Arkansas basketball vs Kentucky: Scouting report, prediction as Calipari returns to Rupp

[ad_1]

The game of the year has finally arrived for Arkansas basketball.

The Razorbacks (12-8, 1-6 SEC) will hit the road this weekend for John Calipari’s Kentucky reunion, facing the No. 12 Wildcats (15-5, 4-3) Saturday (8 p.m., ESPN) as the Hogs’ head coach returns to Rupp Arena, a place he called home for 15 seasons.

Calipari and Kentucky have gone in opposite directions since the divorce. The Wildcats hired former player Mark Pope away from BYU and are one of the top teams in the country. They’re coming off one of their best wins of the season, going on the road to beat No. 8 Tennessee 78-73 Tuesday night.

More: Roy Williams shares what to expect in John Calipari’s emotional return to Kentucky

More: Arkansas basketball recruits Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas named McDonald’s All-Americans

On the other side, Calipari is in the midst of the worst SEC season of his career. The Razorbacks have one league victory and have played a favorable schedule of late, with losses to LSU, Missouri and Oklahoma surrounding their lone win over Georgia.

Here is a scouting report and prediction for Calipari’s return to Kentucky as the Hogs’ head coach.

Can Arkansas basketball limit Kentucky’s 3-point shooting?

The Wildcats are 51 for 112 (45.5%) from 3-point range in four SEC victories, and 16 for 75 (34.7%) in their three conference losses.

The Razorbacks slim chances get even smaller if they can’t slow Kentucky down from behind-the-arc. This has been a relative strength for Arkansas, with the Hogs ranking 100th in the country and holding their opposition to 31.7% on 3-pointers this season.

No two players will be a bigger threat in this category Saturday than Jaxson Robinson and Koby Brea, who have combined to make 105 triples this season. Brea is hitting long-range shots at a 47.8% clip.

By contrast, Arkansas has just 145 made 3-pointers as a team.

Jan 25, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Adou Thiero (3) dunks the ball int he second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Bud…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/arkansas-basketball-vs-kentucky-scouting-100843153.html

Author : Ft. Smith Southwest Times Record

Publish date : 2025-01-30 10:08:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.