The Arkansas Razorbacks held firm at No. 21 in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll this week, and they earned that stability with a statement win on the road. Coming off a midweek bye and down two key rotation players, the Hogs didn’t just survive-they rolled into Starkville and handled Mississippi State, 88-68, in one of their most complete performances of the season.
What stood out most? The Razorbacks’ offensive flow was crisp, unselfish, and relentless.
Four players hit double figures, but once again, it was freshman point guard Darius Acuff Jr. who ran the show. Acuff dropped 24 points and dished out a game-high eight assists, continuing to look like one of the most poised young floor generals in the country.
His ability to control pace, find teammates, and still get his own shot is giving Arkansas a steady heartbeat on offense.
Senior forward Trevon Brazile added 19 points with his usual blend of length and versatility, while Meleek Thomas poured in 17, and Billy Richmond chipped in 14. This wasn’t a one-man show-it was a team that looked connected and confident, even with some key pieces missing.
Defensively, Arkansas did what good teams do on the road: they took the crowd out of it early and never let Mississippi State string together momentum. The Bulldogs shot just 45.9% from the field and a cold 20% from three (3-of-15).
Arkansas forced 11 turnovers and turned those into 19 points on the other end. That kind of opportunistic defense is what separates a solid win from a dominant one.
And speaking of dominance, the Razorbacks were dialed in offensively. They shot 52.2% from the floor (36-of-69), knocked down 8-of-22 from deep (36.4%), and handed out 22 assists on those 36 made shots. That’s the kind of ball movement that gets coaches excited-and in this case, head coach John Calipari made it clear postgame:
“Anytime this team gets over 20 assists, we win,” Calipari said. “But it’s hard because it means you can’t bounce it as much.
Means you’ve got to give it to a teammate when he’s open while I’m trying to do my bag of tricks stuff. But when we pass the ball to each other, we create shots for each other, we’re a way better team.”
That quote says a lot about where this Arkansas team is right now. When they trust the system and each other, they’re dangerous. They’ve got the talent, no doubt-but when the ball moves like it did in Starkville, they look like a team that can make a serious run.
Looking at the broader picture, Arkansas remains the third-highest ranked SEC team in the Top 25, trailing only Florida (No. 14) and Vanderbilt (No. 19).
Kentucky rounds out the conference’s ranked squads at No. 25, while Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Auburn are all receiving votes. The SEC race is heating up, and Arkansas is right in the thick of it.
The Razorbacks have also faced a tough non-conference slate, with five of their opponents now ranked. Houston, who beat Arkansas earlier this season, has surged to No.
- Duke holds steady at No. 4, while Michigan State (No.
10), Texas Tech (No. 16), and Louisville (No. 24) round out the group. That kind of strength of schedule should only help Arkansas come tournament time.
Next up, the Hogs hit the road again for a rematch with LSU on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
CST, and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network. LSU may be struggling in conference play, but no SEC road game is ever a gimme-especially not in Baton Rouge.
If Arkansas can bring the same level of energy, execution, and unselfishness they showed against Mississippi State, they’ll be in good shape. This team is starting to click at the right time, and with Acuff leading the charge, the Razorbacks are becoming more than just a Top 25 team-they’re becoming a problem.