The Hoop Hogs will host Southern to tip off the regular season in the Basketball Palace of Mid-America, Bud Walton Arena. In their second year under head coach John Calipari, the Razorbacks have looked sharp in two exhibition games, but the real tests begin now.
Previewing Southern
Southern was picked to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), making the Jaguars a fringe NCAA Tournament contender. Guard Micheal Jacobs was named to the preseason All-SWAC first team after averaging 11.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds last season.
The Jaguars are led by head coach Kevin Johnson, who guided the program to 18 wins in his debut season. He became the sixth coach in school history to record 17 or more wins in his first year. Johnson’s squad was the only SWAC team in 2023-24 to defeat a top-25 opponent, upsetting No. 21 Mississippi State. As the Jaguars finished with the conference’s highest NET ranking. A veteran coach with more than 28 years of experience, Johnson previously served at Tulane, Louisiana-Lafayette, Nicholls State, Louisiana Tech and Centenary, where he was head coach.
Previewing the Hoop Hogs
This season already looks more promising for Arkansas, at least in the regular season, than last year. The Razorbacks have more depth, and the five-star freshman duo of Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. appears to fit the mold of Calipari’s trademark freshman guards. Through two exhibition games against Cincinnati and Memphis, Thomas and Acuff were the team’s leading scorers in both contests.
Among the returners, Trevon Brazile, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III look like they have picked up where they left off last season. Brazile, who started slow last year, enters the season looking strong, and his size and athleticism will be key for the Hogs. Knox had the option to enter the NBA Draft but chose to return to Arkansas. He can do it all, knock down threes, hit mid-range shots, finish in the paint and play sound defense. Richmond, one of the team’s best defenders, has also shown growth offensively in the exhibitions.
In the paint, Arkansas turned to the transfer portal to add big men Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle, who bring contrasting play styles. Pringle, an SEC veteran, is known for his rebounding and physical defense. While Ewin, who averaged 14.2 points per game at Florida State last year, provides an offensive spark. Their complementary skills give the Razorbacks flexibility to adjust matchups throughout the season.
Broadcast Information
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Date: Nov. 3
Location: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.
TV: SEC Network
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