LIVE: Arkansas’ NCAA Tournament Hopes Take Massive Hit in Columbia
COLUMBIA, S.C. — John Calipari is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, but in his first season at Arkansas, he’s been walking the tightrope of the bubble. Coming into Saturday, the Razorbacks were clinging to one of the “last four byes,” per ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, but after a catastrophic first half against South Carolina, that bubble has officially burst.
Arkansas suffered a brutal 72-53 defeat to the last-place Gamecocks, dropping to 17-12 overall and 6-10 in SEC play. It was a historic collapse in Columbia—Lamont Paris’s squad had only one conference win all season but dominated from the opening tip, storming out to a 32-14 halftime lead. According to The Field of 68, it was the first time this century that Arkansas failed to score at least 15 points in a half.
“Arkansas just shot 12.5% from the field in the 1st half 😳
It’s the first time this CENTURY that Arkansas has scored less than 15 points in a half 🤯”
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68), March 1, 2025
The collapse was stunning, especially considering Arkansas had built momentum with back-to-back wins, including a statement victory over No. 15 Missouri last weekend. Sophomore center Zvonimir Ivisic had been a key piece in those wins, dropping 20 and 18 points, but on Saturday, he went ice cold along with the rest of the Razorbacks. Ivisic managed just six points on 2-8 shooting, completely blanked in the disastrous first half.
While the loss technically falls into Quad 2, dropping Arkansas to 2-3 in those matchups, the optics of such a lopsided performance against the worst team in the SEC could be devastating. The Selection Committee will remember this meltdown, and let’s be honest—any team that can self-destruct like this with its tournament hopes on the line probably doesn’t deserve a bid.
This isn’t what Arkansas’ boosters—especially those with deep pockets from Tyson Chicken—had in mind when they made their blockbuster move to lure Calipari away from Lexington. While he won’t be on the hot seat just yet, pressure is already mounting in Fayetteville. The only thing that might save the Razorbacks now? A deep run in the SEC Tournament.
And if there’s one thing Calipari knows how to do, it’s win in March. The veteran coach has claimed the SEC Tournament title five times, and after Saturday’s debacle, he may need a sixth to avoid an early offseason in Razorback red.
