John Calipari brought a retooled Arkansas team assembled from the transfer portal and a strong recruiting class to Knoxville for its SEC opener against top-ranked Tennessee on Saturday afternoon. They weren’t ready for a Volunteers team that overwhelmed them with physicality and a 76-52 win.

“They kind of mistreated us,” Calipari said after the game. “I can’t remember the last time I beat a team with 30 rebounds (22). We have to think a little bit because everyone plays like that in this league.”

Tennessee did most of its damage along the boards, where it outscored the Razorbacks 51-29, including a 24-9 advantage on offense.

The Vols didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, making just 39% of their shots from the field, while Arkansas shot 38% from the field. But behind the rebounding advantage, Tennessee had 16 more shots than the Razorbacks and made seven more shots.

“They had more offensive rebounds than we did (Arkansas lead 29-25). I want you to hear what I just said,” Calipari said. “If you’re in there and you can’t rebound, you can’t be in it. Do not be angry with me. Don’t be mad at an assistant coach. Just rebound, otherwise someone else has to play, and that means you have to play head to head.”

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Igor Milicic was particularly effective on the glass, grabbing 18 rebounds in 36 minutes. At halftime, Milicic had three fewer rebounds than the entire Arkansas team combined and finished the game with more offensive rebounds (six) than the Razorbacks’ team leading rebounder (five).

Barnes’ program was particularly focused on defense and physicality during his tenure. This identity is what makes the ground so high and has made it an elite home in some cases in recent years.

“When you play this team, you better be ready to fight,” Calipari said. “And I don’t mean fistfight, I mean fight.”

“We lose a rebound battle, lose a 50-50 ball – that bothers us,” said Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler. “When we come back to the bench, we might lose a 50-50 ball and the guys get into each other, and if we lose a segment in rebounding, the coach comes at us or we come at each other. We just take a lot of pride in the little things and it shows how tough we really are.”

Tennessee’s improved offense raises the ceiling, and that has been evident all season. Calipari also noted this in his postgame press conference.

“Hats off to Tennessee,” Calipari said. “They’re number one for a reason, and they did that to us.”