Friendship on pause as Calipari, Izzo lead Arkansas, Michigan State

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When John Calipari and Tom Izzo meet Saturday night at the Breslin Center, the basketball court will temporarily replace the phone line that often connects the two Hall of Fame coaches.

The longtime friends share a mutual respect that spans decades, but Arkansas and Michigan State will demand their full attention when the 14th-ranked Razorbacks travel to East Lansing, Mis., for their first road test of the season.

“He’s a Hall of Famer, and he’s a great friend,” Calipari said earlier this week. “He and I get on the phone with our wives listening and just laugh for 45 minutes, and then we feel better to go forward with all the crap we’re dealing with.

“Terrific coach, terrific person, and I’m proud about calling him my friend.”

The Razorbacks enter the weekend following a decisive opening win over Southern. Michigan State opened with an 80-69 victory against Colgate but left its head coach unsatisfied.

Hall of Famers share history on sidelines

Saturday’s meeting will be the sixth between Calipari and Izzo, two of college basketball’s most established coaches.

Calipari owns a 3-2 record in the matchup, though one of those wins—Memphis’ 2008 NCAA Tournament victory over Michigan State—was later vacated.

Four of their previous five games took place in the Champions Classic, most recently in 2022 when Izzo’s Spartans beat Calipari’s Kentucky in double overtime.

This weekend marks Calipari’s first time coaching at the Breslin Center, a venue known for its intense atmosphere.

“I’ve never coached in that arena and they tell me it is crazy,” Calipari said. “I don’t like coaching against friends. I think Tom’s the same way. Like, if we win, I’ll be excited and I’ll see him and I’ll feel like crap and he’ll be the same way.”

Calipari and Izzo are two of only four active coaches in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, joining Rick Pitino and Bill Self.

If Arkansas beats Michigan State, Calipari will have recorded wins over all three within the past year. The Razorbacks defeated Kansas and St. John’s in last season’s NCAA Tournament.

Physicality defines matchup

For Arkansas, the challenge will come in matching Michigan State’s trademark physicality. Izzo’s teams have built a national reputation for their toughness on the boards and commitment to defense.

Calipari expects nothing less this time around.

“This game we’re playing this weekend, this football game we’re going to play Saturday, you better be physical and know, foul out,” he said. “But you cannot just get pushed around. You’re not going to be able to play in the game.”

Arkansas held a 45-37 rebounding advantage in its opener, with 14 offensive boards.

Transfers Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle accounted for 12 of those and will need to continue that effort against the Spartans’ frontcourt.

Michigan State dominated the glass against Colgate, finishing with a 47-25 rebounding margin and 19 offensive boards that produced 20 second-chance points.

Izzo seeks sharper execution

Despite the season-opening win, Izzo wasn’t pleased with how his team performed.

His postgame comments carried the tone of a coach already eyeing areas for improvement before a ranked opponent arrives.

“A lot of work to do or we’re going to get our ass embarrassed on Saturday,” Izzo said.

That blunt assessment reflects the standard Izzo has maintained during nearly three decades at Michigan State.

The Spartans’ energy and rebounding rarely waver, but their coach expects sharper execution as the competition rises.

Arkansas, meanwhile, continues to adjust under Calipari, who is in his first season with the Razorbacks.

The trip to East Lansing offers an early measure of progress against one of the sport’s most consistent programs.

Respect endures beyond final horn

For two coaches who have shared countless stories off the court, the meeting represents another reminder of how respect and competition often intersect in college basketball.

When the game ends, the friendship resumes. But until then, it will be business for Calipari and Izzo, two peers whose shared history makes their meetings both personal and professional.

“It’s hard to coach against friends,” Calipari said. “But that’s the game.”

Key takeaways

• John Calipari and Tom Izzo, longtime friends and Hall of Famers, meet again as Arkansas visits Michigan State.
• The Razorbacks face a physical Michigan State team that dominated the glass in its opener.
• Both coaches view the matchup as an early-season barometer for their teams.