Image – Sports Illustrated
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, October 24 on SEC Network+ with Josh Haley (play-by-play) and Joe Kleine (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas finishes exhibition play when they host Memphis on October 28.
Schedule: No. 15 Gonzaga at No. 12 Arkansas
Tune In: Saturday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Gonzaga will stream on SEC Network+ with Josh Haley (play-by-play) and Joe Kleine (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play) and Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call from inside Bud Walton Arena.
Notes:
John Calipari enters his third season as head coach of Arkansas after 15 years of success at Kentucky. Calipari led the Razorbacks to a 28-9 overall record that included 13 SEC wins in the regular season and their first conference tournament championship since 2000. Calipari also led Arkansas to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season and his Razorbacks will look to build upon that this season, starting Saturday afternoon against Gonzaga.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr., who was the consensus national high school player of the year during his senior season at Paul VI in Washington DC, impressed during Arkansas’ four games in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, where he led the Razorbacks by averaging with 21.2 points, 5.8 assists and 3 steals per game. John Calipari has said Smith is changing the culture in Fayetteville, so his impact should be great as a freshman this season.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson is a huge transfer addition for Arkansas after they lost the shooting threats of guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas to the NBA. Wilkinson scored 17 points for Georgia in a victory against the Razorbacks on Jan. 17 last season before dropping 30 points in a loss to Saint Louis on in the Round of 64 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. On a team full of youth, Wilkinson’s experience and three-point shooting acumen will be vital for Arkansas to be successful this season.
Guard/Wing Billy Richmond III, the lone returner for Arkansas that saw meaningful minutes last season, will be vital to the Razorbacks’ success this season as a leader. During the off-season, Richmond became a coach on the floor and the guy any of the Razorbacks’ four newcomers could go to if they had a question. After a four-game run last February that saw Richmond score 20 or more points, he only averaged 8.3 points, 3 assists and 2.8 rebounds across his action in the Bahamas over the summer.
Wing/Forward Miikka Muurinen was finally cleared to play ton Sept. 30. As a result, Muurinen did not play in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, but he has impressed in practices the media has gotten to see and at the Primetime at the Palace Event back on Oct. 2.
Forward/Center Cooper Bowser is the only senior on the Arkansas roster after transferring following a season where he won Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and led the country in dunks at Furman last season. Bowser started the first two games in the Bahamas but after being outperformed by reclassed freshman Caleb Ourigou, he came off the bench. Across his action, Bowser averaged 4.8 points, 5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
Mark Few enters his 28th season as Gonzaga’s men’s basketball coach. Few helped the Bulldogs to a 31-4 record and a 16-2 mark in their final season in the West Coast Conference. The Zags also won the WCC Tournament Championship before falling in the Round of 32. The last time Few saw the Razorbacks, Eric Musselman’s team defeated him and Gonzaga 74-68 on March 24, 2022 to upset the No. 1 overall seed and move onto the Elite Eight.
Guard Xaivian Lee spent last season as the backcourt mate of former Arkansas guard Boogie Fland at Florida. Lee helped the Gators to an SEC regular season championship before they bowed out in the Round of 32 to Iowa. Lee averaged 11.6 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and shot 42% from the field in his lone season at Florida after transferring from Princeton.
Guard Isiah Harwell transferred from Houston to play for Mark Few at Gonzaga. Harwell scored 6 points against the Razorbacks in their 94-85 win last season on Dec. 20. Harwell averaged 3.6 points, 2 rebounds, and shot 27.9% from the field as a freshman last season.
Guard Davis Fogle emerged as an important piece for Mark Few after his teammate Braden Huff’s injury last season. Fogle is expected to take an even bigger jump this season after averaging 8.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per gamewhile shooting an incredible 51.8% from the field.
Forward/Center Braden Huff would have been an All-American last season if it weren’t for his left knee injury he suffered in practice last January. Despite the game not counting on either team’s record, Huff could be the biggest challenge in the front court before SEC play arrives for Arkansas in January. Huff averaged 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting an incredible 66.2% from the field.
Center Massamba Diop transferred from Arizona State to Gonzaga in the off-season. Diop is a raw talent but will definitely be a challenge for a young Arkansas front court. Diop averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and shot 56.9% from the field as a freshman last season.
For more news, analysis, and coverage, visit https://carterbhuffsports.com, follow @cbhsports_ on X and @carterbhuffsports on Instagram, and subscribe to Carter B. Huff Sports on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@carterbhuffsports.
