Razorbacks Book Rematch With Calipari's Familiar Foe

After coaching his final game at Kentucky against Oakland, team back on schedule

John Calipari speaks during the off-day press conference in Memphis. The Cats will take on North Carolina in Memphis to advance to the Final Four. March 25, 2017 / Michael Clevenger / Courier Journal /

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' John Calipari will seek at least a little revenge for his final game as coach of the Kentucky Wildcats as he begins his tenure as Razorbacks' coach. The Hogs will take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies as part of the team's non-conference schedule inside Bud Walton Arena Dec. 30, according to Rocco Miller.

Arkansas will host Oakland as part of its 24-25 non-conference schedule, per multiple sources.

The date is set for Monday, December 30th inside Bud Walton Arena. Coach Calipari vs. Coach Kampe for the second time in less than 10 months. #SEC #HLMBB

— Rocco Miller (@RoccoMiller8) June 5, 2024

Oakland knocked Calipari out of the 2024 NCAA Tournament in the first round, 80-76, marking his 532nd and final game as Kentucky's head coach and his fourth straight season without a Sweet 16 appearance.

The Golden Grizzlies are coached by Greg Kampe, the longest active tenured coach in college basketball. Kampe enters his 40th season at Oakland, first taking over the program as a Division II school in 1984. He has amassed nearly 700 wins there.

Kampe and Calipari are close friends, and joked prior to the NCAA Tournament bracket being released that they may face one another after the Golden Grizzlies won the Horizon League and secured a spot in March Madness.

Greg @KampeOU and John Calipari are close friends. This week via text they were joking about playing each other. Kampe said playing against a friend is sad.

"They don't want me to get beat and I don't want them to get beat. I just want to play against someone I don't know!" pic.twitter.com/bkiMQfTNCE

— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) March 18, 2024

Now the two will meet again, only Calipari will be wearing Razorback Red and not Kentucky Blue. Thankfully for the Razorbacks, they won't have to deal with Jack Gohlke, who hit 10 threes and scored 32 points to secure the upset.

HOGS FEED:

• It's Not Really Hard to Figure Out Razorback Coach's Worst Off-Season

• How games turn out doesn't affect appeal of sports for many Hogs' fans

• Calipari's roster to feature returner from Musselman Era after all

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