Arkansas basketball and head coach John Calipari have added a marquee matchup with the Baylor Bears to an already tough non-conference schedule, accord to a report by Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68.
The Razorbacks and Bears are expected to meet in the first week of the regular season on Nov. 9 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. The game fits nicely during a bye weekend for Arkansas football.
Baylor — led by head coach Scott Drew — will be a formidable early-season test for the Hoop Hogs. The Bears boast a talented roster that features five-star freshman VJ Edgecombe and top transfers Jeremy Roach (Duke) and Norchad Omier (Miami).
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Arkansas has dominated the all-time series against Baylor with a 96-49 overall record, but recent history has favored the Bears with an 81-72 win over the Hogs in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and a 67-64 triumph in Waco during the 2023 SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Calipari faced Baylor three times during his 15-year run at the helm at Kentucky. The lone win in the trio of games was the most consequential as Calipari’s Wildcats defeated Baylor in the 2012 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in Atlanta (Ga.).
The matchup with Baylor headlines a strong non-conference slate for the Razorbacks that also features a Thanksgiving showdown with Illinois in Kansas City, a Dec. 3 trip to Miami for the SEC/ACC Challenge and a game against Michigan on Dec. 10 at the Jimmy V Classic inside Madison Square Garden.
Between Arkansas’ SEC schedule, which was released on Tuesday, and a nearly finalized non-conference slate, the Razorbacks are set for at least eight games against teams ranked inside the Preseason Top 25 & 1 at CBSSports.com.
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