Indiana finally gets another crack at giving John Calipari nightmare fuel

The Indiana Hoosiers will be reunited with an old rival this fall.

On Monday, it was announced that Indiana will battle the Arkansas Razorbacks on November 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Along with being a fascinating non-conference matchup on the floor, the contest brings former Kentucky head coach and current Arkansas head coach John Caipari back to the opposing sideline against the Hoosiers. That hasn't happened since December 10, 2011, which was one of the most iconic games in Indiana basketball history.

That was the day of the "Wat Shot," as Christian Watford's buzzer-beating three-pointer gave unranked Indiana a 73-72 victory over the No. 1-ranked Wildcats. The shot has lived in Indiana basketball lore ever since it went through the net, and delivered one of the most unforgettable moments in the sports world during the 2010s.

Here it is again, just because it never gets old:

Unsurprisingly, Calipari did not handle the defeat well. He famously refused to play Indiana, and more specifically, at Assembly Hall, ever again following that game.

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The Hoosiers and Wildcats had met on the hardwood in nearly every season dating back to the 1960s. But the Wat Shot changed that. After 2011, the two teams did not play a single regular season game against one another until 2025 when Calipari had already left the Kentucky program for Arkansas. It was a shame to see, as the Hoosiers and Wildcats had established one of the best out-of-conference rivalries in all of college basketball over the span of more than half a century.

Now that Indiana and Arkansas are set for a non-conference battle in The Big Apple, the Hoosiers have a chance to give Calipari more nightmare fuel.

Darian DeVries can become a fan favorite by beating John Calipari

Entering Year 2 of his tenure in Bloomington, Darian DeVries has a great opportunity on his hands. Going head-to-head against Arkansas will not only be a great litmus test to see how the Hoosiers stack up against a Sweet 16 team from a year ago, but it gives him a chance to win over the hearts of the Hoosier faithful.

DeVries' first season leading the Hoosiers was underwhelming, as IU went 18-14 overall, 9-11 in Big Ten play, and ultimately went 1-6 down the stretch to doom their March Madness hopes. Of Indiana's 18 wins on the season, just one came against a ranked opponent. There were more disappointing moments than uplifting moments, and DeVries and his staff are undoubtedly looking to change that this season.

The Razorbacks lost plenty of production from last year's team, but they should still be a Final Four contender. Calipari brings in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, and Arkansas is ranked as the No. 11 team in the country according to ESPN's way-too-early Top-25 rankings.

After lacking a signature win last season, beating Calipari and the Razorbacks at Madison Square Garden could be just what the doctor ordered for DeVries this season.

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