Calipari, a Naismith Hall of Fame coach, had won 855 games before being hired away by the Razorbacks. His first victory as Arkansas' coach, No. 856 overall, earned him a game ball from athletics director Hunter Yurachek as he had his players sign it for memory purposes.

The John Calipari era begins in Fayetteville on Wednesday night when the Arkansas Razorbacks host Lipscomb. Arkansas has only one scholarship player back from a team that finished a game below .500 last year, yet the Razorbacks open this season in the Top 25.

Acuff said he’s served on the board for the National Association of Basketball Coaches with Calipari for 10 or 12 years now and he’s gotten to know the first-year Razorbacks coach in a behind-the-scenes fashion that is somewhat rare for coaches.

John Calipari called the Hogs to a 1-0 start on Wednesday night as Arkansas began his highly anticipated coaching tenure with a 76-60 win over Lipscomb inside Bud Walton Arena. The Razorbacks used a 14-1 late run to pull away from the Bison,

John Calipari won his debut as Arkansas coach when the 16th-ranked Razorbacks held off a second-half rally by Lipscomb and pulled away for a 76-60 victory Wednesday night. Freshman guard Boogie Fland scored 17 points and Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis added 15 for Arkansas.