In August, we conducted our annual Candid Coaches series, polling over 100 Division I staff members to identify the best high-major coaching hire of 2024. John Calipari emerged as the top choice, followed by Dusty May. Interestingly, these two coaches will face off Tuesday night when Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks take on May’s Michigan Wolverines in the 30th annual Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Is this the most exciting Jimmy V Classic doubleheader ever? Not quite.
The first matchup features Tennessee, newly crowned No. 1 in the AP Top 25, against a struggling Miami squad on a six-game losing streak. The night’s second game promises more intrigue, as the Razorbacks aim to upset Michigan to avoid falling to 7-3 this season, including an 0-3 record against top-85 opponents per BartTorvik.com rankings. A loss would be particularly tough for Calipari, given Arkansas’s preseason No. 16 ranking in the AP poll and the comparisons to his former school, Kentucky, now thriving under first-year coach Mark Pope. The Wildcats, ranked fifth with an 8-1 record, recently upset Gonzaga.
For Michigan, the stakes are different. Ranked 16th in CBS Sports’ Top 25 And 1 rankings, the Wolverines boast an 8-1 record with notable wins over Wisconsin, Iowa, and Xavier. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Michigan as 3.5-point favorites heading into this showdown.
With Michigan-Arkansas set to tip off around 9 p.m. ET following Tennessee-Miami, this high-profile coaching battle adds another layer of excitement to the Jimmy V Classic.
