Arkansas came painfully close to toppling No. 3 Texas Tech in a thrilling 85-83 overtime loss in the Sweet 16 of the men's NCAA tournament Thursday night, a game that saw coach John Calipari stick to his roots in even the most clutch moments.
After Texas Tech crawled their way back into the contest having trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half, the game was coming down to the wire in overtime. Red Raiders' Darrion Williams put his team up by two with 7.3 seconds remaining on the clock, and Arkansas, who still had a timeout, decided to go for it in the heat of the moment.
Razorbacks guard D.J. Wagner would ultimately miss the game-tying shot, and Texas Tech completed the wildest comeback of the tournament thus far.
DARRION WILLIAMS SENDS TEXAS TECH TO THE ELITE 8@TexasTechMBB wins a THRILLER in OT over Arkansas 😱 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/cQ4IrWIQUC
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025
Many fans scratched their heads at why Calipari declined to call a timeout before his team's final possession of the game. The Razorbacks coach has historically let his players play throughout his career, but this seemed to be a time when Arkansas could have used a breather to draw up a better play with their Elite Eight hopes on the line.
Calipari spoke about his decision not to call a timeout after the game:
"In my career, I let that go," Calipari said. "Let the guy get to the rim. They're not going to foul you. With that kind of time, just me, you call a timeout, now you've got to worry about what he's doing, how he's playing, the inbound, what are you doing.
"So I usually let that go. Now, because it ended the way it did, yeah, I wish I would have called a timeout. But 99 percent of the time, I let that go."
John Calipari on if he considered calling a timeout on the last possession:
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 28, 2025
"I usually let that go. Now because it ended the way it did, yeah I wish I called a timeout. But 99% of the time I let that go." pic.twitter.com/XDChAOyjr9
Plenty of college hoops fans still pointed the finger at Calipari for Arkansas' meltdown:
Death, taxes, and Calipari taking home a timeout with his Ls https://t.co/ivAlDK6Mlh
— Blake Merkley (@BlakeMerkley) March 28, 2025
What is John Calipari saving that timeout for?
— Sam Federman (@Sam_Federman) March 28, 2025
His tee time in Cancun tomorrow?
Calipari saving that timeout for the offseason so he can let his team’s most inefficient offensive player try to be a hero and take a long, contested two-point jump shot at the buzzer instead of running an actual play
— Brandon Koretz (@BrandonKoretz) March 28, 2025
Can’t believe Cal put the ball in DJ Wagner’s hands to end regulation and overtime. Total hero ball player. Never looks to pass. Strange and horrible decision by Cal.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 28, 2025
Arkansas fans: that is what we call a Calipari Special. You all will come to hate it. Sit on the ball to give up a big lead. Don’t foul up 3. Finally not calling a timeout on last possession when clearly your team is in disarray.
— James B (@EeeSei006) March 28, 2025
The last possession by Arkansas was classic calipari. No immediate timeout to setup a play. Every player standing around doing absolutely nothing while the ball handler dances around. Final shot is a long two. Not a three to maybe win or a drive to the basket but a long two
— Kevin Lockhart (@KLLockhart15) March 28, 2025
John Calipari not calling a timeout at any point of that final possession: pic.twitter.com/Dv24iQkW8m
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) March 28, 2025
Calipari not calling timeout on that final possession: https://t.co/1CNrPi85ac
— tanking for Maluach (@OledanJonah) March 28, 2025
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as John Calipari Ripped by Fans for Head-Scratching Move in Arkansas’ Loss to Texas Tech.
