KU (Self) and Arkansas (Squid) to play exhibition

This part below is from the last paragraph of the article. HCBS is only 7 wins behind Barnes and 18 wins behind Calipari for being the winningest active coach in NCAA D1 bball. Wonder how long it'll take to pass them.

In 21 seasons at Kansas with a 588-143 record, Self is three wins from becoming the winningest coach in Kansas basketball history. He will pass Dr. F.C. "Phog" Allen who was 590-219 in 39 seasons at KU (1907-09; 1919-56). Additionally, Self has a career record of 795-248 in 31 seasons and is five wins from becoming the third active NCAA D1 head coach to amass 800 all-time wins. Calipari is first at 813-260 entering his 34th season, while Tennessee's Rick Barnes is next at 806-415 entering his 38th career season.

I certainly harbor some strong dislike for the Squid, but Self seems to have a decent relationship with him, so it is what it is.

That said, he's a LOT more tolerable at a tier 2 school and he'll probably elevate Arkansas standing over the next few years. Nevertheless, they'll never be a blue blood school, so he's somewhat less of a villain now that he's at a school that nobody outside of Arkansas seems to care about.

Expo games don't count for anything and there's a charity involved. Meanwhile our guys will get some reps against some top talent before it counts in the record books, so all good.

Frankly, I'd rather play the Squid's Razorbacks than Mizzou.

I don't see this as a move to a second tier school. With his name recognition and generations of Wal Mart $ to fund NIL packages he should be able to bring in 3 to 5 players per year that have a year or two of high D 1 experience and arrive in Fayetteville as late lottery to second round type players..

I agree that he'll be successful there for exactly the reasons you mention, but Arkansas is most definitely a step down prestige wise.

Calipari can elevate their program (not likely to blue-blood status), but Kentucky elevated HIS status, and/or the status of whoever goes there to coach.

Beating Arkansas in the Regional did provide us with FHCRW's best quip "Forty minutes of heck."