WASHINGTON — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Cavaliers is set for Noon Sunday, November 8 on ESPN with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas returns home to Fayetteville to face Robert Morris on Wednesday, November 11.
Schedule: No. 12 Arkansas (1-0) vs. No. 9 Virginia (2-0) (Washington DC; Capital Showcase)
Tune In: Sunday afternoon’s matchup between Arkansas and Virginia will stream on ESPN with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (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 Capital One Arena.
Notes: John Calipari helped Arkansas win their 53rd home opener in a row and move to 34-0 in openers at Bud Walton Arena in a 106-61 domination of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night. His Razorbacks will face their first test when they travel to Washington DC to face AP No. 9 Virginia on Sunday afternoon.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr. returns to his hometown of Washington DC to face Virginia after posting 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, four rebounds, three steals and two assists against UAPB. Smith’s defensive capabilities will prove valuable against a Virginia team that is hoping guard Chance Mallory takes a big step as a breakout player this season.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson led Arkansas to a big win against UAPB with a team-high 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field and a 4-for-7 mark from behind the three point line. Wilkinson also recorded six rebounds, a team-high five steals, three assists and a block against the Golden Lions on Tuesday night. If Wilkinson continues his hot shooting against Virginia, things will go well for the Razorbacks.
Guard Billy Richmond III was the head of the snake on offense in Arkansas’ two exhibition wins, leading the Razorbacks in scoring in victories with 17 points against No. 15 Gonzaga on Oct. 24 and 20 points against Memphis on Oct. 28. Richmond totaled eight points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal in Arkansas’ blowout of UAPB on Tuesday night. The Memphis, Tenn. native’s experience will be important as the Razorbacks face their first test of the season against Virginia on Sunday.
Forward Miikka Muurinen has continued to be the piece Arkansas needed at the power forward spot after Trevon Brazile was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2026 NBA Draft. Muurinen’s athleticism has been huge for him, helping him reach 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting along with four rebounds and two steals against the Golden Lions on Tuesday night. Muurinen’s matchup against All-ACC forward Thjis De Ridder will go a long way in determining the result of Sunday afternoon’s tilt in Washington DC.
Forward Cooper Bowser, the Woodbridge, Va., product will get a homecoming as well when he and Arkansas face Virginia. Bowser scored eight points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the field and added seven rebounds and a block in the victory against UAPB. Bowser has been the stability the Razorbacks have needed at center but a difficult test against a Cavaliers front court that is led by Johann Grunloh and the aforementioned De Ridder.
Ryan Odom, who led Virginia to a 30-6 record and a Round of 32 appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, has his Cavaliers out to a 2-0 start following victories against Drexel on Tuesday and Northeastern on Friday to start the 2026 season. Odom’s team will face their first regular season test against Arkansas on Sunday before traveling to Maryland on Nov. 13, welcoming Kentucky to town for the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 2 and heading to New York City to face UConn on Dec. 20.
Guard Chance Mallory is the guy head coach Ryan Odom and Virginia fans expect to take a big leap to lead Virginia deeper into the NCAA Tournament come March. On Friday against Northeastern, Mallory scored 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, alongside five assists and four steals in the 97-72 win against Northeastern on Friday. Mallory’s matchup against Jordan Smith Jr. will play a big factor in Sunday afternoon’s game.
Guard Sam Lewis matched his backcourt mate with 20 points on 5-for-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line. Lewis also picked up four assists, two rebounds a steal against the Huskies on Friday. Lewis will have the job of defending against three-point specialist Jeremiah Wilkinson when the two teams meet on Sunday.
Forward Nolan Adekunle tallied three points, two assists, a block and a steal in Friday’s win against Northeastern. Adekunle will need to put up a better offensive performance against Billy Richmond III, alongside Mallory and Lewis if Virginia wants to defeat the Razorbacks on Sunday.
Forward Thjis De Ridder was productive in Virginia’s win on Friday against Northeastern. De Ridder scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added six rebounds, four assists and four steals against the Huskies. If De Ridder shows up and plays well against Arkansas, he can test the young Razorback front court.
Center Johann Grunloh turned in 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, added four rebounds, three assists and two blocks against Northeastern on Friday. Grunloh’s 7-foot, 250-pound size could do well for him against a Razorbacks front court that relies on freshman Caleb Ourigou for the same thing but he has yet to make a true impact on the floor for Arkansas.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Golden Lions is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 3 on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas opens regular season action when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the first time in program history.
Schedule: Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 12 Arkansas
Tune In: Wednesday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Memphis will stream on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (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) Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call from inside Bud Walton Arena.
Notes: John Calipari led Arkansas to a 2-0 record in exhibition games to begin the 2026-27 season, his third in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks opened with a 76-72 win against No. 15 Gonzaga on Saturday, Oct. 24 before defeating Memphis 93-81 on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Bud Walton Arena. Calipari will begin his 35th season as a collegiate head coach when Arkansas faces Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr. bounced back after struggling from the field in Arkansas’ exhibition opener against Gonzaga and scored 17 points (tied for the team high) on 7-for-11 shooting from the field against Memphis. Smith also accounted for 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal in the victory against the Tigers. The Washington DC product will officially open his freshman season against UAPB when he hits the floor next.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson was unable to have success shooting from behind the three-point line after a 1-for-9 performance but impacted the win against Memphis in other ways. Wilkinson scored 11 points, added 3 assists and 3 steals against the Tigers. Wilkinson will make his official debut for his third team in college on Tuesday night.
Guard Billy Richmond III led Arkansas to another win, this time against his hometown Memphis team. Richmond tied to lead the team in scoring with 17 points on impressive 7-for-7 shooting and 2-of-2 on three point attempts in the victory. Richmond also had 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal against the Tigers. Richmond, the longest-tenured Razorback on the roster, will make his junior debut against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Forward Miikka Muurinen was impactful in Arkansas’ win against Memphis. Muurinen scored 10 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double performance that also included 2 steals. After two successful performances in the Razorbacks’ exhibition game, the Finnish native will play a huge role in the front court this season, starting with Tuesday’s showdown against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Forward Cooper Bowser has been the steady force Arkansas has needed at the center spot for the last season. After a solid start against Gonzaga, Bowser contributed 6 points on 3-for-3 shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and a steal. The Woodbridge, Va. native will be vital for success inside for the Razorbacks alongside a group of youthful players.
Solomon Bozeman will begin his sixth season as head coach of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday when his Golden Lions face Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night. Last season, Bozeman led UAPB to a 13-19 overall record with a 10-8 record in Southwest Athletic Conference play. Their 2025-26 season ended in the SWAC Tournament with a 84-81 loss against Southern.
GuardJalen Tatum spent his junior and senior seasons at Jackson State University after beginning his career at Holmes Community College. Tatum appeared in 11 games and made six starts as a senior last season. Tatum averaged 7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season. Now, the Pine Bluff, Ark. native will have to deal with defensive pest Jordan Smith Jr. on the other bench tonight.
GuardJai’Chaun Hayes, the Arkansas native, showed his impact as a freshman during the 2025-26 season. Hayes opened the 2025 season with 11 points at Portland before scoring a season-high 15 points against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 23, 2025. Hayes did not play during the spring semester but he is ready to help lead UAPB against Arkansas. The Hot Springs, Ark. native will get the chance to match up with Jeremiah Wilkinson tonight.
GuardJahmari Hamilton-Brown, the Independence Community College product, redshirted after transferring from the Pirates. At Independence, Hamilton-Brown averaged 12 points and shot 41 percent of his three-point attempts. The Lynn, Mass. native will get the chance to battle with Billy Richmond III tonight.
GuardCJ Smith is at his fourth stop in as many years to play for UAPB this season. Smith appeared in 30 games and made 21 starts as a freshman at Coffeyville Community College. Smith averaged 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and recorded 15 block shots as a freshman for the Red Ravens. After transferring and spending a redshirt year at Oklahoma State, he left Stillwater and went to UTEP. Smith appeared in 11 games while averaging 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per game while shooting 33.3 percent from behind the three-point line. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native will battle with Miikka Muurinen tonight.
ForwardCreed Williamson, the son of Razorback great Corliss Williamson, has spent time at multiple schools in the state. After high school, Williamson spent a prep year at Link Academy in Missouri. Then, Williamson transferred to Little Rock where he appeared in 41 games and made a start. He averaged 2.6 points while shooting 54.9% from the field for the Trojans. Williamson spent his junior season at Henderson State, where he appeared in 22 games and made seven starts for the Reddies. There, he averaged 4.9 points per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field. The Little Rock, Ark., native will face off with Cooper Bowser tonight.
The countdown to tipoff is almost over, and a new season of men’s college basketball brings another round of big expectations and bigger questions. Which teams will live up to the preseason hype? Who will emerge as a surprise contender? And which players will become household names on the road to March?
From marquee nonconference matchups to rivalry games and conference championship races, the 2026-27 season offers plenty to look forward to. Before the action begins, my preview breaks down the major conferences, highlights the games to circle on the calendar and makes predictions for the teams and players that will define the season.
ACC No. 1 Duke Blue Devils No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers No. 3 Miami Hurricanes No. 4 Louisville Cardinals No. 5 North Carolina Tar Heels No. 6 Florida State Seminoles No. 7 Clemson Tigers No. 8 SMU Mustangs No. 9 North Carolina State Wolfpack No. 10 Boston College Eagles No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies No. 12 Syracuse Orange No. 13 Stanford Cardinal No. 14 California Golden Bears No. 15 Wake Forest Demon Deacons No. 16 Pittsburgh Panthers No. 17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish No. 18 Georgia Tech Yellowjackets
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 UConn vs. Duke (Las Vegas) (Nov. 25) No. 2 Illinois at Duke (Nov. 17) No. 3 Duke vs. Michigan State (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champions Classic) No. 4 Arkansas vs. Virginia (Capital Showcase) No. 5 Louisville at Kentucky (Dec. 12)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Duke vs. North Carolina (Feb. 13; March 6) No. 2 Duke vs. Virginia (Feb. 6; March 2) No. 3 Duke at Louisville (Feb. 24) No. 4 Miami at Louisville (Jan. 19) No. 5 Louisville at Virginia (Feb. 15)
Big 12 No. 1 Arizona Wildcats No. 2 Houston Cougars No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders No. 5 Iowa State Cyclones No. 6 BYU Cougars No. 7 TCU Horned Frogs No. 8 Baylor Bears No. 9 West Virginia Mountaineers No. 10 Cincinnati Bearcats No. 11 Oklahoma State Cowboys No. 12 UCF Golden Knights No. 13 Arizona State Sun Devils No. 14 Colorado Buffaloes No. 15 Kansas State Wildcats No. 16 Utah Utes
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 UConn at Arizona (Nov. 18) No. 2 Houston vs. Alabama (Dec. 8; New York City; Jimmy V Classic) No. 3 Kansas at UConn (Dec. 12) No. 4 Illinois at Texas Tech (Nov. 10) No. 5 Kentucky vs. Kansas (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champion’s Classic)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Arizona vs. Houston (Feb. 6, March 6) No. 2 Kansas at Houston (Feb. 1) No. 3 Arizona at Texas Tech (Jan. 22) No. 4 Iowa State vs. Kansas (Feb. 13, March 1) No. 5 Arizona vs. BYU (Jan. 12, Feb. 22)
Conference Tournament Champion: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East No. 1 UConn Huskies No. 2 St. John’s Red Storm No. 3 Villanova Wildcats No. 4 Providence Friars No. 5 Creighton Blue Jays No. 6 Marquette Golden Eagles No. 7 DePaul Blue Demons No. 8 Xavier Musketeers No. 9 Georgetown Hoyas No. 10 Seton Hall Pirates No. 11 Butler Bulldogs
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 UConn vs. Duke (Las Vegas) (Nov. 25) No. 2 Michigan vs. UConn (Boston) (Nov. 6) No. 3 Kansas at UConn (Dec. 12) No. 4 Arizona vs. St. John’s (Dec. 5; New York City; Hall of Fame Series – New York) No. 5 St. John’s vs. Alabama (Dec. 12; Birmingham)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 UConn vs. St. John’s (Jan. 29, March 2) No. 2 UConn vs. Villanova (Feb. 3, Feb. 14) No. 3 UConn vs. Providence (Jan. 20, Feb. 27) No. 4 Providence vs. St. John’s (Dec. 30, Jan. 13) No. 5 Creighton vs. Providence (Feb. 3, March 6)
Conference Tournament Champion: St. John’s Red Storm
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Illinois at Duke (Nov. 17) No. 2 Duke vs. Michigan State (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champion’s Classic) No. 3 Arkansas vs. Michigan State (Nov. 26; Detroit; CareSource Invitational) No. 4 Michigan vs. UConn (Boston) (Nov. 6) No. 5 Illinois at Texas Tech (Nov. 10)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Illinois at Michigan State (Feb. 5) No. 2 Michigan vs. Michigan State (Feb. 13, Feb. 26) No. 3 Illinois vs. Purdue (Jan. 5, Feb. 12) No. 4 UCLA vs. USC (Feb. 13, March 6) No. 5 Iowa vs. Nebraska (Jan. 16, Jan. 30)
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Duke at Florida (Dec. 1) No. 2 Arkansas vs. Michigan State (Nov. 26; Detroit; CareSource Invitational) No. 3 Houston vs. Alabama (Dec. 8; New York City; Jimmy V Classic) No. 4 St. John’s vs. Alabama (Dec. 12; Birmingham) No. 5 Miami vs. Florida (Nov. 2; Tampa)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Florida vs. Texas (Jan. 2, Feb. 6) No. 2 Alabama vs. Arkansas (Jan. 9, Feb. 13) No. 3 Florida at Arkansas (Feb. 27) No. 4 Alabama at Tennessee (Feb. 20) No. 5 Alabama vs. Auburn (Jan. 30, March 6)
Conference Tournament Champion:
National Preview
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Duke at Florida (Dec. 1) No. 2 UConn vs. Duke (Las Vegas) (Nov. 25) No. 3 Duke vs. Michigan State (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champions Classic) No. 4 UConn at Arizona (Nov. 18) No. 5 Arkansas vs. Michigan State (Nov. 26; Detroit; CareSource Invitational)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Illinois at Michigan State (Feb. 5) No. 2 Arizona vs. Houston (Feb. 6, March 6) No. 3 Kansas at Houston (Feb. 1) No. 4 Florida vs. Texas (Jan. 2, Feb. 6) No. 5 UConn vs. St. John’s (Jan. 29, March 2)
National Player of the Year: Thomas Haugh, Forward, Florida Gators National Champion:Duke Blue Devils
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Tigers is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 28 on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas opens regular season action when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the first time in program history.
Schedule: Memphis at No. 12 Arkansas
Tune In: Saturday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Memphis will stream on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (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) Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call from inside Bud Walton Arena.
Notes: John Calipari led Arkansas to a 76-72 win against No. 15 Gonzaga on Saturday, Oct. 24 inside Bud Walton Arena. Calipari moved to 3-1 in exhibition games as the Razorbacks’ head coach following the victory against the Bulldogs. Now, Calipari will lead Arkansas against his former team, Memphis, after they defeated the Tigers 99-75 on Oct. 27, 2025 in an exhibition matchup a season ago.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr. scored 1 point, added 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in his unofficial Arkansas debut against Gonzaga. Smith went 0-of-9 from the field and 0-of-2 from the three-point range in the victory. Fellow freshman guard Davion Thompson stepped in and score 12 points and hit a three-point dagger to win the game against the Bulldogs with 1:01 to go on Saturday.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson had more success than his backcourt mate in Saturday’s win. Wilkinson scored 7 points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field, and 1-of-2 of from three-point range. The Powder Springs, Ga., product added an assist, a steal and a block against Gonzaga.
Guard Billy Richmond III led Arkansas with a team-high 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal in the victory against Gonzaga. Richmond was successful on 4-of-10 shots from the field and was 3-of-5 from three-point range.
Forward Miikka Muurinen impressed in his first action for Arkansas since he was cleared at the end of September. Muurinen scored 10 points, when he shot 4-of-11 from the field and 1-of-4 from three-point range,added 6 rebounds and 2 blocks against Gonzaga for the Razorbacks.
Forward Cooper Bowser, the only senior on the Arkansas roster, played the best game he has for the Razorbacks. After a few games of poor play in the Bahamas, Bowser bounced back in a performance that saw him score 9 points, added 10 rebounds and a block against Gonzaga.
Penny Hardaway, entering his ninth season as head coach, led Memphis to a 76-58 victory against Mississippi State on Oct. 23. Hardaway’s Memphis team finishes their exhibition slate against Arkansas after losing 99-75 to them a season ago in an exhibition game at the FedEx Forum. If Memphis able to defeat the Razorbacks, they will move to 2-0 in their exhibition games ahead of their regular season debut against No. 18 Iowa State in Sioux Fall, South Dakota.
Guard Jayden Reid exploded for 26 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in the win against Mississippi State. Reid shot an impressive 11-of-15 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range. Reid will have to play big again against Arkansas if they want to get a win inside Bud Walton Arena.
Guard Luke Almodover scored 11 points and added 4 rebounds against Mississippi State. Almodover connected on 3-of-6 field goals and 2-of-3 three pointers against Bulldogs. Almodover will have a tough matchup against Jeremiah Wilkinson on Wednesday night.
Forward Rihards Vavers posted 10 points and 5 rebounds against Mississippi State. Vavers made 4-of-6 of his field goals and 2-of-4 of his three-pointers against the Bulldogs. The veteran Vavers will have the job of facing off against with Billy Richmond III on Wednesday night.
Forward Tylik Weeks struggled offensively against Mississippi State, scoring 6 points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field and 0-2 shooting from three-point range. Weeks added 9 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and a steal in the victory against the Bulldogs.
Forward Nemanja Popovic tallied 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in Friday’s against Mississippi State. Popovic added 3 steals and shot 6-of-9 from the field. Popovic’s battle against Miikka Muurinen and Cooper Bowser in the paint will be an interesting battle tonight.
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.
When coach John Calipari, wing Billy Richmond III and forward/center Cooper Bowser arrived in Birmingham for SEC Basketball Tip-Off Media Days on Oct. 14, one thing became clear: College basketball is back.
Arkansas features a talented roster led by Richmond, transfers Bowser from Furman and Jeremiah Wilkinson from Georgia, and the nation’s top-ranked incoming high school class.
Jordan Smith Jr., last season’s consensus national high school player of the year, headlines a freshman group that includes JJ Andrews, Abdou Torre and Miikka Muurinen.
The Razorbacks have the talent to make a deep run in the 2027 NCAA Tournament, but a challenging nonconference schedule and 18 SEC games stand between them and March.
Can Calipari guide Arkansas to a third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance—and beyond—with a roster whose average age is 18.9?
As other programs lean on experience, Calipari is sticking with the approach that has defined his career: recruiting elite high school talent. This season will test whether that formula can produce another deep postseason run.
Starters Jordan Smith Jr., guard, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson, guard, junior Billy Richmond III, guard/wing, junior Miikka Muurinen, wing/forward, freshman Cooper Bowser, forward/center, senior
Jordan Smith Jr. leads the unit as the backcourt after averaging 21.2 points, 5.8 assists and 3 steals per game in the Bahamas where he won Baha Mar Hoops Most Valuable Player. Smith Jr. will lead Arkansas as their starting point guard across the 2026-27 season.
Davion Thompson will back up Smith after scoring 11 points and adding 2.8 assists per game over the summer. Thompson will add the necessary 3-point shooting to the lead guard spot John Calipari needs to advance in the NCAA Tournament come March.
Jeremiah Wilkinson will likely begin the season as a starter at the shooting guard position but he could become one of the best sixth men in the country off the bench. Wilkinson averaged 10.5 points while shooting 50% from the field.
Abdou Torre will begin the season as Wilkinson’s backup but proved he could start in his first collegiate season when he scored 14.8 points, 5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest in Baha Mar.
Billy Richmond III can attack the rim, pull up from the mid-range, and defend better than many wings in the country. The Razorbacks’ leader scored only 8.3 points, three assists and 2.8 rebounds per game across the four games in the Bahamas.
JJ Andrews impressed during summer play with 15 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Like his teammate Toure, Andrews could challenge for a starting role at small forward or compete with fellow freshman Miikka Muurinen for minutes at power forward.
Muurinen was not granted his eligibility until Thursday, Sept. 29 so he did not play in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League. He will be expected to start at power forward with the aforementioned Andrews and Maper Maker, who could also play at center.
Maker averaged 3 points, 5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game across his action in the Bahamas.
Cooper Bowser started the first two games of summer action for Arkansas at the center position. Bowser put up 4.8 points, 5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game across his action.
Caleb Ourigou stepped in as the starting center for the final two games of Baha Mar action for the Razorbacks. Ourigou posted 7.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his minutes.
Ilia Frolov spent minutes off the bench playing the five for Arkansas. Frolov averaged 3.5 points and 4 rebounds per game in the Bahamas.
Paulo Semedo saw no action in the Baha Mar Summer League after suffering an injury prior to play beginning. Semedo is expected to see limited action again as a redshirt freshman in Fayetteville.
Regular Season: Nov. 3 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Nov. 8 Virginia (Washington DC; Capital Showcase) Nov. 10 Robert Morris Nov. 13 Central Arkansas Nov. 17 Indiana (New York City; Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York) Nov. 20 Mississippi Valley State Nov. 26 Michigan State (Detroit; CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic) Dec. 1 at North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge) Dec. 5 Oral Roberts (North Little Rock) Dec. 8 Oakland Dec. 13 UT Arlington Dec. 19 Arizona (Phoenix; Hall of Fame Series) Dec. 22 Central Michigan Dec. 29 Texas-Rio Grande Valley Jan. 2 Missouri Jan. 6 at South Carolina Jan. 9 Alabama Jan. 12 at Texas A&M Jan. 16 at Tennessee Jan. 19 Georgia Jan. 23 at Texas Jan. 26 LSU Jan. 30 Mississippi State Feb. 2/3 BYE Feb. 6 at Vanderbilt Feb. 9 Ole Miss Feb. 13 at Alabama Feb. 16 Auburn Feb. 20 at Kentucky Feb. 23 at Missouri Feb. 27 Florida March 2 at LSU March 6 Oklahoma March 10-14 SEC Tournament (Nashville)
Notes: In exhibition play, Arkansas will face against Gonzaga on Oct. 24 and Memphis on Oct. 28. The Razorbacks defeated the Bulldogs 74-68 on March 24, 2022 in San Francisco during the Sweet 16. Arkansas will face Memphis a year after defeating the Tigers 99-75 in an exhibition at the Fedex Forum on Oct. 27, 2025.
Arkansas opens regular season play against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 3), who they will play for the first time in program history. The first of five games against Power 5 competition is in Washington DC against Virginia (Nov. 8) in the Capital Showcase.
The Razorback returns home for a two game homestand against Robert Morris (Nov. 10) and Central Arkansas (Nov. 13). The Hogs have not faced the Colonials during John Calipari’s tenure but are 2-0 against the Bears in as many seasons.
Arkansas returns to Madison Square Garden, one of Calipari’s favorite arenas to play in, for the Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York against Indiana (Nov. 17). The Razorbacks have played the Hoosiers five times and are 3-2 in the series. Arkansas defeated Indiana 71-64 at Assembly Hall the last time they faced off on Dec. 29, 2019 in Eric Musselman’s first season as head coach.
Arkansas will be back at Bud Walton Arena for their matchup against Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 20) before facing Michigan State (Nov. 26), the Razorbacks’ third Thanksgiving Day matchup in as many seasons.
The Hogs will will go for their first victory on “Turkey Day” under John Calipari when they face the Spartans for the second consecutive season in the state of Michigan for the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic, this time in Detroit, Michigan.
Arkansas will continue their roadtrip to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where they will face North Carolina (Dec. 1) inside the Dean E. Smith Center in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks last game against the Tar Heels was an 87-72 loss at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Nov. 24, 2023 in the third place game of the event.
The Hogs take their annual trip to North Little Rock, Arkansas next to face Oral Roberts (Dec. 5), who they have seen a lot over the years. The Razorbacks defeated the Golden Eagles on a Davonte Davis buzzer-beater 72-70 in the Sweet 16 on March 27, 2021.
After John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats were upset by Oakland in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 on March 21, 2024, he took the open Arkansas job three weeks later. Calipari’s Razorbacks defeated the Golden Grizzlies 92-62 on Dec. 30, 2024 to close out non-conference play the next season.
Arkansas faces Oakland (Dec. 8) and UT Arlington (Dec. 13) in Fayetteville before hitting the road to Phoenix, Arizona to face Arizona in the Hall of Fame Series. The Razorbacks will attempt to avenge a 109-88 blowout loss to the Wildcats that ended their season in the Sweet 16 on March 26 in San Jose, California.
The Hogs close out non-conference play back at Bud Walton Arena against Central Michigan (Dec. 22) and Texas-Rio Grande Valley (Dec. 29).
Arkansas opens SEC play against Missouri (Jan. 2). The Razorbacks swept the season series against the Tigers last season, with a 94-86 victory at Bud Walton Arena on Feb. 21 and an 88-84 overtime win at Mizzou Arena on the final day of the regular season, March 7.
Arkansas’ first road conference game is at South Carolina (Jan. 6). The Razorbacks dominated South Carolina 108-74 in Fayetteville on Jan. 14 in their only meeting last season.
Alabama visits Bud Walton Arena on Jan. 9 for the teams’ first of two regular-season meetings. The Razorbacks are seeking their first win against Alabama in seven opportunities after their 117-115 double-overtime loss at Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 18, when Darius Acuff Jr. scored 49 points.
The Hogs take their first multi-game trip of conference play and it begins in College Station, Texas at Reed Arena where they will face Texas A&M (Jan. 12). They have not defeated the Aggies on their home floor since Feb. 20, 2024, when they defeated them 78-71.
Arkansas’ first road trip finishes up in Knoxville (Jan. 16), where they have not defeated Rick Barnes and Tennessee since Jan. 3, 2017. The young Razorbacks will have a tough matchup against a veteran-led Volunteers team.
Georgia comes to Fayetteville next on Jan. 19. Arkansas’ Jeremiah Wilkinson will face his former team, the Bulldogs, when they come to town for a Tuesday night showdown with students back in Fayetteville for the spring semester.
Arkansas heads to Austin next to face rival Texas (Jan. 23), who has gotten plenty of pre-season attention from the media. The Longhorns reached the Sweet 16 in Sean Miller’s first season as head coach following a 105-85 loss to the Razorbacks on March 4.
The Hogs finish the month of January at Bud Walton Arena with two teams they dominated last season. Arkansas faces LSU (Jan. 26), who they swept with an 85-81 win on Jan. 24 in Fayetteville and a 91-62 victory on Feb. 10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Arkansas finishes the month against Mississippi State (Jan. 30) on a Saturday night. The Razorbacks crushed the Bulldogs 88-68 on Feb. 7 in Starkville, Mississippi last night.
Arkansas opens the month of February with a bye week before another Saturday night showdown at Vanderbilt (Feb. 6). The Razorbacks dominated the Commodores 93-68 at Bud Walton Arena on Jan. 20 before a second victory 86-75 in the SEC Tournament Championship game in Nashville, Tenn.
Ole Miss returns to Fayetteville next for a matchup that could turn into a trap game for Arkansas (Feb. 9). Next, Razorbacks head to Tuscaloosa to finish their two-game set against Alabama (Feb. 13).
The Hogs return home to face Auburn on Feb. 16 before a two-game road swing at Calipari’s former employer Kentucky (Feb. 20) and at Missouri (Feb. 23).
Arkansas welcomes Florida (Feb. 27) back to Bud Walton Arena for a huge late season showdown that could play a huge part in determining the SEC regular season title. The Razorbacks welcome their former point guard, Boogie Fland, back to Fayetteville for the first time when they face off with the Gators.
The Hogs head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for their final SEC road game of the season against LSU (March 2). The Razorbacks could sweep the Tigers for the second consecutive season with two wins against Will Wade’s team.
Arkansas wraps up the regular season back at Bud Walton Arena against Oklahoma (March 6). The Razorbacks are looking for a third consecutive victory against the Sooners following an 83-79 win on Jan. 27 in the regular season and an 82-79 win in the SEC Tournament en route to their first conference tournament championship since 2000.
Arkansas will return to Nashville, Tenn. for the SEC Tournament from March 10-14, looking for their second consecutive tournament championship.
In addition to five previously announced nationally televised games, the Razorbacks’ early slate includes two home exhibition games, eight games at Bud Walton Arena and the program’s annual trip to North Little Rock.
Fans will get their first look at the Razorbacks on Oct. 2, when the second annual Primetime at the Palace returns to Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas will host Gonzaga on Oct. 24 and Memphis on Oct. 28 in home exhibition contests to open the season. The 104th season of Razorback basketball begins Nov. 2 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, marking the program’s first meeting with the Golden Lions.
Arkansas will travel to Washington, D.C., to face Virginia in the Capital Showcase on Nov. 8 before returning home to play Robert Morris on Nov. 10. The homestand continues against Central Arkansas on Nov. 13 before John Calipari’s team returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2024 to face Indiana on Nov. 17.
The Razorbacks will host Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 20 before returning to Michigan for a second consecutive season to face Michigan State on Nov. 26. Arkansas will play the Spartans on Thanksgiving Day, marking their third game in as many years on the day.
The Hogs open December in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, against North Carolina on Dec. 1 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Arkansas then makes its annual trip to North Little Rock to face Oral Roberts on Dec. 5 before returning to Fayetteville for consecutive games.
Arkansas will host Oakland on Dec. 8 and UT Arlington on Dec. 13 before traveling to Phoenix for another neutral-site game against Arizona in the Hall of Fame Series on Dec. 19.
The Razorbacks will conclude nonconference play with home games against Central Michigan on Dec. 22 and Texas Rio Grande Valley on Dec. 29.
Arkansas opens SEC play Jan. 2 against Missouri.
2026-2027 Schedule (As of September 17, 2026) Oct. 24 Gonzaga (Exhibition) Oct. 28 Memphis (Exhibition) Nov. 2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Nov. 8 Virginia (Washington DC; Capital Showcase) Nov. 10 Robert Morris Nov. 13 Central Arkansas Nov. 17 Indiana (New York City; Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York) Nov. 20 Mississippi Valley State Nov. 26 Michigan State (Detroit; CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic) Dec. 1 at North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge) Dec. 5 Oral Roberts (North Little Rock) Dec. 8 Oakland Dec. 13 UT Arlington Dec. 19 Arizona (Phoenix; Hall of Fame Series) Dec. 22 Central Michigan Dec. 29 Texas-Rio Grande Valley Jan. 2 Missouri Jan. 5/6 at South Carolina Jan. 9 Alabama Jan. 12/13 at Texas A&M Jan. 16 at Tennessee Jan. 19/20 Georgia Jan. 23 at Texas Jan. 26/27 LSU Jan. 30 Mississippi State Feb. 2/3 BYE Feb. 6 at Vanderbilt Feb. 9/10 Ole Miss Feb. 13 at Alabama Feb. 16/17 Auburn Feb. 20 at Kentucky Feb. 23 at Missouri Feb. 27 Florida March 2/3 at LSU March 6 Oklahoma March 10-14 SEC Tournament (Nashville)
It was a long offseason for Arkansas men’s basketball and head coach John Calipari following a Sweet 16 exit at the hands of No. 1 seed Arizona, 109–88.
The Razorbacks saw significant roster turnover, with Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas, and Trevon Brazile selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, while Karter Knox, DJ Wagner, and several others entered the transfer portal. In response, Calipari reloaded with two transfers and a highly touted freshman class of eight, all set to join lone returner Billy Richmond III in pursuit of Arkansas’ first Final Four appearance since 1995.
It took until July 21, but Calipari finalized a roster featuring 15 players, including 12 viable rotation options and a notably deep frontcourt with five contributors capable of making an impact. This marks the deepest roster Calipari has assembled since arriving in Fayetteville.
That depth should provide critical flexibility throughout the season, reducing reliance on a short rotation and offering insurance against injuries during SEC play and potential postseason runs.
Arkansas has already offered an early glimpse of its potential, opening the year with a 4–0 showing in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League. With under four months remaining until the regular season tips off, the Razorbacks appear poised to continue developing into a more complete team.
Here is a full recap of Arkansas’ 2026 offseason, including projected rotations, recruiting additions, updates on former Razorbacks, and a look ahead at the 2026–27 schedule. Links to each offseason breakdown are included below.
Here’s a look at John Calipari’s third roster on the Hill with junior wing Billy Richmond III headlining the projected starters:
Starters Jordan Smith Jr., Guard (Freshman) Jeremiah Wilkinson, Guard (Junior) Billy Richmond III, Guard/Wing (Junior) Miikka Muurinen, Wing/Forward (Freshman) Cooper Bowser, Forward/Center (Senior)
I would be shocked if the group of Smith, Wilkinson and Richmond don’t begin the season in Calipari’s starting five.
Richmond is the only returner for Arkansas for the 2026-27 roster that played meaningful minutes last season, averaging 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and two assists per contest. He took his game to a higher level, making 19 starts and scoring 20 or more points in five consecutive contests in February. If he becomes a better three-point shooter, his potential is endless as he enters his junior season.
Wilkinson, a Georgia transfer, brings a season of SEC experience after his first collegiate season at California, where he won ACC Sixth Man of the Year. He averaged 17.4 points while making 35.7% of his three-pointers for the Bulldogs. His experience will be important if the Razorbacks’ young roster wants to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
Smith Jr., the consensus 2026 National High School Player of the Year. was the top ranked guard in the class of 2026. He may not be Darius Acuff Jr. offensively, but his defensive impact should be felt on the perimeter, something the Razorbacks lacked last season.
The front court spots are still in question but for the Razorbacks to reach their potential, Muurinen must live up to expectations as an athletic stretch-4. If he can bring a similar impact to what Trevon Brazile did last season for the Hogs, he should start.
While he may not be the starter the entire season, Furman transfer Cooper Bowser should begin the season next to Muurinen on the Arkansas front line. Bowser helped Furman reach the NCAA Tournament last season, scoring almost 14 points, rebounding six missed shots and shooting over 76% from the field per game as a junior.
The first four guys of the bench for John Calipari this season should all be freshmen. Torre and Andrews will be expected to come in behind Richmond on the wings, especially after Karter Knox’s exit to Louisville. There should be some growing pains like there were during the 2024 season, when Boogie Fland, Richmond and Knox came in as freshmen and Arkansas began SEC play 0-5 before a Sweet 16 appearance.
The next two reserves are both reclassifications from the 2027 class. Thompson, was an awesome piece for the Mean Streets program on the Nike EYBL circuit and for USA Basketball in the FIBA U18 AmeriCup last spring. He was a huge addition to the 2026-27 roster, with Smith Jr. and Wilkinson being the only two guards that were on the roster.
Ourigou will likely begin the season on the bench but by the start of SEC play, he could be starting in the paint for the Razorbacks. The four-star big man was an important piece for the New York Rens on the Nike EYBL circuit. His potential rise at Arkansas will be important for the young Razorback front court.
After Isaiah Sealey’s injury earlier this summer, Paulo Semedo is expected to get at least some playing time at center this season after redshirting as a freshman. Newcomers Ilia Frolov and Maper Maker will try to find where they fit in the front court after committing to Arkansas this summer.
Backcourt mates Ayden Kelly and Amere Brown will be sitting at the end of the bench this season for the Razorbacks.
2026 Class (via 247 Sports Composite) No. 3 Jordan Smith Jr. (No. 1 Combo Guard) Fairfax, VA Paul VI Catholic High School No. 14 Abdou Torre (No. 5 Small Forward) West Haven, CT Notre Dame High School No. 17 JJ Andrews (No. 6 Small Forward) Little Rock, AR Little Rock Christian Academy No. 50 Davion Thompson (No. 6 Point Guard) Branson, MO Link Academy No. 59 Miikka Muurinen (No. 10 Power Forward) Serbia, SERB KK Partizan No. 85 Caleb Ourigou (No. 12 Center) Atlanta, GA Overtime Elite Maper Maker (Unranked Center) Australia, AUS AUNZ Prep Ilia Frolov (Unranked Center) Samara, RU Real Madrid U22 Team
John Calipari once again signed a consensus No. 1 high school recruiting class in 2026, landing three five-star prospects and three four-star prospects.
Jordan Smith Jr., the nation’s top combo guard, capped a decorated senior season by earning consensus national high school player of the year honors in 2025-26. Wings Abdou Toure and JJ Andrews both surged up the rankings after strong senior campaigns, while late four-star commitment Miikka Muurinen and reclassifications from 2027 guards Davion Thompson and Caleb Ourigou added even more upside to the class.
That group gives Arkansas the kind of depth needed to push beyond the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament and withstand injuries without a major drop-off. Maper Maker and Ilia Frolov also add needed size and depth at forward and center after their summer commitments.
Transfer Additions (via 247 Sports) No. 31 Jeremiah Wilkinson, Guard (Sophomore) Former School: Georgia No. 196 Cooper Bowser, Center (Junior) Former School: Furman
While John Calipari is best known for building his teams through high school recruiting, he also added two transfers this offseason: one to bolster the frontcourt and another to add scoring on the perimeter after Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas entered the 2026 NBA Draft.
Cooper Bowser, who spent three seasons at Furman, committed to Arkansas on April 14. The 6-foot-11 senior brings experience, size, and a veteran presence that should help anchor the Razorbacks’ front court in 2026-27.
Jeremiah Wilkinson, a talented point guard, committed to Arkansas the same day. He played one season at California and one at Georgia, where he emerged as one of the SEC’s best scorers, and should give the Razorbacks both perimeter offense and backcourt leadership. His energy on defense should also help Arkansas improve on that end of the floor.
Transfers Out No. 59 Karter Knox, Wing (Sophomore) New School: Louisville No. 125 DJ Wagner, Guard (Junior) New School: Maryland Malique Ewin, Center (Senior) New School: Oregon Jaden Karuletwa, Guard (Sophomore) New School: TBA Elmir Dzafic, Center (Freshman) New School: UConn Karim Rtail, Forward (Freshman) New School: TBA
Wing Karter Knox was the first Razorback to enter the transfer portal after Arkansas’ NCAA Tournament exit. Knox averaged 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field during the 2025-26 season. His year ended early after he suffered a left meniscus injury against Auburn on Feb. 19.
Guard DJ Wagner, who spent three seasons under John Calipari — one at Kentucky and two at Arkansas — entered the portal a few days later. Wagner averaged 7.4 points and 2.4 assists while shooting nearly 43 percent from the field, serving as Darius Acuff Jr.’s backup for much of the spring.
With Jordan Smith Jr. and Davion Thompson coming in, Wagner faced a reduced role and knew he would not receive the same starting opportunities he had in Lexington and, at times, in Fayetteville. He ultimately announced his plans to transfer to Maryland, where he will join Baba Olatodun, a wing Arkansas had also recruited before he committed to the Terrapins.
Reserve forwards Karim Rtail, Elmir Dzafic, and guard Jaden Karuletwa also entered the transfer portal. Dzafic committed to UConn on June 1, while Rtail and Karuletwa remain uncommitted.
Big man Malique Ewin entered the transfer portal in hopes of gaining leverage for a fifth year of eligibility and when he finally did at the beginning of August, he committed to play for Oregon. In response, Calipari added five players listed at 6-foot-11 or taller to help replace Ewin and Nick Pringle while improving Arkansas’ interior defense.
Signed NBA Summer League Contract Nick Pringle, Center (Boston Celtics)
After Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile were selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Nick Pringle earned an opportunity with the Boston Celtics in Summer League, each player made strong impressions against competition from across the league.
Acuff led Sacramento with 19.2 points and 4.6 assists per game across five Summer League appearances. His efficiency was not quite at the level he showed at Arkansas, but the Kings should like the way his game translated as he begins his NBA career.
Thomas was even more explosive for Cleveland, averaging 27.3 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 43.8 percent from three over four games. He scored 35 points against Miami, had at least 20 points in every appearance, and posted 30-plus points twice. He was named to the 2026 NBA Summer League First Team after his awesome performances in his four games played.
Brazile also stood out for Denver, averaging 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 45 percent from the field and 47 percent from three. He highlighted that run with a 32-point performance, six made threes and six rebounds in a win over Oklahoma City.
Pringle contributed in limited action for Boston, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals over three games.
Graduated Trevon Brazile, Forward Nick Pringle, Center
Two frontcourt players are out of eligibility following the 2025-26 season, though their professional paths and future status differ. Trevon Brazile will begin his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets after being selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, Malique Ewin is still seeking a waiver for a fifth year of eligibility, and Nick Pringle remains in search of his next professional opportunity after playing for the Boston Celtics in NBA Summer League.
Brazile’s Arkansas career was defined by talent, resilience, and a long road back from injury. The Springfield, Missouri native burst onto the scene during his sophomore season after transferring from Missouri, becoming a key piece on Eric Musselman’s fourth Razorback team before a torn ACL halted his momentum and paused early NBA Draft buzz.
After recovering, Brazile’s path changed again when he entered the transfer portal following Musselman’s departure to USC, but John Calipari later convinced him to return to Fayetteville. That decision paid off, as Brazile became a solid junior contributor and then delivered a strong senior season, averaging 13 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from three, along with 1.6 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.
Pringle’s college journey was longer, taking him from Wofford to junior college, then to Alabama and South Carolina before joining Arkansas. His final college season with the Razorbacks was modest statistically at 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, but he brought veteran experience, and he is still seeking his next pro chance after Summer League with Boston.
2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer LeagueResults July 31 The Bahamas National Team (Win, 106-59) Aug. 1 Carleton University (Win, 98-58) Aug. 3 Toros Del Valle (Win, 91-49) Aug. 4 University of Calgary (Win, 105-48)
Arkansas opened the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League with a dominant 106-59 victory against The Bahamas National Team. Guard Jordan Smith Jr. scored 22 points and assisted on six made field goals. Wing Abdou Torre came off the bench and scored 16 points and added ten rebounds in a double-double performance. The Razorbacks went up and down the court, blocking 13 shots, collecting 19 steals and scoring 37 points off turnovers.
The Razorbacks continued their success against Carleton University, dominating the Ravens 98-58 after a slow start. Five Arkansas players scored in double figures including Smith Jr., who turned in a double-double performance with 21 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds and Jeremiah Wilkinson, who scored 26 points while shooting 5-for-9 from three-point range.
Four Hogs scored in double-figures in Arkansas’ 91-49 win against Colombian professional team Toros Del Valle. Freshman wing JJ Andrews scored 15 points and added 13 rebounds to put together a double-double performance while Smith Jr. continued his tremendous week, scoring 13 points, dishing out four assists and adding three steals. Junior wing Billy Richmond and freshman guard Davion Thompson scored 25 combined points, both shooting an efficient 50% at 4-8 from the field.
Arkansas put on a phenomenal performance to close out their run in the Bahamas, defeating The University of Calgary 105-48, behind terrific performances from freshmen wings Andrews and Torre. Andrews recorded 24 points, shooting 10-for-13 with six rebounds and four steals while Toure put up 20 points, shooting 10-for-14, and assisted three assists. Smith Jr. had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting while freshman center Caleb Ourigou turned in a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
The Razorbacks have now returned to Fayetteville in preparation for another tough regular season schedule that now includes three exhibition games and 32 games in the regular season.
2026-2027 Schedule (As of August 13, 2026) Oct. TBA Gonzaga (Exhibition) Oct. 28 Memphis (Exhibition) Nov. 2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Nov. TBA Virginia (Washington DC) Nov. 10 Robert Morris Nov. 13 Central Arkansas Nov. 17 Indiana (New York City; Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York) Nov. 26 Michigan State (Detroit; CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic) Dec. 1 at North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge) Dec. 5 Oral Roberts Dec. 19 Arizona (Phoenix; Hall of Fame Series) Dec. 22 Central Michigan Dec. 29 Texas-Rio Grande Valley Jan. 2 Missouri Jan. 5/6 at South Carolina Jan. 9 Alabama Jan. 12/13 at Texas A&M Jan. 16 at Tennessee Jan. 19/20 Georgia Jan. 23 at Texas Jan. 26/27 LSU Jan. 30 Mississippi State Feb. 2/3 BYE Feb. 6 at Vanderbilt Feb. 9/10 Ole Miss Feb. 13 at Alabama Feb. 16/17 Auburn Feb. 20 at Kentucky Feb. 23 at Missouri Feb. 27 Florida March 2/3 at LSU March 6 Oklahoma March 10-14 SEC Tournament (Nashville)
After playing all eight Elite Eight teams from the 2024-25 season during the 2025-26 campaign, Calipari has loaded Arkansas’ 2026-27 non-conference schedule with four high-end matchups, all away from Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks will host Gonzaga and Memphis in Fayetteville for two October exhibitions before opening their marquee slate at Capital One Arena against Virginia sometime in November. The Razorbacks host Robert Morris (Nov. 10) and Central Arkansas (Nov. 13) before heading to Madison Square Garden to play against Indiana in the Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York on Nov. 17.
Arkansas will then play on Thanksgiving Day for the third straight season, traveling to Detroit to face Michigan State (Nov. 26), before heading to Chapel Hill a week later to meet North Carolina (Dec. 2) in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Arkansas welcomes Oral Roberts (Dec. 5) to town after returning from Chapel Hill.
The final major non-conference test comes against Arizona in Phoenix on Dec. 19 as part of the Hall of Fame Series. Arkansas’ remaining non-conference games include Central Michigan on Dec. 22 and UT-Rio Grande Valley on Dec. 29.
Arkansas opens SEC play at home against Missouri (Jan. 2) before a midweek matchup on the road at South Carolina (Jan. 5/6). The Razorbacks return home to face Alabama (Jan. 9), looking to end a six-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide. A roadtrip to Texas A&M (Jan. 12/13) comes up next and then they will head to Knoxville to face Rick Barnes’ Tennessee team (Jan. 16).
Arkansas returns home to face Georgia (Jan. 19/20) before heading to face Texas (Jan. 23). A two-game home stand comes up next for the Hogs with LSU (Jan. 26/27) and Mississippi State (Jan. 30) coming to town. They will take a bye week (Feb. 2/3) before heading to Nashville to face Vanderbilt (Feb. 6). Ole Miss (Feb. 9/10) comes to Fayetteville before Arkansas makes the return trip to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama (Feb. 13).
Arkansas welcomes Auburn (Feb. 16/17) to Fayetteville before the Razorbacks make the trip to Rupp Arena to face John Calipari’s former school, Kentucky (Feb. 20). The Hogs return to Mizzou Arena to face Missouri (Feb. 23) before finishing February at Bud Walton against Florida (Feb. 27).
Arkansas opens the month of March by making a return trip to Baton Rouge to face LSU (March 2/3) before concluding SEC play how they opened it, at Bud Walton Arena, but against Oklahoma (March 6). The Razorbacks will head to Nashville again, this time for the SEC Tournament (March 10-14), looking to defend their trophy before making another run in the NCAA Tournament, assuming they qualify.
Next season, Calipari’s team should be rewarded with a loaded home schedule, including matchups against the Spartans, Wildcats, and an ACC opponent at home in the challenge.
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas will open and close SEC play at Bud Walton Arena, as the league released its 2027 men’s basketball schedule Monday.
Midweek designations, tipoff times, and television information will be announced at a later date.
For the second straight season, the Razorbacks begin conference play at home, hosting Missouri (Jan. 2) in the first of two meetings with the Tigers. Arkansas then travels to South Carolina (Jan. 5/6) before returning to Fayetteville to face Alabama (Jan. 9).
The Hogs follow with consecutive road trips to Texas A&M (Jan. 12/13) and Tennessee (Jan. 16) before closing January with three of four games at home. That stretch opens against Georgia (Jan. 19/20), followed by home matchups with LSU (Jan. 26/27) and Mississippi State (Jan. 30). The lone road contest during that span is a trip to Texas (Jan. 23), where Arkansas will face the Longhorns at the Moody Center.
After an early February bye, Arkansas enters its most demanding stretch, playing four of its next six games on the road. The Razorbacks visit Vanderbilt (Feb. 6), host Ole Miss (Feb. 9/10), travel to Alabama (Feb. 13), and return home to face Auburn (Feb. 16/17). Road games at Kentucky (Feb. 20) and Missouri (Feb. 23) follow, including a trip to Rupp Arena to face John Calipari’s former program.
Arkansas closes the regular season with three games in eight days, hosting Florida (Feb. 27), traveling to LSU (March 2/3), and finishing at home against Oklahoma (March 6).
The SEC Tournament will be held March 10–14 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Arkansas 2026-27 Men’s Basketball SEC Schedule (as of July 27, 2026) Jan. 2 Missouri Jan. 5/6 at South Carolina Jan. 9 Alabama Jan. 12/13 at Texas A&M Jan. 16 at Tennessee Jan. 19/20 Georgia Jan. 23 at Texas Jan. 26/27 LSU Jan. 30 Mississippi State Feb. 2/3 BYE Feb. 6 at Vanderbilt Feb. 9/10 Ole Miss Feb. 13 at Alabama Feb. 16/17 Auburn Feb. 20 at Kentucky Feb. 23/24 at Missouri Feb. 27 Florida Mar. 2/3 at LSU Mar. 6 Oklahoma Mar. 10-14 SEC Tournament (Nashville, Tenn. – Bridgestone Arena)
Signees Thompson, Ourigou on way to Arkansas a year early FAYETTEVILLE – Five-star guard Davion Thompson and four-star big man Caleb Ourigou have both announced their intentions to reclassify into the 2026 class and play for Arkansas this season.
Thompson originally announced his commitment to John Calipari and the Razorbacks back on June 10. He chose Arkansas over Baylor, Michigan and Vanderbilt. He announced his plans to reclassify on July 17.
Thompson, a 6-foot-2 and 185-pound point guard, played his high school basketball at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri. He is ranked as No. 21 overall player and No. 5 overall point guard in the 2026 recruiting class according to 247Sports composite recruiting rankings.
Thompson has put up incredible numbers this spring on the Nike EYBL circuit with his Meanstreets squad, averaging an impressive 21.7 points on 52% shooting from 3-point range on nearly eight attempts per game to go with 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Caleb Ourigou committed to Arkansas on July 14 following an official visit in late June. One week later, on July 21, he announced his decision to reclassify after his AAU team, the New York Rens, was eliminated from Peach Jam.
Ourigou spent his junior season with Atlanta-based Overtime Elite, where he averaged 6.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game for the Cold Hearts while shooting 62% from the field. He elevated his production at Peach Jam, posting 6.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game on 59.3% shooting in 28.2 minutes per contest.
The Woodmere, New York native stands 6-foot-10 (with shoes) and boasts a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He is a long, physical, and athletic forward who embraces contact in the paint. Ourigou shows a soft touch around the rim and flashes long-term shooting upside.
He arrives in Fayetteville as a key piece in Arkansas’ retooled frontcourt after the Razorbacks lost their entire group of big men to expired eligibility. Ourigou joins Furman transfer Cooper Bowser, international prospects Ilia Frolov and Maper Maker, and returning forward Paulo Semedo to form a new-look front court for the 2026–27 season.
Frolov, Maker, Ourigou and Thompson all signed with the Razorbacks on Tuesday.
FAYETTEVILLE – Two historic programs will face off when the Arkansas Razorbacks play the Indiana Hoosiers in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, November 17, as part of the Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York.
John Calipari’s teams have posted a 16-12 record in 28 games played in Madison Square Garden as a college basketball coach. He first played in the “World’s Most Famous Arena” as coach of UMass, in the 1991 Final Four. His last outing at MSG came in his first season at Arkansas, when the Razorbacks defeated then No. 14 Michigan 89-87, as part of the Jimmy V Classic (Dec. 10, 2024).
Coach Calipari is 3-2 all-time versus Indiana, all of the games being during his tenure at Kentucky: Dec. 12, 2009 No. 4 UK won 90-73 at Indiana (Assembly Hall) Dec. 11, 2010 No. 17 UK won 81-62 vs Indiana (Rupp Arena) Dec. 10, 2011 No. 1 UK lost 73-72 at Indiana (Assembly Hall) March 23, 2012 No. 1 UK won 102-90 vs No. 16 Indiana in the Sweet 16 (Georgia Dome) March 19, 2016 No. 10 UK lost 73-67 vs No. 14 Indiana in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament (Wells Fargo Arena)
Arkansas is 3-2 all-time versus Indiana. Dec. 15, 1949 lost 75-50 at Indiana (Assembly Hall) March 2, 2008 won 86-72 vs Indiana in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament (Raleigh, N.C.) Nov. 18, 2018 won 73-72 vs Indiana (Bud Walton Arena) March 23, 2019 lost 63-60 at Indiana in the Second Round of the NIT (Assembly Hall) Dec. 29, 2019 won 71-64 at Indiana (Assembly Hall)
Razorbacks-Spartans to matchup on Thanksgiving Day After the game reported on back in April, Arkansas and Michigan State both formally announced that they will be facing off in the 2026 CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic on Thanksgiving Day at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The game will be nationally broadcasted on CBS and available to stream live on Paramount+ at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Both the Razorbacks and Spartans enjoyed successful 2025-26 seasons, both advancing all the way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. On the first Saturday of the regular season in 2025, MSU defeated UA 69-66 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing (Nov. 8).
Arkansas went 28-9 overall and won the SEC Tournament in John Calipari’s second season in Fayetteville. Their 28 victories match the 2021-22 team for the most wins since the 1994-95 Razorback squad that went 32-7 and reached the national final. UA’s roster will be centered around returning wing Billy Richmond III, Georgia transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson and four high-end freshmen including guard Jordan Smith Jr., wing Abdou Torre, wing JJ Andrews and forward Miikka Muurinen
Last season, Tom Izzo and Michigan State advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. The Spartans’ boasted a record of 27-8 and finished second in the Big Ten. The Spartans are set to return All-Big Ten point guard Jeremiah Fears, and two other starters Coen Carr and Jordan Scott. They welcome the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class in 2026 with Julius Avent, Jasiah Jervis, Carlos Medlock Jr., and Ethan Taylor, all of whom are four-star prospects.
Arkansas’ 4 Bahamas opponents set The opponents for Arkansas’ four exhibition games in the Bahamas have been announced later this summer. The Razorbacks will face a mix of international competition at the Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas as part of the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League.
The exhibition trip will be seven days, beginning on July 29 through August 4. Arkansas will play four games at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment center on-site at the resort. The group includes the Bahamas national team, two of the top collegiate teams from Canada and the reigning champion from the top Colombian professional league.
The Razorbacks’ four games in the Bahamas: July 31 vs. The Bahamas National Team (6 p.m. CT) Aug. 1 vs. Carleton State University (5 p.m.) Aug. 3 vs. Toros del Valle (5 p.m.) Aug. 4 vs. University of Calgary (11 a.m.)
The Bahamas National Team will be made up of their national team players. Carleton University is located in Ottawa, Ontario. The Ravens are the defending Canadian national collegiate champion after going 27-9 overall and 17-5 in conference play. They won the Ontario University Athletics conference last season before winning the program’s 18th Canadian Men’s Basketball National Championship.
Toros del Valle is a professional team from Cali, Columbia. They play in the Liga WPlay de Baloncesto, the best professional basketball league in Columbia. Toros won the 2026 Apertura title in June. The University of Calgary, located in Calgary, Alberty made it to and hosted the 2026 U Sports Men’s Final 8 Basketball Tournament. The Dinos lost their first-round matchup versus Victoria and also fell in the consolation semifinal to Acadia. They were the U SPORTS runner-up in 2025.
Other NCAA teams participating in the Baha Mars Summer League include Cincinnati, South Carolina, Valparaiso and Texas A&M.
FAYETTEVILLE –The Southeastern Conference released the men’s basketball home and away conference opponents for the 2026-27 season. The Razorbacks will play Alabama, LSU and Missouri twice during the regular season, once at home and once on the road.
Arkansas will face the other 12 SEC teams once. The Razorbacks will host Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Oklahoma at Bud Walton Arena and will travel to face Auburn, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.
League play tips off on Saturday, January 2, and runs through Saturday, March 6. Each SEC team plays the other 15 teams at least once during league play. Three teams will be played a second time during the schedule – two of which are permanent opponents and one that will change each year.
The SEC Tournament returns to Nashville, Tenn., as Bridgestone Arena will host the event from March 10-14, 2027.
Arkansas 2026-27 SEC Opponents
Home Games: Alabama Auburn Florida Georgia LSU Ole Miss Mississippi State Missouri Oklahoma
Road Games: at Alabama at Kentucky at LSU at Missouri at South Carolina at Tennessee at Texas at Texas A&M at Vanderbilt
Notes: ● Under the new scheduling format, this will be the second-straight year Arkansas will face both LSU and Missouri twice as SEC-designated “permanent opponents.” ● Arkansas and LSU have met for a home-and-home series in all but two seasons since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season. The Razorbacks and Tigers only met once in 2013 (in Baton Rouge) and just once in 2015 (in Fayetteville). Arkansas leads the Tigers 42-32 since the Razorbacks joined the SEC. Since Arkansas joined the SEC, the Tigers are the Razorbacks’ most common SEC opponent with 72 meetings followed by Mississippi State (62), Auburn (62), Alabama (61) and Ole Miss (61). ● Arkansas and Missouri will be playing a home-and-home series for the 15th consecutive year. The streak coincides with the number of years since the Tigers joined the SEC (2012-13). Arkansas leads the all-time series with Missouri, 38-28, and leads 19-10 since the Tigers joined the SEC, including wins in 10 of the last 12 meetings. ● The last time Arkansas and Alabama met faced each other twice in the regular season was the 2022-2023 campaign. Alabama swept the series that season, winning 84-69 in Fayetteville and 86-83 in Tuscaloosa. The Razorbacks hold a one game advantage against the Crimson Tide all time, 36-35, but trail Alabama 32-29 since the Hogs joined the SEC. Alabama has won six straight in the series. Since 2020, six of the nine meetings between the two schools have been at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. ● For just the third consecutive year and the fifth time since Texas A&M joined the SEC (2012-13), Arkansas and the Aggies will meet just once in the regular season. Texas A&M is Arkansas’ most common opponent with 171 games played in the series since the Hog’s first year of basketball (1923-24). Arkansas leads the all-time series with the Aggies, 109-62, and own a 14-11 advantage since A&M joined the SEC. The home team has dominated the series over the last 14 seasons as Arkansas is 11-1 versus the Aggies at home and Texas A&M is 8-3 versus the Razorbacks in College Station.
The full 2026-27 SEC schedule will be unveiled at a later date.
Kings select Acuff Jr. with No. 7 overall pick BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Razorback freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. was selected in the first round as the 7th overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings to become the 48th Razorback drafted in the NBA, the 17th first round pick and 63rd player under John Calipari to be drafted in Cal’s 33 years as a collegiate head coach. Also, with Acuff going seventh overall, Coach Cal now has 30 all-time Lottery picks, passing Mike Krzyzewski for the most by any collegiate coach.
This past season, Acuff starred for the Razorbacks, averaging over 23 points and six assists per game. He set an SEC record with eight weekly and seven freshman of the week honors and one player of the week honor. He also won the SEC player and freshman of the year, was on the All-SEC First Team, All-SEC freshman team, the SEC Tournament MVP, was named a consensus First Team All-American and the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy for National Player of the Year.
Acuff set Arkansas single-season records for most points (845) and most assists (232). His 845 points rank 9th on the SEC single-season list and his 232 assists rank 9th (tied) on the SEC single-season list making him the only player to be on the SEC single-season top lists for points and assists. He joined Pete Maravich as the only players in SEC History to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season.
Acuff, a Detroit native, was a five-star recruit out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. prior to enrolling at Arkansas for his freshman year.
Thomas, Brazile selected with back-to-back picks Arkansas freshman guard Meleek Thomas and senior forward Trevon Brazile became the 49th and 50th Razorbacks to be selected in the NBA Draft. The pair went in back-to-back picks in the second round. Thomas was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers at 34th overall and Brazile went to the Denver Nuggets a pick later at 35th overall.
The duo become the 64th and 65th John Calipari-coached players selected in the NBA Draft. They join Acuff to give Arkansas at least three NBA selections in the same draft for the fifth time. The trio join the 2023 class (Anthony Black – 1st, Nick Smith Jr. – 1st, and Jordan Walsh – 2nd), 1992 (Todd Day – 1st, Oliver Miller – 1st, Lee Mayberry -1st, and Isaiah Morris-2nd), 1979 (Sidney Moncrief -1st, Steve Schall-5th, and Marvin Delph – 6th) and 1948 (George Kok – 1st, Melvin McGaha – 3rd, and Alvin Williams – 9th).
Thomas was part of the top freshman scoring freshmen duo with Acuff in Division I in Division I since 2019-20 with 1,424 combined points. If Thomas did not play with Acuff, he would have set the Arkansas record for most points by a freshman with 579. He was named the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Thomas scored 20-plus points nine times including a career-high 30 points in the Razorbacks’ regular season finale against Missouri. He almost repeated his performance against the Tigers in the SEC Tournament Semifinals against Ole Miss, when he dropped 29 points, five assists and five rebounds.
The Pittsburgh native shot an Arkansas-record 48.7% (38-78) from 3-point in SEC games only. He led the team in free throw percentage (84.3%) and steals (57) while ranking second on the team in scoring (15.6 ppg), assists (92) and 3-point percentage (41.6%).
Brazile played four of five of his collegiate seasons at Arkansas, winning SEC Player of the week twice as a Razorback (Dec. 4, 2023, vs Duke and Dec. 15, 2025, vs Texas Tech). He was named to the to the 2026 SEC All-Tournament Team, averaging 14.7 points and 10.0 rebounds with two double-doubles.
Brazile played fantastic basketball to finish the season. Brazile averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, helping the Razorbacks to a 12-3 record over the final two months of the regular season. During the final four minutes of the SEC Tournament Championship game, scoring eight points in a 12-0 Razorback run, making two 3-pointers and a dunk, while adding a steal, a deflection and a blocked shot.
Brazile broke the 1,000-point barrier for his Razorback career vs Hawai’i in the NCAA Tournament and finished his Arkansas career with 1,029 points (1,195 points for his career). He started 35 of 36 games during his senior season, averaging a career-best 13.0 points and a team-best 7.3 rebounds. In addition, he led the team in blocks (58), second in steals (53), and third in three-pointers made (45), shooting 34.1% from range. In the SEC, he ranked 4th in blocked shots (1.61), 4th in defensive rebounds (5.81), 5th in rebounds (7.3), 5th in double-doubles (7), and 11th in steals (1.47).
After the 2026 NBA Draft: John Calipari has coached 65 players that have been selected in the NBA Draft which is tied for second with North Carolina’s Dean Smith and is right behind Duke’s Mike Kyrzewski (74) at No. 1. is 65 players selected in the first and second rounds are second all-time to Coach K with 66 players selected.
Coach Cal’s 44 players selected in the first round is second to Coach K, who leads with 46 players selected. After Acuff’s selection at 7th by the Kings in this year’s draft, Calipari has now coached 30 lottery picks, which is the most by a collegiate coach, passing Coach K who has 29.
Calipari has a streak of 19 consecutive seasons with at least one player drafted, which is second to Dean Smith, who had a streak of 23 years in a row. He has had at least three players drafted in a season 12 times.
Arkansas has had 50 players have been selected in the NBA Draft (52 picks as Steve Schall and Marvin Delph were drafted twice). 17 Razorbacks have been selected in the first round.
Arkansas has had 11 players drafted over the last 8 seasons and 16 since 2001. The Hogs have had at least three players drafted in the same season (1948, 1979, 1992, 2023 and 2026).
Following Acuff’s selection, Arkansas has now had eight players become lottery picks. George Kok is the highest Razorback to go in the draft as the 2nd overall pick in 1948 however, Sidney Moncrief is the highest-picked Hog as the fifth overall pick in 1979 in the modern era.
In the lottery era, Anthony Black and Joe Kleine are the highest picks, each were the #6 overall picks. Acuff joins Ron Brewer (1978) and Alvin Robertson (1984) as Razorbacks to be the seventh overall pick.
