ARKANSAS GOLDEN LIONS MEN'S BASKETBALL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
**Arkansas Golden Lions Men's Basketball**
John Calipari's arrival marks a dramatic reset for Arkansas basketball, which aims to leverage the Hall of Fame coach's elite recruiting pedigree after landing in the Southeastern Conference competitive landscape. The Golden Lions operate from Bud Walton Arena, a 19,200-capacity venue in Fayetteville that provides substantial infrastructure for a program established at the University of Arkansas in 1873. With 15 scholarship athletes on the roster, Calipari faces the challenge of building immediate SEC competitiveness while developing talent through one of college basketball's most accomplished coaching frameworks.
Arkansas opened with a 19-6 overall record, including a dominant 15-3 performance at home against a 4-3 road mark in competitive non-conference scheduling. The offense generates 88.8 points per game while holding opponents to 76.5, creating a +12.3 scoring margin that suggests defensive structure under Calipari's system. Playing within a 2,670-student institution, the program operates with smaller enrollment compared to traditional basketball powerhouses, yet the venue and coaching credibility position the Golden Lions to compete at the highest level within the SEC's demanding conference play.
KEY FACTS
| School | University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff |
| Sport | Men's Basketball |
| Conference | Southwestern Athletic Conference |
| Division | D1-FCS |
| Location | Pine Bluff, Arkansas |
| Venue | Bud Walton Arena |
| Head Coach | John Calipari |
ROSTER (2025-26)
| # | Name | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Darius Acuff Jr. | G |
| 7 | Trevon Brazile | F |
| 2 | Amere Brown | G |
| 15 | Elmir Džafic | C |
| 12 | Malique Ewin | F |
| 0 | Jaden Karuletwa | G |
| 14 | Ayden Kelley | G |
| 11 | Karter Knox | G |
| 23 | Nick Pringle | F |
| 24 | Billy Richmond III | G |
| 35 | Karim Rtail | G |
| 30 | Isaiah Sealy | G |
| 99 | Paulo Semedo | F |
| 1 | Meleek Thomas | G |
| 21 | D.J. Wagner | G |
SEASON RECORD
26-8
Overall
21-3
Home
5-5
Away
1-0
Conference
89.9 PPG / 80.1 Opp PPG
SCHEDULE (2025-26)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4 | Southern Jaguars | W 109-77 |
| Nov 9 | Michigan State Spartans | L 66-69 |
| Nov 12 | Central Arkansas Bears | W 93-56 |
| Nov 15 | Samford Bulldogs | W 79-75 |
| Nov 19 | Winthrop Eagles | W 84-83 |
| Nov 22 | Jackson State Tigers | W 115-61 |
| Nov 28 | Duke Blue Devils | L 71-80 |
| Dec 4 | Louisville Cardinals | W 89-80 |
| Dec 6 | Fresno State Bulldogs | W 82-58 |
| Dec 13 | Texas Tech Red Raiders | W 93-86 |
| Dec 17 | Queens University Royals | W 108-80 |
| Dec 20 | Houston Cougars | L 85-94 |
| Dec 30 | James Madison Dukes | W 103-74 |
| Jan 3 | Tennessee Volunteers | W 86-75 |
| Jan 8 | Ole Miss Rebels | W 94-87 |
| Jan 10 | Auburn Tigers | L 73-95 |
| Jan 15 | South Carolina Gamecocks | W 108-74 |
| Jan 17 | Georgia Bulldogs | L 76-90 |
| Jan 21 | Vanderbilt Commodores | W 93-68 |
| Jan 24 | LSU Tigers | W 85-81 |
| Jan 28 | Oklahoma Sooners | W 83-79 |
| Jan 31 | Kentucky Wildcats | L 77-85 |
| Feb 7 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | W 88-68 |
| Feb 11 | LSU Tigers | W 91-62 |
| Feb 15 | Auburn Tigers | W 88-75 |
| Feb 19 | Alabama Crimson Tide | L 115-117 |
| Feb 21 | Missouri Tigers | W 94-86 |
| Feb 26 | Texas A&M Aggies | W 99-84 |
| Mar 1 | Florida Gators | L 77-111 |
| Mar 5 | Texas Longhorns | W 105-85 |
| Mar 7 | Missouri Tigers | W 88-84 |
| Mar 14 | Oklahoma Sooners | W 82-79 |
| Mar 14 | Ole Miss Rebels | W 93-90 |
| Mar 15 | Vanderbilt Commodores | W 86-75 |
ANALYTICS
+9.9
Pt Diff
W5
Streak
63.4%
SOS
#361
T-Rank
Barthag: 0.0843
95.4
Adj O
117.4
Adj D
OTHER SPORTS AT ARKANSAS
SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONF. MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAMS
- Alabama A&M Alabama A&M
- Alabama State Hornets
- Alcorn State Braves
- Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
- Florida A&M Florida A&M
- Grambling State Tigers
- Jackson State Tigers
- Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
- Prairie View A&M Panthers
- Southern University, Baton Rouge Southern University, Baton Rouge
- Texas Southern Tigers
MORE MEN'S BASKETBALL IN ARKANSAS
Browse all NCAA Division I men's basketball programs in Arkansas.
Arkansas Men's Basketball ProgramsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What conference does Arkansas Men's Basketball compete in?
- Arkansas Golden Lions Men's Basketball competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conf. conference at the NCAA D1-FCS level.
- Where does Arkansas play men's basketball home games?
- Arkansas Men's Basketball plays home games at Bud Walton Arena in Pine Bluff, AR.
- Who is the head coach of Arkansas Men's Basketball?
- The head coach of Arkansas Golden Lions Men's Basketball is John Calipari.
- When was Arkansas Men's Basketball program established?
- The establishment date for Arkansas Men's Basketball is not currently available.