Cameron Boozer, a freshman forward, is averaging 21.1 points and 9.9 rebounds, contributing significantly to the Blue Devils’ record. Boozer and the Duke Blue Devils are set to face the Arkansas Razorbacks this Thursday night. Ahead of the game, Razorback’s HC John Calipari evaluted his oppenent and understands that his defense has their work cut out for them.

John Calipari’s evaluation indicates that the hardest task for the young Razorbacks in terms of defense this season is to keep Boozer under control. Calipari was straightforward when he analyzed Boozer’s game.

“The best part of his game is that he offensively rebounds his own misses. He’s a terrific passer. So, you can say, ‘Well, let’s double-team him.’ Well, now for the rest of the guys, the game is easier for him,” John Calipari explained on CBS Sports.

The coach from Arkansas shared how he dealt with the freshmen guards, Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. Their vibrant combination exists as the top backcourt in the country from the coach’s point of view.

“Today I’ll just call them in and have the following conversation: ‘Look, I know I am trying to get you to do certain things, but I’m going to accept some of your mistakes, so just go ahead and play’, John Calipari continued.

The formation of this trust is very important, as the two players have not been in their A-game as of late. Thomas succeeded in making just a third of his attempts against Michigan State, and his teammate Acuff’s success rate in the game that ended 84-83 for Winthrop was 30%, which is all he could do.

The match on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS is going to be a factor that decides the outcome. Duke is one of the strongest teams of the season, and their latest signing could help them continue their dominance next season. This season they are already coming in with an astounding average of 93.6 points per game and being the third most efficient offense in the nation. They have demonstrated their strength by scoring at least 100 points three times in the current season.

Arkansas, on the other hand, has the 38th-best defense in the whole country, but the day-to-day problems of their defense lately—Winthrop being able to score 48% in the field and in the three-point area—made Calipari very unhappy and voiced his anger in the post-game interview. The Razorbacks have a historical 3-2 advantage in the series, with last season’s game in Fayetteville going their way with a score of 80-75, but this Duke team is a different story. Calipari has been working hard behind the scenes to grow his squad.

John Calipari adds elite recruits as Arkansas rises

John Calipari is in the midst of two struggles. While preparing the young Razorbacks for the upcoming clash with Duke on Thursday, he is quietly building something more significant behind the scenes. Arkansas recently acquired the No. 10 recruiting class in the whole country for 2026, adding the number to their No. 3 class from 2025. The message was unmistakable. Calipari relocated to Fayetteville with the intention of dominating both the present and the future.

The most important recruit is five-star small forward JaShawn Andrews, who ranks No. 12 in the nation. Andrews possesses such extraordinary athleticism that his performance is always captured in highlight videos, along with a three-point shot that continues to improve.

What exactly is the significance of this signing? Calipari persuaded the Arkansas-born player to opt for home instead of going to Kentucky, Duke, or Kansas. Such things do not happen unless a school is genuinely ascending.

The four-star forward Abdou Toure, along with Andrews,  stand at the overall 31st position. Toure offers a big body, the ability to block shots, and the defensive toughness Arkansas is looking for. These two players are the best fit for Calipari’s fast-paced game, with Andrews opening the floor from the wing position and Toure taking care of the basket area.