FAYETTEVILLE -- University of Arkansas men's basketball associate head coach Chin Coleman responded emphatically to criticism of head coach John Calipari, who was labeled "archaic" by anonymous coaches surveyed by national sportswriter Jeff Goodman. Speaking to the press just before the Razorbacks prepared to face Georgia, Coleman defended his coach, stating, "Absolutely, definitely not true. He's one of the most innovative coaches to ever coach. To say he's archaic, you're fishing, in my opinion." Coleman expressed gratitude for working under Calipari, who he described as the best coach in the business.
The Razorbacks are currently grappling with their worst performance of the season, heading to the game with Georgia on the heels of a five-game losing streak and struggling with a 0-5 record in Southeastern Conference play. Despite the team's challenges, Coleman assured fans and players alike, "I know we're in a little bit of a bad patch right now, but we're going to try our hardest to get out of it, and we've got the best man for the job." The weight of expectations is especially high as they seek to right the ship against the Bulldogs.
A bright spot for the Razorbacks has been sophomore Zvonimir Ivisic, who, after struggling recently due to injury, showed signs of resurgence by recording his first career double-double — 14 points and 10 rebounds — during the Razorbacks' loss to Missouri. Coleman praised Ivisic's efforts, stating, "Z and I have a really close relationship, and I was so happy for him. I talked to him later on... how proud of him I am to have some stick-to-it-iveness." He highlighted the need for Ivisic to duplicate this performance consistently to bolster the team’s success moving forward.
Looking at Georgia, Coleman acknowledged the challenge posed by freshman Asa Newell, who has started his collegiate career strongly, leading the SEC with 3.44 offensive rebounds per game and ranking high across several other statistics. Coleman noted, "He's great offensively. We've got to keep him off the offensive glass a lot. He's heavy, strong left-handed..." Preparations are being made to counter Newell's strength with Arkansas players like Trevon Brazile and Thiero Adou likely tasked with the responsibility of guarding him.
Arkansas faces additional hurdles as they attempt to improve their rebounding margin, currently one of the lowest at plus-1.72, ranking them 14th in the SEC. Coleman remarked on how other teams approach offensive rebounding: "I think a lot of these teams are treating every shot like it's a pass to themselves. The shot goes up, you've got guys running like crazy to get in there and track the ball down." He acknowledges the importance of meeting this physical challenge and improving teamwork to secure rebounds.
The Razorbacks will play at Walton Arena on January 18, 2024, against Georgia. The matchup is set to be pivotal for both Raider coasts, as they aim to shake off their winless streak and build momentum from this difficult period. Coleman's leadership and the team's determination to improve will be tested as they strive to capture their first SEC victory, adding to the rivalry with this matchup.
Despite the obstacles, the Razorbacks remain hopeful, with Coleman asserting the team’s focused mindset on overcoming its current losing streak. With Calipari at the helm and players like Ivisic stepping up, fans are eager to see if the squad can turn their season around against the Bulldogs.