March Madness: Arkansas, John Calipari hand Kansas its first NCAA tournament first-round loss since 2006
Maybe John Calipari's better off as the underdog.
Calipari's 10th-seeded Arkansas beat No. 7 Kansas, 79-72 Thursday in one of the marquee matchups of the first round of the NCAA tournament.
In doing so, the Razorbacks eliminated a Kansas team that was ranked No. 1 early in the season and Calipari's Hall of Fame counterpart Bill Self. The loss marks a disappointing end to a Kansas season that started with championship expectations in Lawrence. Instead the Jayhawks exit the NCAA tournament without a win.
[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem is back: Enter for a shot to win up to $50K]
The loss ends a 17-season streak for Kansas of advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The last time Kansas lost in the first was was to Bradley in 2006.
The win marks the first NCAA tournament win for John Calipari since 2023 and his second since reaching the Elite Eight with Kentucky in 2019. A first-round exit as a No. 3 seed spelled the end of Calipari's Kentucky tenure last season, two years after his Wildcats lost as a No. 2 seed in the first round to No. 15 seed St. Peter's.
This time, it was Calipari's turn to win as the underdog in his first time coaching a double-digit seed in the NCAA tournament in 24 trips. He'll lead the Razorbacks into the second round, where they'll take on the winner between No. 2 seed St. John's and No. 15 Omaha. A potential coaching showdown between Calipari and Rick Pitino awaits.
Arkansas led 47-44 after a sizzling first half for both teams. The Razorbacks then took control with a 7-0 run to start the second, only to see Kansas rally back for a 67-64 lead with 4:55 remaining. But Arkansas answered with another 7-0 run to take a 71-67 lead with 1:47 remaining on a Johnell Davis 3-pointer. Kansas never led again.
Kansas got back into the game by switching to a triangle-and-2 zone in the second half. An Arkansas team that turned the ball over just three times finished with 10 for the game and allowed Kansas to take its late lead with a 17-10 run. But Arkansas withstood the pressure and closed out the game with its own 15-5 run to secure its spot in the second round.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
Topics
-
March Madness: St. John's rolls past Omaha, sets up showdown between Rick Pitino, John Calipari
John Calipari and Rick Pitino will renew their rivalry when Arkansas faces St. John's in the second round of the NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 15h -
March Madness veterans power Arkansas basketball, John Calipari past Kansas in first round
John Calipari brought Jonas Aidoo and Johnell Davis to Arkansas for March. In the first round, the two transfers delivered in an upset win over Kansas.Yahoo Sports - 17h -
Calipari vs Pitino: Arkansas-St. John's game among NCAA tournament second-round Saturday
John Calipari and Rick Pitino have faced each other twice in the NCAA tournament Final Four.Yahoo Sports - 14h -
Mark Pope comments on potential Arkansas-St John's matchup in men's NCAA Tournament
Mark Pope was asked about a potential Arkansas vs. St. John's second-round NCAA Tournament matchup between John Calipari and Rick Pitino.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
March Madness 2025: After Kansas' 1st opening-round loss since 2006, what changes does Bill Self have to make?
The Jayhawks had won 17 straight first-round NCAA tournament games.Yahoo Sports - 17h -
St. John’s rolls past Omaha in NCAA Tournament opener, setting up matchup with John Calipari-led Arkansas
St. John’s found itself on early upset alert. Playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, the second-seeded Johnnies missed their first five shots in Thursday night’s first-round ...Yahoo Sports - 15h -
Arkansas to play Kansas in first round of NCAA Tournament
The Arkansas Razorbacks were selected as a 10-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, and will travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to play the 7-seed Kansas Jayhawks in the first ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
2025 March Madness: John Calipari vs. Rick Pitino to meet when Arkansas battles St. John's in NCAA Tournament
Two of the most iconic college basketball coaches in the sport meet once again in a second-round matchupCBS Sports - 15h -
Kansas' preseason No. 1 curse continues under Bill Self with first-round exit in March Madness 2025
Arkansas coach John Calipari hands Self another second season-ending defeat after beating KU for the 2012 NCAA titleCBS Sports - 6h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 10m -
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 12m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 12m -
England vs Albania LIVE: Thomas Tuchel takes charge of first game at Wembley
The Three Lions begin their journey under Tuchel as qualifying for the 2026 World Cup gets underwayYahoo Sports - 13m
More in Sports
-
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 10m -
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 12m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 12m -
England vs Albania LIVE: Thomas Tuchel takes charge of first game at Wembley
The Three Lions begin their journey under Tuchel as qualifying for the 2026 World Cup gets underwayYahoo Sports - 13m