No. 12 Arkansas is headed into one of the sharpest early-season measuring sticks it could ask for, and freshman guard Jordan Smith Jr. knows exactly what’s waiting.
The Razorbacks will face No. 9 Virginia on Sunday in Washington, D.C., in a matchup that already carries plenty of weight for John Calipari’s young team. Arkansas rolled past Arkansas-Pine Bluff 106-61 on Tuesday, while Virginia handled Drezel 89-60, but the gap in competition disappears fast when two ranked teams meet this early.
Calipari didn’t sugarcoat what his group still has to prove after Tuesday’s win.
"We’re going to be playing a veteran team that’s older, that’s established," Calipari said Tuesday. "They’re a top 10 team.
We got work to do. We do.
If we’re not more physical, it’s hard to be in that game. You’re going to have to be physical.
It means you’re going to have to hold your position. You can’t always be the one that’s getting bounced and then fumble balls and then not get a rebound.
You hit first. We still aren’t there.
We don’t have that mentality yet."
Arkansas has plenty of talent, though, and Smith is one of the biggest reasons people are looking at this roster and wondering whether the Razorbacks can make a run back to the Final Four for the first time in 32 years. He’s one of eight freshmen in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, and Sunday looks like the kind of game that will show where this group really stands.
For Smith, the stakes are obvious.
"Ever since the first game, my mentality has been different," Smith said Thursday. "Just kill or be killed.
The season, it relies on these kinds of games just to see where we’re at. We’re gonna build off this and we’re just gonna have fun."
The trip means even more because of where Smith comes from. He grew up in D.C. and played high school basketball in Chantilly, Va., about 25 miles west of the nation’s capital.
"I’m really excited," Smith said. "I played high school [basketball] in Virginia, D.C., Maryland, DMV.
Just for me to play a college game there, not a lot of people get a chance to do that unless you go to a college in that city. For me to come back home in front of my friends and family really means a lot to me.
I’m just really excited."
Arkansas and Virginia are set for a noon tip Sunday, with the game airing on ESPN and the Razorback Sports Network.
In Other News...
Arkansas Fans Are Running Out Of Patience With This Offensive Struggle
Arkansas offense left plenty to sort through after a frustrating showing against Auburn, even with the defense doing enough to keep the game within reach. KJ Jackson finished 14 of 30 for 188 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and while the Razorbacks found some success on the ground, the attack never found a steady rhythm when it mattered most.
Ryan Silverfield has already made it clear he is open to staff changes if the issues continue, which only adds to the pressure around an offense that has been too uneven for comfort. Nothing has been announced yet, but with fan patience thinning and the results not matching the effort on the other side of the ball, the next move on that side of the program is going to draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Is Showing Real Progress But Auburn Is Still Hanging Around
For a half at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Arkansas has looked like a team making real strides on the road. The Razorbacks have controlled the line of scrimmage on defense, holding Auburn to 109 total yards and keeping quarterback Byrum Brown and running back Jeremiah Cobb from getting much going, while the offense finally flashed some life on the ground with Sutton Smith ripping off a 65-yard run that set up a touchdown.
Still, the 10-3 halftime edge feels a little fragile because Arkansas has left chances on the field. The offense has mixed in improvement with the same kinds of mistakes that have haunted it at times this season, including an interception and a few missed opportunities, which is why Auburn is still very much within reach despite the Razorbacks better overall first half. [Read more 🡒]
Caliparis Young Arkansas Team Faces Its First Real Measuring Stick
The first real test of John Caliparis Arkansas team arrives Sunday in Washington, D.C., where the No. 12 Razorbacks meet No. 9 Virginia in the Capital Showcase. Arkansas has only gotten one game under its belt so far, a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, while Virginia comes in a little more seasoned after opening with victories over Drexel and Northeastern. It is an early-season matchup with a little extra weight because both programs are still learning who they are.
For Arkansas, this is the kind of game that can reveal a lot in a hurry. Calipari and Virginia coach Ryan Odom have both talked about their teams strengths and what they expect from the matchup, and Sunday should offer a clearer picture of how the Razorbacks stack up against a ranked opponent. In a season where every nonconference test matters, this one looks like the first true measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]