The John Calipari era officially begins at Arkansas on Wednesday, but will the Razorbacks have the services of transfer big man Jonas Aidoo against Lipscomb?
The Preseason All-SEC forward has been progressing back from a lower leg injury in recent weeks but did not play in either of Arkansas’ exhibition contests against Kansas or TCU.
Assistant coach Chuck Martin met with media Tuesday morning to preview the Lipscomb game and gave the latest on Aidoo’s status.
“He’s getting better,” Martin said. “We’re taking it day by day. We’ll have a better feel hopefully by tomorrow morning, but he’s certainly getting better. We’re excited about the possibility of him returning soon.”
The Razorbacks have been bitten hard by the injury bug during the preseason, and a lack of available practice bodies has slowed the development of the team.
However, as Calipari noted on his radio show, things are looking up in the health department, which is exactly what the staff hoped for by taking a cautious approach early with eyes on being as close to full strength as possible when the results count.
“The issue has been we’ve been so beat up and hurt and nicked up that today was the first day we’ve had 10 guys,” Calipari said. “There were probably two weeks we practiced with five, and we went against GA’s. I thought we got a lot done.”
Whether or not Aidoo was one of the 10 Razorbacks available at practice is unknown, but there does appear to be continued increasing optimism in his eventual return.
Aidoo projects as an anchor for Arkansas in the front court on both ends of the floor. Last season on a Tennessee team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, he averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in an All-SEC campaign.
Arkansas and Lipscomb are set for a 7 p.m. (CT) tip from Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville (Ark.) and on ESPN+ on Wednesday. The Bisons picked up a 77-72 true road win at Duquesne in their opener Monday.
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