Calipari has sold togetherness since his introductory press conference to Arkansas fans shortly after his hire. It was an emphasis at Kentucky, where he spent the last 15 seasons, winning a national championship in 2012.

Even if John Calipari wins big at Arkansas, he cautions that he might not win quickly, saying it takes two or three years to establish things the way he wants.

The exhibitions will give the Razorbacks a chance to see high-level teams before the games count toward their record, and to try different things. He mentioned his relationships with Jayhawks coach Bill Self and Horned Frogs coach Jamie Dixon as a reason for the games being played.