The decades-long Rick Pitino-John Calipari saga gets a new touch of Madness on Saturday, with second-seeded St. John’s favored against Arkansas. The Johnnies can make their first Sweet 16 run of the 21st century. The Razorbacks are trying to win multiple tourney games as a double-digit seed for the first time since 1996. They were a 12 seed in that tournament, and they ultimately lost to … Calipari’s UMass Minutemen.
How to watch No. 2 St. John’s vs. No. 10 Arkansas
- What: West Regional, second round
- Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion — Providence, R.I.
- Time: 2:40 p.m. ET, Saturday
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
- Watching in-person? Get tickets on StubHub.
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The Pitino-Calipari rivalry spans multiple decades and many state lines. At the helm of Louisville and Kentucky, respectively, they clashed in the 2012 Final Four and the 2014 Sweet 16. When Pitino was the one coaching Kentucky, he ran up against Calipari and UMass in the 1996 Final Four. Saturday’s action will be the fifth NCAA Tournament meeting between these prolific coaches; each has two wins thus far.
St. John’s won the Big East tourney for the first time since 2000. Year No. 2 under Pitino has been an unmitigated success. The Red Storm tout a disciplined, ferocious defense that creates takeaways without conceding fouls or open looks. The offense has dragged on plenty of occasions, but RJ Luis Jr. and Zuby Ejiofor can each get buckets in a crunch.
The defense turned the lights out on overwhelmed Omaha Thursday night. Brace yourselves for the shooting splits: 25.7 percent from the floor, 13.9 percent on 3s. Ejiofor had three blocks, four assists and five offensive boards.
Arkansas’ regular season wasn’t much like the Johnnies’ good-vibes parade through Queens. The Razorbacks lost their first five SEC tries and looked absolutely lost in the crowded SEC. They improved down the stretch, though, with wins over tournament entrants Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.
They dispatched Kansas in the first round, ending the collegiate careers of popular Jayhawks Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris Jr. Arkansas senior Jonas Aidoo was balling — 22 points, three steals and three blocks in 39 minutes Thursday. Fellow senior Johnell Davis shot 4-for-9 on 3s. The Hogs forced 16 turnovers and won on the offensive glass.
Andrew Catalon will be on the call for CBS. He’ll be joined by Steve Lappas for analysis and Evan Washburn on the sidelines.
This matchup can also be streamed on the NCAA March Madness Live app and Paramount+.
St. John’s vs. Arkansas odds
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(Photo of RJ Luis Jr.: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
