FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas basketball and John Calipari will enter the upcoming season with aspirations of taking the Razorbacks to their first Final Four since 1995.
A pair of second-year players who returned for the coach synonymous with producing one-and-done NBA talent are a major factor in the optimism.
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Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III are both back for their sophomore campaigns with the Hogs. On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Calipari met with the local media to recap the first weeks of preseason practices and look ahead to the upcoming slate. He couldn’t help but express excitement over Knox and Richmond, while detailing how both players have improved this offseason.
Earlier this summer, Calipari said both players are much more confident in their second years with the program. They understand the pressures and physicality of college basketball and have developed their bodies this offseason to sustain the marathon season.
In Knox, Calipari sees a scoring wing ready to take a leap. He’s diversifying an offensive game that makes him a nightmare for opposing defenders.
“(Knox) has gotten better defining his game,” Calipari said. “Can’t just come out shooting 3s. Go to the rim, you’re a car crash. That makes you different because, yeah, ‘I can shoot a 3, but my game is attacking that basket, making easy plays, throwing, making hard cuts.’ He’s gotten better.”
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Knox averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and one assist during his freshman season, but those numbers were anchored down by a difficult start. He failed to score more than seven points in nine of his first 10 career games.
Something clicked in mid-December, and Knox was a consistent force in the back-half of SEC play. He reached double figures in scoring in six of the Hogs’ final seven games with only seven of his 33 made field goals coming from behind the arc.
Feb 22, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Karter Knox (11) shoots in the first half as Missouri Tigers guard Mark Mitchell (25) defends at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Knox started to show signs of that car-crash mentality during this stretch. He became more consistent getting to the free-throw line and finishing in traffic. According to Calipari, that trend will roll over into his sophomore season. Knox stood out with his backdoor cuts and dunking ability during an open practice in July.
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Richmond was proficient at doing the little things during his freshman season. He played backup point guard, spent time defending the opposing team’s best player, got out in transition and made an impact on the boards.
His biggest flaw at times was playing too fast, but Calipari doesn’t want to slow down the hyper-athletic lefty.
“The minute I say, ‘Billy Richmond,’ the room erupts. Why would they be like that about him? Plays hard. He dives on the floor. He’s deflecting balls. He has a spirit about him that picks up the whole room,” Calipari said.
“I’m trying to tell him, ‘That makes you a unicorn, or everybody would do that if it were easy. Now, you better be in the best shape of your life so you can play that way.”
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The next step for Richmond is to improve his jump shot. Richmond averaged 5.7 points, three rebounds and 1.4 assists last year, but he only shot 12.9% from the 3-point line. He was able to provide a signature moment late in the year as Richmond’s shooting saved Arkansas’ season in the Round of 32 win over St. John’s.
Seven months later, Calipari says Richmond is making progress. He’s been working tirelessly in the gym to develop better form and confidence. Both of those developments were on display during the summer’s open practice. Richmond did not miss from the mid-range and made multiple 3 pointers.
One thing both players bring to the table is elite defense. Richmond was strong from start-to-finish last year, while Knox came alive toward the back half. His four blocks against St. John’s set up Richmond’s heroics. The freshmen played massive roles in pushing Arkansas to the Sweet 16.
Now, the sophomores aim for a similar storyline that goes a couple steps further.
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Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@gannett.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: How Arkansas basketball’s sophomores are improving under John Calipari
