Arkansas and Texas Clash with Tournament Hopes on the Line

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks (16-11, 5-9 SEC) will face off against the Texas Longhorns (16-11, 5-9 SEC) on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. CST in Bud Walton Arena. This matchup is the second and final meeting this season, following Arkansas‘s previous victory over Texas on February 5 in Austin, where they claimed a 78-70 win.

In their most recent game, Arkansas secured their fifth conference win of the season by defeating No. 14 Missouri, 92-85, last Saturday. Despite trailing 48-41 at halftime, the Razorbacks rallied by outscoring the Tigers 51-37 in the second half, extending their lead to double digits late in the game. Sophomore forward Trevon Brazile led the team with 20 points on 6 of 8 shooting.

Arkansas senior guard Adou Thiero contributed significantly as well, scoring 18 points on 5 of 11 shooting. As the Razorbacks prepare to face Texas, they will look to maintain that momentum.

“Let’s just be the most improved team at the end of the year. Let’s keep getting better,” Arkansas assistant coach Chuck Martin said. “I think we’re doing that.”

The matchup holds high stakes for both teams as each vies for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Texas has struggled recently, entering the game on a five-game losing streak, unable to secure a win since their February 1 triumph against LSU.

Texas freshman guard Tre Johnson leads his team, averaging 20.2 points per game, and has been especially potent in the last five games, averaging 25.0 points per night. This scoring power will be critical against Arkansas’s defense.

“From time to time, he’ll make some freshman mistakes and be overly aggressive where he’ll pick up a foul here or there, but we love his aggression,” Martin said regarding his team’s approach ahead of the important contest.

With Arkansas facing injury setbacks, including the absence of leading scorer Adou Thiero due to back issues, freshman Billy Richmond III will be asked to step up. Richmond, who has shown potential as a five-star recruit, has delivered impressive defensive plays but has struggled to remain on the court due to foul trouble.

“Don’t foul, Billy! We want to keep you in the game,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said in a pre-game radio show.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and is expected to be a tightly contested affair. The last matchup between the Razorbacks and Longhorns featured 47 fouls called, indicating that the physical nature of play could have a significant impact on the outcome.

As tip-off approaches, fans are eager to see if Arkansas can carry their recent momentum against a struggling Texas team, while the Longhorns hope to reverse their fortunes and get back in the win column.