The excitement is buzzing in Fayetteville for Friday’s exhibition matchup between No. 16 Arkansas and No. 1 Kansas. Unfortunately, both teams are expected to be impacted by injuries for the festivities.
Johnell Davis, Jonas Aidoo, Adou Thiero, Casmir Chavis and Melo Sanchez were among the Razorbacks either limited or out entirely during Arkansas’ Tip-Off Tour in Hot Spring and Pine Bluff two weekend ago.
Head coach John Calipari cautioned at the time he would not push anyone back for an exhibition who wasn’t completely healthy.
Associate head coach Kenny Payne did not give specifics on who specifically would be unavailable when meeting with media Thursday afternoon, although he did say Chavis is no longer injured, but it is a safe assumption the Razorbacks will be short-handed.
“I don’t know exactly yet. The medical staff will help us with that,” Payne said. “But the guys are getting better every day. We have been down. We’ve had a few weeks of having five guys at practice. So, that’s tough.”
RELATED: Triple-Double: Arkansas, Kansas set for high-profile exhibition
In a perfect world, both teams would be at full strength for Friday’s exhibition, but the potential is there for a more level playing field as Self mentioned All-American forward Hunter Dickinson, Alabama transfer Rylan Griffen and Mississippi State transfer Shakeel Moore as Jayhawks who could potentially be out or limited.
” I don’t think we’re going to be totally healthy yet,” Self said at Big 12 Media Day on Wednesday. “Hunter has been out. Shakeel will be out. Rylan did a hip flexor on Monday. So, he’s probably doubtful.
“So, that could be a different team playing, but the reality is I really think they can all practice by Sunday, including Shakeel. So, it’s not all bad. It’s probably going to be the healthiest we’ve been about five days from now.”
Arkansas and Kansas are set to tip off at 8 p.m. (CT) from Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville (Ark.) Friday and will be aired on SEC Network. The exhibition will be played in a four-quarter format with score kept and agreed upon segments within the flow of the game for situational play.