Sporting a burgundy blazer, Calipari navigated some tense moments with his new team as he began the fourth head coaching stint of his college basketball career. Lipscomb, which was picked to win the Atlantic Sun, led 17-12 early as Arkansas worked through some early jitters.

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.

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.