John Calipari to make Arkansas debut against Kansas in charity exhibition in October

Updated Sep. 18, 2024 1:22 p.m. ET

Associated Press

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The debut of John Calipari at Arkansas will come in a charity exhibition game against Kansas next month.

The schools announced Wednesday that their men's basketball teams would meet Oct. 25 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Proceeds from the game will be split between the Fore the Kids Foundation, which is based in Overland Park, Kansas, and promotes mental health among children, and the Arkansas Children's Hospitals.

Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas after 15 seasons, which included four trips to the Final Four and the 2012 national title. He said at the time the Wildcats' program “needs to hear another voice,” and Calipari headed to SEC-rival Arkansas to replace Eric Musselman, who left for the same job at Southern California.

Calipari is also close to the Kansas program. He worked as an assistant under Ted Owens and Larry Brown in the 1980s.

“It is great for our program to be able to play these high-profile charity games,” Calipari said in a statement. “Not only is it an entertaining and valuable tool for the teams and fans but it also raises a lot of money for great causes.”

Arkansas will play another charity exhibition against TCU on Nov. 1 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Calipari has overhauled the Razorbacks since his arrival, bringing with him Kentucky transfers D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic. He also brought three high-profile recruits that originally signed with the Wildcats in Johnuel Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond, and landed transfers Johnell Davis from FAU and Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self also has retooled after a disappointing season, and could be the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25.

Self returned All-American center Hunter Dickinson, floor leader Dajuan Harris Jr. and versatile KJ Adams Jr., but supplemented that core with Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr, Zeke Mayo of South Dakota State and Rylan Griffen from Alabama. The Jayhawks also brought in prep prospects Flory Bidunga and Rakease Passmore who could help right away.

The exhibition game against Arkansas comes one week after Kansas hosts its 40th annual Late Night in the Phog.

“We are excited to be able to go play at Arkansas in an exhibition game and help raise money for a great cause,” Self said. “This game will give us a good idea to see where our team is before the season starts.”

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