Arkansas shocks St. John's as Calipari edges Pitino in upset

In the U.S., the NCAA Tournament saw an unexpected turn of events as the 10th-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks upset the 2nd-seeded St. John's Red Storm with a score of 75-66 in the round of 32. The game took place on a Saturday at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. This defeat marked St. John's as the first No. 2 seed eliminated from the tournament, shocking fans and analysts alike. Arkansas, under the leadership of John Calipari, capitalized on St. John's dismal shooting performance, as they managed only 28% from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 22 attempts from three-point range. Despite these issues, Arkansas showcased a more balanced offensive approach. Leading Arkansas players included Billy Richmond III, who scored 16 points, and Karter Knox, who added 15 points to secure the win. Conversely, St. John's relied heavily on standout Zuby Ejiofor, who scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome their shooting struggles. The loss ended a spirited run for St. John's, which had high hopes after winning the Big East tournament just a week before. The defeat also highlighted the historical rivalry between Calipari and Pitino; they met for the 24th time on the court, with Calipari holding a 14-10 winning record against Pitino. The Razorbacks are now set to move on to the Sweet Sixteen in San Francisco and will face either the 3rd-seeded Texas Tech or 11th-seeded Drake, renewing their hopes for a deep tournament run amidst early-season challenges and injuries.