Rivalries are constructed on nights like this. And Arkansas players made sure Kentucky fans knew precisely how they felt following the 89-79 victory in Rupp Arena on Saturday night.
As they headed back to the locker room, Razorbacks guard Johnell Davis delivered a stark message: “We know who the real Kentucky is. Get the f*** outta here.” Not to be outdone, Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivisic, who goes by “Big Z,” tossed in his own declaration: “We run Kentucky for now.”
The bold words came after a dominating performance against Kentucky for the first time since leaving Lexington when new Arkansas head coach John Calipari faced his former team. Calipari, who had so much success building a legacy at Kentucky, seemed to have a little extra motivation, out coaching Mark Pope in a game that felt like a redemption arc for the veteran coach.
Arkansas player comments on their way back to the locker room:
Johnell Davis: “We know who the real Kentucky is. Get the f*** outta here.”
Big Z: “We run Kentucky for now.”
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) February 2, 2025
Meanwhile, Davis’ no-holds-barred comment underscores the swagger this Arkansas team is playing with under Calipari’s leadership. With tensions high and stakes even higher, this game has all the makings of a rivalry renewed. Stay tuned—Arkansas isn’t done making headlines just yet.
(More to follow … stay tuned!)
Sub-heading:
The Razorbacks shot a blistering 52% from the field, showing their mettle under duress. Be it Davis’s slicing through defenses for tough finishes or Big Z dominating the paint, the Razorbacks seemed to find a way to score on a Kentucky defense that was considered one of the best in the country. The highly touted transfer from Florida Atlantic, Davis, led the charge with 18 points, with 12 coming in the first half.
The fact that it’s not just a matter of attack is that they outrebounded Kentucky 38-29 speaks volumes about Arkansas’ effort. Big Z dominated the boards so much, denying Kentucky second shots and feeding transition plays for the Razorbacks in the process, and his game-high 14 points were monumental in keeping this momentum going by Arkansas.
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