John Calipari's Razorbacks finally pass eye test in win over Michigan

Through Arkansas' first nine games of the season, something seemed off regarding John Calipari's first squad in Fayetteville. 

Despite a 7-2 record, the Razorbacks hadn't fully impressed a fan base promised a team that would be among the best in the nation. Even Arkansas' best win to that point, a 76-73 triumph over Miami on Dec. 3, was riddled with stretches of poor performance where the Hogs barely looked like they'd receive an invite to the NIT. 

That's why it was such a surprise on Tuesday when Arkansas took down No. 14 Michigan inside Madison Square Garden. Arkansas trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half and, after leading itself by 18 points in the second half, held on for a two-point victory. 

In Calipari's biggest win yet as Head Hog, the Razorbacks did something very important: they finally passed the eye test. 

At the end of the day, the only thing that matters in sports is the end result. Good losses and moral victories don't change the fact that a loss is recorded in the ledger. Nor does a sloppy win change the fact that the opposing coach would swap places with the winning coach in a heartbeat. 

But for a team with high expectations, such as Arkansas, passing the eye test in non-conference play is almost as important as winning the game itself. Aside from a 74-point win over Maryland Eastern Shore, Arkansas hadn't passed the eye test in 2024. Stretches of sloppy play were always bound to pop up, even against inferior competition. 

Against the likes of Baylor and Illinois, Arkansas looked thoroughly outmatched for large portions of the game. Even against a struggling 3-7 Miami squad, the Hogs went through stretches where it looked as if former Razorback coach John Pelphrey — who only made the NCAA Tournament once in four seasons in Fayetteville — was back on the sidelines at the U of A. 

While the Hogs did struggle early and let Michigan back in the game in the closing minutes, they also went on a run to begin the second half, where the preseason championship aspirations were validated. Boogie Fland looked like the incredibly talented point guard he was advertised to be, and guard D.J. Wagner appeared to have finally found his stroke from the outside. 

When Arkansas held on for a huge resume-building victory, it seemed as if the whole of the Natural State breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Calipari's first Arkansas squad was as good as it was advertised to be. 

Arkansas must get through the gauntlet of SEC play in order to reach the NCAA Tournament again after a one-year hiatus, but the Razorbacks' victory over Michigan helped the Hogs pass the eye test and prove to their critics that they aren't a team to be taken lightly.