Expect Arkansas to play well for a couple of reasons in the first official game of the John Calipari era Wednesday. The Razorbacks host Lipscomb at Bud Walton Arena at 7 p.m. with the action scheduled to stream on SEC+.
Reason one the Hogs will play well: Lipscomb nearly beat Arkansas last December, losing by three after trailing by eight at halftime in North Little Rock. Only one player remains from last season’s UA squad, Trevon Brazile, but you can rest assured Razorback coaches have reminded their players more than once that Lipscomb is no pushover.
Reason two the Hogs will play well: This one’s obvious, but it’s the season opener in front of a sellout home crowd that’ll be fired up to give their new Hall of Fame coach a rousing “official” welcome. Players will feed off that energy.
Reason three the Hogs will play well: One word rang loud and clear to me from Calipari’s short press conference following Arkansas’ one-point loss to TCU in last Friday’s exhibition game three miles from the Horned Frogs’ campus. That word was “arrogant.”…