Selection Sunday is just hours away, and the pressure is on for teams sitting on the bubble. One of those teams is John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks, who are hoping to sneak into the big dance despite a disappointing second-round exit in the SEC tournament against Ole Miss. “Hopefully we’ve done enough and done enough in this league,” said an optimistic Calipari. He’s banking on a key player’s return to strengthen their case for a tournament spot. Will it be enough? Analysts don’t seem to think so.
Former two-time ACC Coach of the Year and current ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg dropped an interesting piece of news on air. Greenberg revealed that Razorbacks head coach John Calipari texted him, saying he expects Boogie Fland to play in the NCAA tournament. Does the return of the freshman guard give the Hogs a boost for Selection Sunday? Well, Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman aren’t so sure about that.
Speaking on The Field of 68: After Dark podcast, Rob Dauster didn’t hold back while discussing the entire incident. He said, “Like that’s gonna impact their seeding (Fland coming back). If anything, that should make them get seeded lower.” Why does Dauster say that?
Anyone who’s followed the Razorbacks knows how rough their SEC campaign started. They lost their first five games — and the New York native was healthy during that stretch. It was only after Fland got injured that Arkansas found its rhythm, thanks to sophomore guard DJ Wagner. His 11 points and 3.5 assists per game helped steady the ship after Fland injured his thumb.
Jan 14, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari in a huddle on a tie out against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Jeff Goodman reiterates that by saying, “This isn’t what you want Cal, because if you want the committee to judge you with Boogie Fland you’re not a tournament team” While analysts might not like it, Fland returning will be a huge boost for Calipari and co.
Fland, the No. 1 PG and a four-star recruit from On3’s 2024 Industry Rankings, featured in 18 games for Arkansas this season. He put up 15.1 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game through the non-conference slate and five conference matchups. That puts him at the top of the team in assists and second in both scoring and steals behind Adou Thiero. That’s not all. He was also Arkansas’ most consistent shooter in the backcourt, draining 35 triples at a clip of 1.9 per game.
That said, Dauster and Goodman aren’t the only ones who think Calipari is using this news to sway the selection committee. CBS’ Seth Davis shares the same opinion. Let’s see what he had to say about it.
Seth Davis on Calipari trying to influence the committee
“Depends on how far we advance.Not in this tournament. We advance a couple of weeks, maybe.” That’s what Calipari said before the start of the SEC tournament, all but confirming that both Boogie Fland and Adou Thiero likely won’t feature in the NCAA tournament either. After all, the Razorbacks probably wouldn’t make it past the First Four without their two best players.
But with the news that Fland might well be back for the NCAA tournament, suggestions are that this is Calipari’s way of influencing the committee. Seth Davis certainly felt that and he took to X to share his thoughts. “The cynic in me wonders if this announcement was timed in hopes of influencing the committee to tilt things Arkansas’ way if it’s close. And it’s close.”
The cynic in me wonders if this announcement was timed in hopes of influencing the committee to tilt things Arkansas’ way if it’s close. And it’s close. https://t.co/9WwW4sK7bX— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 15, 2025
Calipari is no stranger to navigating the bubble—or using public messaging to his advantage. During his 15 years at Kentucky, he guided teams through late-season slumps to NCAA bids, often emphasizing resilience or key player returns to sway perceptions. In 2019, PJ Washington’s return from injury helped propel the Wildcats to an Elite Eight run. Announcing Fland’s availability now, just hours before the Selection Show on March 16, fits this pattern. Yet, as Davis suggests, the committee might see through the timing, especially with Arkansas teetering as a 10-seed in most projections.
Boogie Fland has been sidelined for nearly two months with a thumb injury he suffered against Florida. He’s missed 15 games since then, working toward a comeback. So, his return isn’t exactly surprising, but the timing of the news does feel like classic Coach Cal strategy. But that is something only time will say. For now, having their star guard back is definitely a boost for the Hogs. Stay tuned for more updates!
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