Arkansas has spent plenty of the offseason buzz on its backcourt, and for good reason. JJ Andrews, Billy Richmond, Jordan Smith Jr., Abdou Toure, Jeremiah Wilkinson and Davion Thompson have all drawn attention.
But if John Calipari’s third Razorbacks team is going to hit a real ceiling, the frontcourt is going to have to carry some weight. Through two exhibition games in Nassau, that group has been uneven.
That’s not a knock on the larger picture. It’s the first week of August, and summer games are hardly a full preview of what’s coming once the season starts. Still, they do offer a snapshot, and the early read on Arkansas’ big men is pretty clear: mixed results, with a few encouraging flashes and a few questions still hanging around.
Cooper Bowser, the senior transfer from Furman and the only senior on the roster, has been the most underwhelming of the bunch so far. That doesn’t mean he’s been bad. It does mean Arkansas is still waiting for him to look like the kind of difference-maker it needs in the middle, especially on defense.
Against the Bahamas National Team on Friday, Bowser finished with four points and three rebounds in 19 minutes. On Saturday against Carleton University, he played 22 minutes and went 2-for-5 from the floor, missing multiple layups after not going up strong with the ball. He did help on the glass with seven rebounds and added three blocks, and that rim protection is going to matter if Arkansas’ interior defense is going to climb to the level it needs.
Freshman Frolov, who came over from Russia, logged only nine minutes Friday and 13 Saturday, so there wasn’t a ton to take from either outing. He made his only shot against the Bahamas National Team and grabbed five rebounds, then was held scoreless against Carleton while pulling down four boards.
The early feel is that he may be more of a project than originally expected, particularly on offense. He has not blocked a shot in a Razorback uniform yet, and he’ll need to bring more physicality in the post if he’s going to help on the defensive end.
Maker had the most eye-opening defensive performance of the group on Friday. He posted four points, six rebounds, five blocks and five steals against the Bahamas National Team, showing exactly the kind of disruptive energy that can change a game. He only played five minutes on Saturday before a hard fall ended his night early, but if that defensive impact keeps showing up, he could become one of Arkansas’ most valuable frontcourt pieces.
Then there’s Ourigou, who may have been the best big man Arkansas has put on the floor in the Bahamas so far. At 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, he’s the most physical option in the group, and he’s played that way.
He blocked a shot against Carleton and has 10 rebounds through two games, while regularly muscling his way around the paint. That kind of presence is exactly what Arkansas fans want to see after watching Trevon Brazile and Malique Ewin get pushed around some last season.
Ourigou also delivered on offense Saturday, scoring 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting. If the freshman who reclassified to the Class of 2026 keeps building on that and becomes a steadier shot-blocking force, he could work his way into Arkansas’ starting lineup this fall.
In Other News...
Arkansas Already Faces A Familiar Fear In The Ryan Silverfield Era
Ryan Silverfields arrival has already given Arkansas a fresh start on paper, but the early conversation around the hire has quickly drifted back to the same old questions about the programs footing. Coming off a successful run at Memphis, Silverfield was brought in to steady the Razorbacks, yet his first major public moment has been framed less by football than by the organizational doubts hanging over the job. Paul Finebaum sharpened that focus by taking aim at Arkansas leadership and how the program handled the lead-up to Silverfields media day, with athletic director Hunter Yurachek firmly in the crosshairs.
For Arkansas fans, the concern is familiar: a coaching change is supposed to signal direction, but repeated turnover has made stability feel elusive. Since 2017, Yurachek has overseen five head coaching changes, and that kind of churn has left the Razorbacks answering the same basic questions again and again about whether the next move will finally settle things down. Silverfield brings a new rsum and a new tone, but the broader fear around the program is whether this hire can escape the cycle that has defined the last several years. [Read more 🡒]
KJ Jackson Gives Arkansas The Steadying QB1 Case Fans Wanted
KJ Jackson has put Arkansas in the spot it wanted to reach heading into the upcoming season, with the quarterback battle trending toward a clear QB1 answer. The numbers from 2025 back up the case: he completed 61 percent of his passes, threw for 441 yards and three touchdowns, and did it without an interception, a profile that lines up neatly with a team looking for stability and cleaner possession football.
Jacksons appeal is not just about staying out of trouble with the ball. His mobility gives the Razorbacks another layer, and his ability to make throws while under pressure suggests he can handle the kind of moments that tend to decide close SEC games. If Arkansas is going to lean into a more careful, turnover-conscious approach, Jackson looks like the kind of quarterback who can make that plan work without forcing the issue. [Read more 🡒]