Arkansas coach John Calipari had a heart-to-heart with his Razorbacks team Saturday following a 69-61 loss at No. 8 Texas A&M in which he reinforced the importance of playing with confidence and made clear that the team -- despite a hard-fought effort in defeat -- should in no way be content with any sort of moral victory as the regular season nears an end.

Already on the men’s NCAA tournament bubble, according to ESPN’s Bracketology, Arkansas and first-year head coach John Calipari can ill afford any major missteps over the next few weeks. That’s what made a close 69-61 loss to No. 8 Texas A&M on Saturday so disappointing.

The transition to Arkansas hasn't been easy for John Calipari. In his first season as head coach, the Razorbacks are 15-10 through their first 25 games—but are just 4-8 in the SEC. After losing a relatively close one to Texas A&M on Saturday in College Station,