When Arkansas and Auburn clashed the first time this season, it was all Tigers - and all Keyshawn Hall.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward put together a clinic, torching the Razorbacks for a season-high 32 points in Auburn’s 95-73 rout. Hall was everywhere - knocking down 4-of-5 from deep, dishing out five assists, swatting two shots, and even chipping in on the boards.
He scored at all three levels, ran the offense like a point forward, and anchored the defense with his physicality and presence. Simply put, Arkansas had no answer.
But heading into the rematch, the script has flipped - and not just because Arkansas is playing better. Hall has been ruled out, and with him goes Auburn’s most complete weapon on both ends of the floor. For a Tigers team riding a three-game losing streak, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Meanwhile, Arkansas is trending in the opposite direction - and doing it with authority.
The Razorbacks have won back-to-back games by 20-plus points, and it’s not just the offense that’s clicking. The defense, which was shredded in the first matchup with Auburn, is showing real bite.
Over the last two games, Arkansas has held opponents under 70 points, and it’s been more than just effort - it’s been execution. Rotations are sharper, rim protection is real, and the unit is playing with a level of cohesion that was missing earlier in the season.
At the heart of that defensive resurgence? Trevon Brazile.
The Arkansas forward has turned into a paint-patrolling force. He swatted five shots in one game, followed it up with four in the next, and altered plenty more that didn’t make the box score.
His length, timing, and vertical pop have changed the way opponents attack the rim - or rather, avoid attacking it altogether. Brazile’s emergence as a defensive anchor has given the Razorbacks a new identity, and it’s showing up in the results.
This matchup was shaping up to be a perfect test for that new-look defense - a chance to see how far Arkansas had come by trying to contain the same player who torched them weeks ago. But with Hall out, that measuring stick is gone. Auburn now has to recalibrate without its most versatile threat.
That said, don’t mistake Hall’s absence for an automatic win.
Auburn still has firepower, and the pressure now shifts to guard Tahaad Pettiford and forward Keshawn Murphy. Pettiford’s ability to create off the dribble and score in bunches will be critical if the Tigers want to keep pace.
He’s got a quick first step and can heat up in a hurry. Murphy, on the other hand, will be leaned on to bring energy in the paint - rebounding, defending, and doing the dirty work Hall often handled.
For Arkansas, the formula doesn’t change: keep the defensive edge, own the paint, and don’t let someone else have a Hall-like breakout. The SEC doesn’t hand out easy wins, and Auburn, even shorthanded, still has the talent to make this one interesting.
But there’s no denying the shift in momentum. What once looked like a tall task now feels like a real opportunity. The Razorbacks are playing their best ball of the season, and with the Tigers down their star, Arkansas has a chance to keep climbing - and maybe even flip the script on what started as a one-sided rivalry this season.
The key questions heading into this one:
Can Pettiford and Murphy rise to the occasion for Auburn?
And can Arkansas’ defense, led by Brazile, continue its evolution - even without Hall on the other side to test it?