No. 10 Arkansas Upsets No. 2 St. John's in Thrilling Showdown of Coaching Legends

The Arkansas Razorbacks, seeded No. 10, shocked everyone on Saturday by toppling No. 2 St. John's, 75-66, in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32. The game, held at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, was more than just a battle of teams—it was a clash of coaching titans as John Calipari squared off against Rick Pitino.

St. John's became the first No. 2 seed to bow out of this year’s tournament. Their performance from the field was less than stellar, shooting a dismal 28% overall and an abysmal 2-for-22 from beyond the arc. Ouch, that’s the kind of shooting that makes you wonder if the hoop shrank overnight.

In a move that raised eyebrows, Pitino benched RJ Luis Jr., the Big East Player of the Year, late in the second half. Luis, who managed nine points and seven rebounds, struggled mightily, connecting on just 3-of-17 shots. Zuby Ejiofor worked overtime to keep St. John's in the game, scoring 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting and pulling down 12 rebounds. Deivon Smith added 13 points but couldn’t tip the scales.

Meanwhile, Arkansas didn't exactly light it up from downtown either, going 2-for-19 from three-point territory. But their overall shooting stood at a respectable 42.9%, and they managed to outplay St. John’s in nearly every other department. Billy Richmond III led the charge with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Karter Knox and Johnell Davis chipped in with 15 and 13 points, respectively.

The Razorbacks are now headed to the Sweet 16, marking an impressive milestone in Calipari’s debut season with Arkansas. The team will face off against the winner of No. 11-seeded Drake and No. 3-seeded Texas Tech, who play later on Saturday evening.

Arkansas fans, get ready—this Cinderella story isn’t over yet. Can Calipari's magic keep rolling deep into March Madness? We'll soon find out.