John Calipari said what Arkansas fans everywhere were feeling after 2nd-half collapse

It's tough to put into words how heartbreaking the loss for Arkansas basketball was on Thursday night. Up 61-45 at one point in the second half, it looked like John Calipari was coaching up a masterclass against Texas Tech, with the Razorbacks having one foot in the Elite Eight.

Then, the wheels fell off. Texas Tech, led by Christian Anderson, JT Toppin and Darrion Williams, put together a spirited comeback to force overtime. Then in the final session, Toppin took over and the Red Raiders came out on top, 85-83.

After the final whistle, Coach Cal looked devastated. Can you blame him for that? The Razorbacks indeed looked like they were heading to the next round to fight for a spot in the Final Four. That's not happening and Calipari didn't hesitate in saying he feels like 'crap' right now. He's not the only one:

John Calipari gave an emotional speech after Arkansas lost to Texas Tech

"I'm going to say it again for everybody, for me, this was as rewarding a year - and I feel like crap right now - but this was as rewarding a year as I've had in all my years," Calipari said right after the tough loss. "I've had teams that were better and finished better and national champions and all that stuff, but this was a different reward."

On one hand, yes, the loss was an awful way to end the season, especially with how great Arkansas looked early on in the contest. Let's put things into perspective, though. Last campaign, the Razorbacks finished 16-17 overall and 6-12 in SEC play.

This season, Arkansas completely turned things around and reached the Sweet Sixteen. Give credit to Texas Tech too. It's a very talented team and there's a reason they've been able to go on a deep run. Yes, the loss is frustrating, but you've got to give Coach Cal his props for what he and his players were able to accomplish this campaign.