FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 16 Arkansas will take the court for the second time this season on Saturday night when they face Baylor at the American Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Mavericks.
Arkansas is coming off a 76-60 win over Lipscomb in John Calipari's debut as head coach. Baylor, on the other hand, was handed a 101-63 loss by No. 6 Gonzaga this past Monday in its season opener. Calipari can relate to Baylor's loss from a previous experience of his own.
"Two years ago, we made that trip and we got beat," Calipari said of Kentucky. "We were down big at half. We came back, made a little game of it, but they just ran us into the dust. I have not watched that game. Too late. I was in bed, but I will watch it and figure out what, Mark Few, he did. I think he probably just was running him to death. Got some easy baskets."
Calipari said Baylor Coach Scott Drew is like himself and most coaches this early in the season still trying to figure out what they do well and can execute best.
"Then they're probably in the same boat as we are," Calipari said. "Trying to figure out, collectively, how do we do this together? How do you really play for your teammate? How do you make the game easy for your other? How about you set a really good screen? How about you post? How about you pass it where he can catch it?
"How about on a pick and roll? They're going under every time. Then angle it So they go under there, we're shooting a two, not a stepback three. We'll shoot the two. That's a high percentage for us. If you shoot twos at 60%, that's a high percentage. We're good at that. Floaters. Then, he goes under? Shoot the floater on a guy."
Calipari was asked if Drew reached out to him about possibly being his replacement at Kentucky?
"He never called me on it," Calipari said. "We haven’t talked. Again, seeing what Mark Pope is doing, good for him. Good for him. It’s a program that deserves that. Scott has done unbelievable work at Baylor and probably got comfortable there. Why would I go into that hornets nest?"
As far as his own job now, Calipari made it clear he's very pleased to be at Arkansas.
"I can say this, I’m happy to be coaching here," Calipari said. "I’m loving the team. I told them at the shoot around I had goosebumps, because I’m watching them get prepared for this game. Now, we have a long way to go, oh my gosh. And I got onto them a little bit at halftime and even after the game. Nothing crazy, but these kinds of plays lose games is what I talked to them about. But that’s what we do. That’s trying to get them better, being truth tellers, telling them we love them and ‘I love how you’re playing, but you can’t do these things.’"
Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell "Nelly" Davis made his Arkansas debut with 15 points, 6 rebounds and the 1 steal, block and assist. He expects to see a determined Baylor team on Saturday night.
"We know they’re a better team than that," Davis said. "We know they’re going to come out trying to fight so we gotta stay on our toes."
Baylor forward Norchad Omier topped the Bears in the opener with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal.
The Hogs and Bears tip at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night and the game will be shown on ESPNU.