The NCAA has increased scholarship limits for men’s basketball from 13 to 15, but the change does not mean Arkansas coach John Calipari is budging on his unique roster-building strategy.
The Hall of Fame head coach made plenty of headlines in the spring when he went public with his plans to go all-in on an 8-9 man rotation with the final roster spots designated for new-age walk-ons and developmental players.
Does two extra scholarships mean two extra rotation pieces to dip into the chicken fund for and provide added depth?
“Nope. I’m having 8 or 9, and then I’ll fill out the roster,” Calipari said. “You know what I can do? I can give walk-ons scholarships now if I choose to. Maybe I use that somewhere else. Maybe I can get GA’s who can still play and I use it that way.”
Calipari has been vocal throughout the offseason in his belief that his final team at Kentucky — which earned a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament but was upset by Oakland in the Round of 64 — had too many mouths to feed when it was at full strength.
He remains bullish in his intent to not be burned by the same flame twice…
“I want to coach every player like he’s a starter, which is what I’ve always done,” Calipari said. “When you have 12 or 13, that stretches you a little bit. Last year, we ended up with one or two too many after injuries and we got healthy. Hard.
“But what you don’t want with these transfers, every kid is a free agent at the end of the year. You have eight or nine, maybe one or two stay, but you’re not dealing with 10-11-12 saying you gotta do this, you’ve gotta start me. No. And I’m not coaching a player so another guy can coach him.”
The flip side of the coin is what happens if Arkansas is bit by the injury bug this season and does not have the depth to overcome it due to the roster construction?
“There are all kinds of ways to do this, and if this isn’t the right way, I’ll change,” Calipari said. “Normally I’ll change fast, but I’m thinking this is the right way.”
Big Blue Nation will certainly be quick to chuckle at the last sentence above as the narrative in Lexington was that Calipari was stuck in his ways and unwilling to evolve the last few years.
However, he has already shown the ability to adapt in Fayetteville with what will be one of his older rosters.
Gone are the days of loading up with one-and-done freshmen. Calipari has his eyes set on a more balanced roster moving forward.
“We’re involved with the players we need to be involved with,” he said. “We want to have four freshmen come in and do what my freshmen have done in the past.
“Probably can’t get to where I used to be where we’d take six or seven. You can’t now because you’re going to have to have some players return and maybe a transfer or two. That will be how we build rosters.”