Brazile Ready for First March Madness Game with Razorbacks

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Trevon Brazile, a forward for the Arkansas Razorbacks, is set to make his NCAA Tournament debut on Thursday against the Kansas Jayhawks. After missing the previous three seasons due to injury, Brazile is eager to finally step onto the court in March Madness.

Brazile’s journey has been challenging; he sustained an ACL injury during the 2022 season that left him spectating during Arkansas’s previous tournament run. “I was thinking about that on the flight over here,” he recalled. “Just thinking about the game. That’s when Musselman took his shirt off. Yes, that was an adventure. It’s crazy, my first time playing in it.” With the Razorbacks facing Kansas, Brazile is poised to contribute in a moment he has long awaited.

The 2024 season saw the Razorbacks finish with a 16-17 record, placing third-worst in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). As tournament chances began to fade midway through the conference schedule, Brazile remained a pivotal figure on the team. He is uniquely positioned, as the only player not making a tournament debut during their first season of college basketball, while teammates either entered as freshmen or transferred from other programs.

“I don’t really care about the validation part,” Brazile said. “It’s just more of a personal thing that I’m just getting here to come here and play basketball at the highest level and play in March. I don’t really care what anybody else thinks.” This determination speaks to his resilience and focus on his performance.

For the long-awaited matchup, Brazile’s father and brother will be in attendance to cheer him on as he takes the court for the first time in the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks and Jayhawks are set to tip off Thursday at 6:10 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on CBS.