In Fayetteville, Arkansas, John Calipari, the coach of the Razorbacks, appeared on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday to talk about his recent roster additions. He didn’t shy away from expressing confidence in the solid team he has assembled, emphasizing their potential to contend for a title in the upcoming 2024-25 season.
On Tuesday, he welcomed two new players: Melo Sanchez, a transfer from Hawaii Pacific, and Jaden Karuletwa, a freshman guard.
Calipari shared with the Pat McAfee Show, “Now we’ve added Melo [Sanchez] and Jaden [Karuletwa] as our 10th and 11th players on the roster. We’ll be fine. I’m optimistic about the team. It’s about blending them together and making them play as a unit.”
Reflecting on his college coaching career, he noted, “My most successful teams always had multiple players who went on to play professionally in the rotation.” He added, “When my teams win, six guys end up getting drafted. Imagine if we win, go to a Final Four, or even win a national championship. Everyone on the team will benefit.”
Calipari has emphasized a shift in his roster-building strategy, moving away from relying heavily on freshmen and prioritizing more experienced players.
“We started five freshmen and made it to the national championship game [in 2014],” Calipari noted. “I think those days are over now. It’s tough when your opponents are 25, 24, 26 years old and your players are just 19.”
Despite this shift, Calipari remains optimistic about the potential of his freshmen players. Boogie Fland, Karter Knox, and Calipari are all considered promising NBA prospects who are likely to receive invitations to the combine.
“I believe I have three exceptional freshmen this year who will have the opportunity to showcase their talent and enter the draft,” Calipari said. “I’m working on bringing everything together.”
