for a team high five rebounds. Aidoo added six points and a block while Richmond added four points and three assists before fouling out.

"Aidoo is a beast now," Ivisic said of his front court mate who has battled through a foot injury all season. "Even though he's not a 100 percent, he still made a couple of wins. He had, I don't know, a couple blocks maybe rebounds. He always helps no matter what. Even if he's not a 100 percent, it's good to have him. We've got each others backs."

Arkansas will next host Texas in another SEC rematch on Wednesday.

"Now we've just got to finish," Calipari said. "Now we got the greatest thing about this league, every time you play, it's a quad one game. The worst thing about this league is every time you play it's a quad one game. It's just ridiculously hard. But these kids, they're resilient.

Let me say it again to the fans. They're resilient because we've struggled. I mean, we just lost three in a row now to really good teams. We still lost three in a row, but they're resilient. They we're here. I'm begging (the 90's legends) to come back for this Texas game because it's gonna be just as hard."