The Hogs are battling in the final stretch of the season to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Arkansas is coming off an impressive 92-85 win over No. 15 Missouri and will now look to take down Texas for the second time this season. The Longhorns are coming off a disappointing 84-69 loss at South Carolina.
Previewing Texas
In the last game against the Razorbacks, the Longhorns struggled to score, shooting 34.4% from the field, 27.3% from three-point range, and 74.1% from the foul line. Freshman Tre Johnson was the key offensive player for Texas, scoring 25 points, including 10 from the free-throw line. He will again be someone the Hogs must limit, as he leads the SEC in scoring this season and is coming off a 29-point performance in the loss to South Carolina.
Arthur Kaluma recorded a double-double in the last matchup with the Hogs, scoring 12 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. On the season, he is averaging 12.7 points and leads Texas with 7.8 rebounds per game. Former Razorback Tramon Mark was held scoreless in the first matchup against Arkansas but remains a threat. Mark scored 26 points in Texas’ win over Kentucky on Feb. 15.
“[Tramon] Mark is a guy that when he plays well, they have a tendency to win,” assistant coach Chuck Martin said. “[Tre] Johnson is one of the better guards in the SEC, one of the better guards in the country when he gets going he’s a handful. You know they’re trying to get the ball to those two guys and give them opportunities to score the ball.”
Previewing the Hogs
In the win against Missouri, Adou Thiero left the game early with an injury and did not return, though he came back from the locker room and remained on the bench. With Thiero’s health in question, the Hogs will need to fill some big shoes, as he leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals this season.
“We are kind of taking it day by day and seeing how he improves,” Martin said. “We are trying to make sure that we put him in the best possible position to continue to improve.”
One player who has stepped up recently is Karter Knox, scoring in double digits in the last three games while shooting over 70% from the field in each. He has also contributed defensively with three blocks and five steals in the last four games. If Thiero is unavailable, Knox will need to step up on the wing.
Zvonimir Ivisic has been crucial for Arkansas recently. Although he went 0 for 10 from the field against No. 1 Auburn, he has scored 20 or more points in three of the last five games. Most recently, he recorded 20 points, two blocks, and two steals in the win over Missouri.
Broadcast Information
Time: 8 p.m. CST
Date: Feb. 26
Location: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.
TV: ESPN2