PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — John Calipari is heading to the Candy 16 for the sixteenth time, guiding the Arkansas Razorbacks previous nemesis Rick Pitino and second-seeded St. John’s 75-66 on Saturday to carry his fourth college to the NCAA Event’s second week.
Billy Richmond III scored 16 factors and Karter Knox had 15 for the Tenth-seeded Razorbacks, who despatched Kansas and their Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Self residence from the “Area of Coaches” within the first spherical.
However the victory over his longtime rival was particularly candy for Calipari.
Zuby Ejiofor had 23 factors and 12 rebounds for Massive East champion St. John’s (31-5) — an unprecedented sixth college Pitino has taken to the event. His historical past in Windfall — the Friars reached the 1987 Remaining 4 in his tenure — gave him a home-court benefit.
However in a poor-shooting foulfest, Arkansas (22-13) barely did sufficient to get rid of St. John’s — making the Purple Storm the primary crew seeded No. 4 or larger to exit what’s been a chalky event to date.
The groups mixed to make 4 3-pointers on 41 makes an attempt, with St. John’s taking pictures 28% from the ground total. After slicing an eight-point lead with eight minutes left to 2, 62-60, the Purple Storm missed their final seven 3-point makes an attempt.
Up subsequent
Arkansas heads to San Francisco to play the winner of Saturday evening’s matchup in Wichita, Kansas, between third-seeded Texas Tech and No. 11 seed Drake.
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