Arkansas will tip off the regular season under new head coach John Calipari, against Lipscomb on Nov. 6 at Bud Walton Arena. Last season, the Razorbacks narrowly defeated the Bisons 69-66 in North Little Rock after nearly blowing a 20-point lead.
Previewing Lipscomb
The Bisons were picked to win the ASUN Conference in the preseason and will return forward Jacob Ognacevic, who missed last season due to injury. In the 2022-23 season, Ognacevic averaged 17.7 points per game and is on the preseason All-ASUN team. Lipscomb also returns senior guard Will Pruitt, their leading scorer and rebounder last season with 15 points and six rebounds per game.
Despite several injuries, the Bisons won 20 games last season. Lipscomb is seeking its first win against Arkansas, as the Razorbacks hold a 3-0 all-time series lead.
Ognacevic, in his first game back, scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Lipscomb defeated Duquesne 77-72 in Monday’s season opener. Will Pruitt was also efficient, adding 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while going 7-for-9 from the free throw line and grabbing six rebounds.
As a team, the Bisons shot 52% from the field, 69% from the free throw line, and 43% from 3-point range. Lipscomb shared the ball effectively, recording 16 assists. The Bisons never trailed in the game, with their largest lead reaching 18 points.
Previewing Arkansas
This offseason, Arkansas made national headlines by hiring Hall of Fame coach John Calipari from Kentucky after former head coach Eric Musselman left for USC. In his first season as the head Hog, Calipari brought in one of the top transfer classes, featuring FAU guard Johnell Davis and Tennessee big man Jonas Aidoo. He also landed an impressive freshman class, highlighted by guard Boogie Fland, forward Karter Knox, and forward Billy Richmond III. The Razorbacks are ranked No. 16 in the preseason and picked to finish fourth in the SEC.
Arkansas wrapped up its exhibition games, defeating preseason No. 1 Kansas 85-69 at Bud Walton Arena and losing 66-65 to TCU at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The Hogs have been without Aidoo in the exhibitions, but once healthy, he will provide another defensive presence and rebounder. In the exhibitions, the Razorbacks’ starting lineup has featured Fland, guard DJ Wagner, forward Adou Thiero, Knox, and 7-foot-2 big man Zvonimir Ivišić.
[You may also be interested in Everything John Calipari Said Following Exhibition Loss To TCU]
Who Has Stood Out So Far
In the exhibition win over Kansas, Fland and Wagner combined for 46 points, showing strong chemistry in the backcourt. Fland scored 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, with five assists and six steals, while Wagner added 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed four rebounds. Ivišić also impressed with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a block.
In the narrow loss to TCU, Thiero and Fland were the only double-digit scorers. Fland posted 11 points, four assists, and two rebounds, but Thiero delivered a standout performance, scoring 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, and four blocks in 37 minutes.
Broadcast Information
- Time: 7 p.m. CST
- Date: Nov. 6
- Location: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.
- TV: ESPN+/SEC Network+
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