FAYETTEVILLE -- It was just an exhibition game, but Arkansas defeated No. 1 Kansas 85-69 in John Calipari's first game with the Razorbacks.

Bud Walton Arena was packed for the game and none wearing red left disappointed. The Hogs placed three players in double figures. But Calipari warned Arkansas fans don't overreact to the win.

"First of all, I'll say a couple things and I'll answer questions," Calipari said. "Look, they had two of their better players out. So let's know, let's not do, like, triple backflips. But what I liked was we really guarded the ball pretty good. For a team that's not been together long, for a team that has practiced with five guys for probably two weeks — we played against GAs — to be able to go out and do— we only had three turnovers at half. We had 10 in the second half. How the hell do you have 10 in the second half? And a bunch of them came in a stretch where, like, for no reason. Why would you do that?

"We even had our quarterback throw the interception and run down the field and say stuff to the wide receiver so everybody knew it was his fault, not mine. We had one of those today. Like, what? It's your fault. You threw the ball. Don't blame him. So there were things."

Kansas outrebounded the Hogs 35-34 which disappointed Calipari.

"Rebounding," Calipari said. "I know we don't have Jonas (Aidoo), so maybe that cures some of the stuff, but I had to tell a couple guys, ‘If you don't rebound and come up with balls, I can't play you.’ This league is a man's league, and if you're getting shoved around and or they're out working you for balls, then I got to play somebody else. 

"Z (Zvonimir Ivisic) showed some stuff, but he still has work to do. I mean, there are times you look at him and say, ‘Geez, he's ridiculous.’ And then other times you're like, What? Why is he standing straight up and down? Why?’ And then he cramped up because he's never worked that hard. Like that he made some shots there. I got a good group of young people. I do."

The game was played in four quarters instead of the tradition two halves. Kansas only had one lead in the game and that was 2-0. The Hogs led 45-33 at halftime and then outscored the Jayhawks 40-36 in the second half.

D.J. Wagner led the Razorbacks with 24 points and added 4 rebounds. Boogie Fland chipped in 22 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals. Ivisic contributed 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block. Johnell "Nelly" Davis added 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.

"Nelly hadn't practiced and he looked good," Calipari said. "Nelly's going to play because he fights. He's a battler. He’s going to play. Our guards are pretty good, both of them. I mean, they're good players. And you want to talk about what they did offensively. I want to talk about what they did defensively. 

"And again, they got two guys out, so don't— I'm looking at this different than maybe everybody else. I'm happy we played the way we did. Did we look organized? Did we look like we really tried to play hard and defend? We've only been together a short time, so I'm happy because I wanted people to leave and say, ‘That was fun to watch.’"

Kansas was without its big man Hunter Dickinson. Dajaun Harris Jr. topped the Jayhawks with 26 points and Rakease Passmore added 11 points.

Calipari was obviously pleased with the play of Wagner and Fland.

"It’s good," Calipari said of Wagner knocking down a pair treys. "Now, I don’t know if you noticed, but he missed a shot. Boogie gave him a 3 and he missed it and he stepped on the line. So we came out of a timeout, I ran a play to make him shoot another ball. See, that’s the stuff when you’re coaching, you gotta get them to battle themselves. In other words, you miss one, now show me you’re going to make the next one. Like, that one didn’t effect this one and now you’re 0 for 5 and we lose. You miss one wide open, so what? Make the next two. But you can’t be afraid to miss the next one or two. And I did. I said off a dribble-handoff, they’re going to underneath you and you shoot that ball — and he did. And he missed. But that’s okay. It’s what you’re trying to teach and learn.

Kansas Coach Bill Self was asked what he learned about his team tonight?

"It wasn’t our team, first of all (because of injuries)," Self said. "But I didn’t learn anything very favorable. I learned their three our guards kicked our three guards’ butt. I learned their bigs kicked our big guys’ butt. I’m thinking that it’ll be a different team when some other guys get out there.

"But Arkansas is really talented. They’ve got great pieces. That’ll be the best trio of guards we play against this year. There won’t be anybody better than that we play against. Then they’ve shot-blocking and rim protection behind it. They’ve got a good team."

Arkansas will close out the preseason next Friday at TCU. The tip time is 7 p.m. 

Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Sports Action