Jeremiah Wilkinson isn’t interested in the trap game talk.
Yes, No. 12 Arkansas opens the season Tuesday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff inside Bud Walton Arena, and yes, the Razorbacks have No.
9 Virginia waiting on Nov. 8 in Washington, D.C. But Wilkinson made it clear Monday that the focus stays on the opponent in front of them.
"They're a talented team," Wilkinson said of UAPB on Monday. "We still have to come out and play.
We can't take any game for granted. We can't look past any team.
In those 40 minutes, we have to beat the team that's across from us. Our goal is going to be to go 1-0 tomorrow.
That's our goal every game. Whether it's Pine Bluff or the Golden State Warriors, our goal is to come out and play as hard as we can [and] leave the game feeling great about the way we played, not just with a win or a loss."
That mindset comes with Arkansas-Pine Bluff bringing a roster that looks nothing like a pushover. The Golden Lions were picked to finish 11th in the SWAC, with only Mississippi Valley State slotted lower, and they’re coming off a 13-19 season. But sixth-year coach Solomon Bozeman has rebuilt the group around 12 transfers, giving UAPB plenty of new faces.
One of the most notable is Jalen Tatum, a Pine Bluff native who arrived from Jackson State and earned preseason All-SWAC second-team honors. Tatum averaged 7.7 points per game last season at JSU, though he did not play in the Tigers' loss to Arkansas a year ago.
UAPB also brings in transfer guard Elijah Hernandez, who averaged 12 points per game last season at Holy Family University, and transfer forward Macaleag Rich, who put up 8.1 points and 2.4 rebounds at UTSA. Rich is the only Golden Lion with Power Four experience after spending time at Kansas State from 2023-25, where he averaged 4.8 points per game.
The Golden Lions also have three other Arkansans on the roster beyond Tatum: sophomore guard Jai'chauun Hayes of Hot Springs, senior forward Creed Williamson of Little Rock and freshman guard Harrison Pickett of Little Rock. Williamson transferred to UAPB from Henderson State.
Arkansas, meanwhile, has already tested itself in exhibition play and came away with wins over Gonzaga and Memphis. UAPB did not play any exhibitions, and Monday's matchup is the first meeting between the programs.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on Monday, with coverage on SECN+ and the Razorback Sports Network.
In Other News...
Arkansas Is About To Learn If Caliparis Defense Is Really Ready
John Calipari has spent the opening stretch of the season leaning into what he believes can become Arkansas identity: length, activity and a defense that can turn possessions into problems for the other team. Through three games, the Razorbacks have already forced 49 turnovers, a number that points to a group willing to pressure the ball and make opponents work for every clean look.
Virginia should provide a sturdier test for that approach. The Cavaliers had their own turnover issues in a recent game against Drexel, finishing with 14 giveaways, including half of them from star point guard Chance Mallory, and both teams are expected to bring plenty of physicality and defensive pressure into the matchup. For Arkansas, it is the kind of game that can show whether Caliparis defense is just active early or ready to hold up when the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Has A Real Opening Against Auburn After One Troubling Trend
Auburn arrives with a ground game that has been the engine of its offense, and that is the first thing Arkansas has to solve if it wants to turn this matchup into something more than a fight on paper. The Razorbacks have also seen a strange twist in this series, with the road team winning the last four meetings, a wrinkle that adds a little extra intrigue to a game that already feels like it could swing on which side controls the line of scrimmage.
For Arkansas, the bigger concern is its own offense, which has been inconsistent enough this season to leave little margin for error. Ryan Silverfield has handled Auburn coach Alex Golesh well so far, but head-to-head history only matters if the Razorbacks can clean up their execution and give themselves a chance to cash in on a defense that has been vulnerable lately. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Still Has A Real Shot With This 4-Star QB
Even with Arkansas navigating a rough stretch, the Razorbacks are still making noise with one of the more intriguing young quarterbacks in the country. Nash Henry, a 2028 four-star prospect from Norman, Oklahoma, said his interest in the program has not faded, and his recent visit to Fayetteville only strengthened that feeling. He came away impressed by the way Arkansas competes and by the staffs overall vision under first-year coach Ryan Silverfield.
Henry also sounds like a player who is already thinking beyond the usual early recruiting chatter. He believes he could fit into Arkansas offensive system and likes the direction the program is trying to take, which matters when a young quarterback is weighing not just a school, but a place where he can grow. For Arkansas, keeping that kind of traction with a top-tier prospect is a reminder that the rebuild is still capable of reaching beyond the present record. [Read more 🡒]