Hoop Hogs Win Convincingly in Exhibition Against Kansas

The No. 16 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated No. 1 Kansas 85-69 in a charity exhibition game Friday night at Bud Walton Arena.

While the game does not count toward the regular season, it marked the first look at the Razorbacks under head coach John Calipari.

Although Kansas was without star big man Hunter Dickinson and other key players, the Razorbacks, who were missing All-SEC center Jonas Aidoo, impressed against a talented Jayhawks squad.

Arkansas led for more than 39 minutes and by as many as 20 points in a wire-to-wire victory where the two teams played four lively 10-minute quarters. Kansas got no closer than a dozen in the second half.

Freshman guard Boogie Fland played 35 minutes and showed why he was a highly sought-after recruit. He scored 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting and dished out five assists. Fland also showcased his defensive abilities with six steals against the Jayhawks.

Transfer guard DJ Wagner, entering his second season under Calipari, looks poised for a standout year. He scored a team-high 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three-point range, while adding four rebounds and a steal in 35 minutes of action.

Veteran guard Johnell Davis contributed five points, three rebounds, and an assist. With Fland, Wagner, and Davis leading the backcourt, the Razorbacks are expected to pose significant challenges for opposing teams this season.

Kansas head coach Bill Self praised Arkansas’ guard trio, stating, “That will be the best trio of guards we play against this year.”

Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivišić, also known as “Big Z,” had an impressive debut in a Razorback uniform. He recorded 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 30 minutes. Ivišić shot 5-of-10 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range, and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

As a team, Arkansas shot 48% from the field, 25% from beyond the arc, and 82% from the free-throw line. The Razorbacks scored 16 fast-break points and forced 12 steals, which led to 21 points off turnovers. Despite only registering one block, their defensive effort caused problems for the Jayhawks.

The Razorbacks will play one more exhibition game on Nov. 1 against TCU at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Their regular season opener is set for Nov. 6 against Lipscomb at Bud Walton Arena.