The Arkansas Razorbacks are on a roll, and if you've been following them since before the pandemic, you know just how sweet this moment is. For years, the Hogs struggled to make it past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
From 1997 to 2020, they couldn’t break through, despite some memorable wins like Sonny Weems’ 31-point performance against Indiana in 2008 and thrilling victories over Wofford and Seton Hall. Yet, each of those seasons ended with losses to North Carolina in the second round.
Enter Eric Musselman, the coach brought in to change the narrative. In just his second season, he led Arkansas to a Sweet 16 berth with a nail-biting win over Texas Tech. That was the start of a streak, with the Hogs making it to the second weekend five years running.
This weekend added another chapter to that story. Arkansas took down 13-seed Hawaii and 12-seed High Point in Portland, marking the second straight year of reaching the Sweet 16 under John Calipari’s leadership.
Arkansas 97, Hawaii 78
This game was all Razorbacks from the start. They jumped out to an 11-0 lead and never looked back, keeping Hawaii at bay with a consistent lead.
The Hogs dominated in transition, outscoring Hawaii by 18 points and adding 11 more in fast breaks. Hawaii’s defense just couldn’t keep up, allowing Arkansas to get to the rim and dish out assists with ease.
Despite Hawaii’s efforts from beyond the arc, it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap.
Acuff shone with 24 points, but the real story was how Arkansas controlled the game, exploiting Hawaii’s weaknesses. The matchup was favorable for the Razorbacks, and they took full advantage.
Arkansas 94, High Point 88
Now, this was a battle. High Point put up a fight, living up to expectations of a close contest.
Arkansas led by a single point at halftime, 43-42, but High Point surged ahead early in the second half. A timely timeout by Calipari helped Arkansas regain their footing.
Acuff took over in the clutch, scoring seven straight points to break an 83-83 tie, including a crucial pull-up three-pointer with about a minute left. He finished with an impressive 36 points.
While Arkansas allowed too many transition opportunities for High Point, they were more efficient overall. Limiting turnovers was key, as High Point thrives on them, but the Panthers managed just seven points off turnovers. The Hogs had some defensive lapses around the rim and could have been more aggressive offensively, but their three-point shooting and ball security sealed the win.
A pivotal moment came when Chase Johnston of High Point attempted back-to-back contested threes late in the game. Both misses allowed Arkansas to pull ahead for good. Despite Johnston’s impressive shooting stats, the decision to take those shots proved costly.
Richmond’s defensive efforts were notable, and while Ewin struggled at times, he finished strong. Acuff’s offensive display was nothing short of historic.
Up Next
Arkansas will face the winner of Arizona and Utah State in the Sweet 16. If it’s Arizona, the Hogs will have their hands full.
The Wildcats are a formidable opponent with a towering rim protector and a high-scoring power forward. However, they rely heavily on freshmen, and their coach has a spotty record against high seeds in March.
While Arkansas will need to elevate their game, the matchup isn’t insurmountable. In fact, their chances might be better than when they faced Gonzaga in 2022-and we all know how that turned out.