Calipari Could Not Care Less Where Arkansas Is Ranked In AP Poll

Arkansas debuted at No. 16 in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll on Monday. While early projections are part of the business, John Calipari could not care less until he sees the Razorbacks in action. 

“I’ve done this so long. I’ve had teams overrated. I’ve had them underrated,” Calipari said Sunday at the Tip-Off Tour in Pine Bluff. “You can hype all you want. Eventually you’ve got to play the games.

“So, whatever you think we are, I agree. You think we’re awful, I agree. You think we’re really good, I agree. It doesn’t matter.

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With a brand new team in new surroundings, Calipari has been practicing patience with the process early on.

He attacked his scheduling with the intent of testing the Hoop Hogs right out of the gates to see exactly where they are at. We may not know much about Arkansas now, but everyone will very soon.

“What I will tell you is this team has only been together five months,” Calipari said. “Why do you think I put together a schedule of Kansas, at TCU, a hard Lipscomb game, Baylor in Dallas. Why do you think I did that?

“To see where we are. I have no idea. We get dinged early and we’re not ready, okay, I’ve got work to do. We hold our own and we know let’s tighten this thing up and see the areas we’ve got to get better.

“You go on and you’re playing Illinois, Michigan, Miami. That’s all before Dec. 10. Why would you do that? Because we need to see where we are. This is about March. How do we get prepared to play then?

The SEC is loaded and expected to be one of the deepest conferences in the country this season. Arkansas is one of nine ranked in the league.

Others include No. 2 Alabama, No. 11 Auburn, No. 12 Tennessee, No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 19 Texas, No. 21 Florida, No. 23 Kentucky and No. 24 Ole Miss.

“Our league is really hard,” Calipari said. “The only way you know you’re ready for the league is to play non-conference where you’re getting stuffed a little bit. It’s okay.”