No. 25 Arkansas Prepares for High-Octane Louisville in ACC/SEC Challenge Showdown
The gauntlet continues for No. 25 Arkansas as the Razorbacks get set to host No.
6 Louisville in Fayetteville on Wednesday night, marking their third game this season against a top-seven opponent. This one’s part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, and it’s shaping up to be a real litmus test for an Arkansas squad still trying to find its rhythm.
At 5-2, Arkansas has already felt the sting of elite competition. They dropped a close one to now-No.
7 Michigan State back on Nov. 8, and most recently fell 80-71 to No. 4 Duke in the CBS Thanksgiving Classic in Chicago.
But it’s not just the losses-it’s how they’ve unfolded. Against Duke, the Razorbacks were up 60-53 midway through the second half before things unraveled.
The Blue Devils closed the game on a 19-7 run, with freshman phenom Cameron Boozer pouring in 35 points and grabbing nine boards. Arkansas got outmuscled on the glass 37-29, and that’s been a recurring theme.
“We had our chances to win this game,” head coach John Calipari said afterward. “It’s how do you separate?
We did. When you get that separation, how do you put people away?”
That’s the million-dollar question for a team still learning how to close. And against a Louisville squad that’s 7-0 and averaging nearly 97 points per game-fourth-best in the nation-that margin for error shrinks even more.
Louisville Brings Firepower and Fresh Legs
Louisville hasn’t just been winning-they’ve been steamrolling teams. The Cardinals are fresh off a 104-47 demolition of NJIT and have had over a week to rest and recalibrate. Head coach Pat Kelsey views the break as a much-needed mental reset before diving into a matchup against what he calls “a really, really dangerous, talented and well-coached Arkansas team.”
There’s no mistaking what Louisville brings to the table: tempo, spacing, and a whole lot of shooting. They’ve topped 100 points four times already this season-the most in 26 years-and they’re not just putting up numbers for fun. They’re also getting stops, ranking 17th nationally in points allowed (63.0 ppg) and holding a +12.7 rebounding advantage over opponents.
That rebounding edge is no small thing. Arkansas has struggled on the boards, particularly in its two losses.
Against Duke, big man transfers Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle combined for just 10 points and four rebounds in 39 minutes of action. The Razorbacks simply haven’t found consistency in the frontcourt, and Calipari has been searching for the right mix.
He’s already used four different starting lineups through seven games-none of them more than twice.
Freshman Firepower vs. Veteran Sharpshooters
Despite the growing pains, Arkansas has gotten exactly what it hoped for from its freshman duo. Meleek Thomas leads the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game, while Darius Acuff Jr. is right behind him with 17.4 and leads the team in assists (4.4 per game). Together, they’ve brought a spark to the backcourt that’s hard to ignore, but they’ll need help if Arkansas is going to keep pace with Louisville’s high-octane offense.
Speaking of which, the Cardinals' perimeter attack is as deep as it is dangerous. Senior Ryan Conwell, a transfer from Xavier, is averaging 20 points per game and just dropped 32 points-including eight threes-against NJIT.
He’s launching nearly nine threes a game and hitting four of them. Freshman Mikel Brown Jr.
(17.0 ppg) and Isaac McKneely (12.3 ppg) are also lighting it up from deep, combining for over five made threes per contest.
“We just do what the game tells us,” McKneely said. “We have all kinds of guys that can knock down threes, and that’s what makes us so hard to guard.”
That’s not just talk. Louisville’s offensive system thrives on ball movement and spacing, and their ability to crash the offensive glass-14.3 offensive rebounds per game-gives them second and third chances to bury teams from beyond the arc.
What to Watch
This game could come down to Arkansas’ ability to rebound and defend the three-point line. If the Razorbacks can’t limit Louisville’s second-chance opportunities or cool off their shooters, it could be a long night. But if Thomas and Acuff can control the tempo, and if Calipari can get just enough from his frontcourt, Arkansas has the talent to hang with-and potentially upset-one of the hottest teams in the country.
The Razorbacks have shown flashes of what they can be. Now it’s about putting it together for 40 minutes. Against Louisville, that’s not a luxury-it’s a requirement.