John Calipari describes how Arkansas transfer additions have adapted

Heading into the second season of the John Calipari era at Arkansas, the Razorbacks seem to be rolling with a vintage Cal roster.

This includes five freshmen, led by five-star guards Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, some veterans such as D.J. Wagner and Trevon Brazile and talented transfers in Nick Pringle (formerly at South Carolina) and Malique Ewin (formerly at Florida State).

Calipari discussed how Arkansas‘ two lone transfer additions have adapted so far earlier this month.

“Well you know what with Nick [Pringle], I forgot how good of a defender he was on the ball with pick-and-rolls,” Calipari said. “I watched some tape of our game when [South Carolina] smashed us and he was switching out on our guards and they couldn’t get by him. And Malique Ewin is four-or-five skilled. Good passer and you can play through him kind of like Tre Mitchell that I had [at Kentucky].

“You can play through him and he can shoot the ball so you can make passes. He’s got to get in better shape and he’s got to play at a faster pace at times, but he’s gonna learn that. He will. They’re both good.”

John Calipari enters second season as Arkansas head coach

The first season at Arkansas for Calipari was a definitive rollercoaster, as the Razorbacks rolled through non-conference play with an 11-2 record but lost their first five SEC games by an average of 12.2 points per game. The Hogs however bounced back and went 8-5 in their final 13 conference games, heading into the SEC Tournament as the No. 9 seed.

After downing No. 16 seed South Carolina in the First Round, Arkansas was eliminated by No. 8 seed Ole Miss following a game-winning three by Sean Pedulla. This loss lit a fire under Calipari’s team, as it downed No. 7 seed Kansas and No. 2 seed St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the Sweet Sixteen.

“Right now, you can tell, I’m more comfortable,” Calipari continued. “Like, (last year) I had walk in here and I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know the campus. You guys have to understand, I was never on this campus. … So I’m just more comfortable.

“And let me tell you, I’m so happy and comfortable and at peace with what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. Because we’re about the kids. It ain’t this and that, it’s about those kids. Now, if we do our job, they’ll lead us to where we’re trying to go.”