Copyright Arkansas Online
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A win for the No. 14 University of Arkansas men's basketball team at 6 p.m. Central on Saturday on the road against No. 22 Michigan State would come with a downside for Coach John Calipari. "I don't like coaching against friends," he said Monday of Tom Izzo. "I think Tom's the same way. Like, if we win, I'll be excited and I'll see him and I'll feel like crap." Calipari and Izzo have coached for a combined 65 seasons, 1,616 victories and 14 trips to the Final Four, with one national title apiece. Calipari owns a 3-2 advantage against Izzo. Arkansas will be the third different school Calipari will coach against Izzo, who has been with the Spartans since the 1995-96 season. Calipari won the first meeting while coaching Memphis in the 2008 Sweet 16 in Houston. He also won in 2016 and 2019 with Kentucky at Madison Square Garden in New York. Izzo swiped a 2013 game against Kentucky at United Center in Chicago. Izzo also avenged the most recent pair of losses to Calipari by winning their last matchup in 2022, 86-77 in Indianapolis, which lasted two overtimes. The matchup Saturday snaps a four-game repetition in their series of traveling to neutral courts for the Champions Classic. It is the first leg of a home-and-home series between the Spartans and the Razorbacks; Michigan State will visit Walton Arena next season. While Calipari is "excited" for his coaching debut at the Breslin Center, it also serves as a homecoming for freshman Darius Acuff Jr. The former 5-star Arkansas guard last played in the Spartans' home arena about two and a half years ago as part of Cass Technical High School's first state championship. Acuff averaged 21.4 points and 5.7 assists that season as a sophomore. He is from Detroit and grew up a Michigan fan, though he has "a lot" of respect for Izzo, who also recruited him. "It meant everything," Acuff said Thursday of the school's title. "That was the whole thing. That's why I wanted to win it. ... If anybody saw me, I ran straight to the crowd with my family. That's how excited I was. I ain't even stay on the court." Acuff transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his final two years of high school. Acuff has a growing list of family members and friends who are attending Saturday's game. Some are fellow college players who have the day off. Acuff said he was overexcited for a homecoming game during his senior year of high school, though he plans to stay more grounded with his college team. "I can't wait to see everybody before the game, of course, I'm going to be excited to see them," Acuff said. "But once the game gets started, I'm going to forget that I'm even at home. So, I'm just worried about the game and leaving out of there with a win." Calipari said Monday he was told of Breslin Center's "crazy" atmosphere. Acuff knows it well. "I told them it was kind of crazy," Acuff said. "I don't think some of them really knew. I told them it's going to be packed in there. ... I think (associate head coach Chin Coleman) knows. He coached in the Big Ten, so he knows about it. A couple of guys know." Calipari and players focused on improving defensively after a 109-77 win against Southern in Arkansas' season opener Monday. The Jaguars shot 12 for 27 (44.4%) from three-point range against the Razorbacks (1-0). Calipari was also pleased the win turned a little physical. "We had some guys that didn't play well in a physical game," Calipari said. "This football game we're going to play Saturday, you'd better be physical and know, foul out. In the first half, foul out. But you can not just get pushed around. You're not going to be able to play in the game." Acuff shined Monday with 20 first-half points, shooting 7 for 10 from the floor and 3 for 3 three-point range. Fourteen of those points came in the final three minutes of the first half. "I subbed back in and was back there ready to play, I guess," he said. "I don't really know what really happened. ... It was just great to get in that little groove real quick, felt good, but definitely credit to my teammates. They found me." Michigan State (1-0) pulled away late from Colgate on Monday to win 80-69 after leading 37-34 at halftime. The Spartans won the Big Ten regular-season title last year with a 17-3 record in league play. As a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, they lost 70-64 to No. 1 Auburn in the Elite Eight. Michigan State's starters were all returners: guards Jeremy Fears Jr. and Kur Teng alongside forwards Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper. Fears and Kohler started in the Auburn loss, Carr and Cooper came off the bench and Teng didn't play. Michigan State lost its three top scorers from a season ago. Jaden Akins is with the Detroit Pistons' G League affiliate, Jase Richardson was picked 25th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic and Tre Holloman transferred to NC State. Carr, Kohler and Fears, in order, were fourth through sixth in scoring. "He's got a great pace," Acuff said of Fears. "He plays the point guard very well. A lot of Izzo point guards play that way. ... We know he can pass. But you've just got to stay in front. ... Great college point guard and it's going to be a good matchup." Regardless of the winner Saturday, perhaps Calipari and Izzo will reminisce about the game with a phone call. They talk often, usually about the modern college athletics landscape. "He and I get on the phone, with our wives listening, and just laugh for 45 minutes," Calipari said. "And then we feel better to go forward with all the crap we're dealing with. Terrific coach, terrific person and I'm proud about calling him my friend." The game Saturday will be televised on Fox. Matt Byrne is the Bob Holt Razorback Reporter, named in honor of the longtime reporter who covered University of Arkansas sports. This position is funded by the ADG Community Journalism Project.
