Three Biggest Questions For Arkansas Basketball This Season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When it comes to the roster Arkansas coach John Calipari has assembled, there is no doubt from anyone that he has the talent to put a dangerous team on the court.

What he does have are some questions about how they get there because even though there’s talent, this is a team full of new faces and one significant returning star in Billy Richmond III.

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After winning the SEC Basketball Tournament and another run to the Sweet 16, it’s time for the Razorbacks to forge its way to becoming national title contenders. True freshman guard Jordan Smith arrives as one of the most decorated recruits it college basketball this season, and certainly showed off what he’s capable of in exhibition play in the Bahamas last month.

It didn’t take long for them to blend together and look like a team poised to defend well and score at will, but that was against overwhelmed competition. With another loaded non-conference schedule that includes Arizona, Michigan State, North Carolina and Indiana, Calipari will have more than enough answers to questions many around the country have for his team.

Arkansas Razorbacks guards Jordan Smith, Jr. and JJ Andrews celebrate following made basket in first half against The Bahamas National Team. | RazorbackMBB, X

Has The Defense Actually Improved?

There were definitive areas where Arkansas lacked on the defensive end, and it wasn’t becuase of pure talent. Calipari had to play the numbers game too often to avoid foul trouble from his pair of fantastic guards in Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas.

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That’s not to say Acuff and Thomas couldn’t capably defend. Due to their offensive prowess, Arkansas wouldn’t have been able to survive as often; choosing to defend without fouling in order to score most of the time at will.

The Razorbacks’ defensive rating of 112.6 ranked No. 221 in all of college basketball last season, but were able to hover in the top 50 due to their legnth, according to CBB Analytics. The Hakeem-percentage…

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Publish date : 2026-09-22 17:30:00

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