Three questions Arkansas basketball must answer in Gonzaga exhibition

FAYETTEVILLE — The wait is nearly over.

Arkansas basketball will face a top-15 team inside Bud Walton Arena this weekend.

Year 3 under John Calipari unofficially begins on Saturday, Oct. 24. The No. 13 Razorbacks will host No. 12 Gonzaga in a preseason exhibition at 3 p.m. (SEC Network). A few days later, Arkansas and Memphis will tussle in the final tune-up before the season opener.

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Here are three key questions for Arkansas entering the showdown with Gonzaga, beginning with last season’s Achilles’ heel.

How does Arkansas basketball handle Gonzaga’s frontcourt?

Not many teams in America possess a big-man duo as formidable as Gonzaga’s Braden Huff and Massamba Diop. Huff averaged 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 66.2% last season. Diop posted 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while he was a freshman at Arizona State.

Neither player is an elite shooter, but defenses must respect both Bulldogs from 3-point range. They can do damage with their backs to the basket and are strong offensive rebounders.

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Arkansas’ big men were its biggest weakness last season. Against dominant frontcourts from Florida, Duke and Arizona, the Hogs were exposed. Calipari loaded up this offseason with six players who are 6-foot-10 or taller. Cooper Bowser and Miikka Muurinen are expected to start, with freshmen Caleb Ourigou and Maper Maker serving as the most likely options off the bench.

It would be a huge preseason boost if the Razorbacks can match Gonzaga’s physicality in the paint.

Can Jordan Smith Jr. impose his will defensively?

If Arkansas is going to challenge for the SEC title and make a deep run in March Madness, Smith is going to need to be one of the best defensive players in the country.

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Against Gonzaga, his primary defensive assignments will be Xavian Lee and Nathan De Sousa. Lee recently received an injunction against the NCAA and is currently eligible for the upcoming season. Lee averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 assists with Florida…

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Publish date : 2026-10-22 10:03:00

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