The first real stress test of the season arrives Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C., where No. 9 Virginia and No. 12 Arkansas meet in the Capital Showcase.
Both teams have opened fast, but they’re getting there on different schedules. Virginia is 2-0 and just finished off Northeastern on Friday night in Charlottesville, while Arkansas is 1-0 and has been waiting since Tuesday after its opener.
Ryan Odom isn’t treating the short turnaround like a problem. Virginia has already shown plenty of depth, and he expects both teams to have plenty left in the tank this early in the year.
“It’s going to be a great match-up and we’re looking forward to it,” Odom said. “They have a tremendous amount of talent.
They share the ball really well. They can shoot it.
They’ve got big guys by the rim. If you’re attacking them (on defense), they’ll throw it over your head and they’ll dunk it.
So we’re going to have to be on our game to have a chance to win.”
Virginia’s first two games have looked like a team with plenty of answers. The Cavaliers opened with an 89-60 win over Drexel on Tuesday, then followed it with a 97-72 victory over Northeastern. Across those two games, Virginia has piled up 30 steals while shooting 50.8% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range.
The scoring has been spread across a few key names. Preseason Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year Thijs De Ridder and Sam Lewis are both averaging 20.0 points, with Chance Mallory at 14.0 and 7-footer Johann Grunloh adding 12.0.
Arkansas has only played once, but its opening statement was loud. John Calipari’s team rolled past Arkansas-Pine Bluff 106-61 on Tuesday night in Fayetteville, using a 25-0 run early in the first half and a 21-3 burst in the second half to put the game away.
The Razorbacks also controlled the glass and the pace. They outrebounded the Golden Lions 43-27, outscored them 45-6 in fast-break points and held a 32-12 edge in points off turnovers.
Jeremiah Wilkinson, the Georgia transfer, led the way with 23 points. Jordan Smith Jr. added 20, while freshmen Abdou Torre and Miikka Muurinen chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Arkansas backed that up with a disruptive defensive night, limiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 38.9% shooting from the field and 28.6% from 3-point range. The Razorbacks also finished with 16 steals and seven blocked shots.
“That’s something that we need to hang our hats on as a team, and just something we talk about in the locker room all the time,” Wilkinson said. “Our defense will lead to our offense, and we have a team full of athletes, a team full of people who can guard.
“Our standard is high, and if we don’t have a game like that, if we don’t have a game where we’re forcing turnovers and playing great defense, we know that that’s not our standard, and we could be a lot better.”
Calipari knows the challenge gets sharper now. He called Virginia a veteran, established group and pointed to the Cavaliers’ 30-win season last year and their No. 2 spot behind Duke in the ACC preseason poll.
“We’re going to be playing a veteran team that’s older, that’s established,” Calipari said. “They’re a top-10 team.
We’ve got work to do. We do.
If we’re not more physical, it’s hard to be in that game. You’re going to have to be physical.
It means you’re going to have to hold your position.”
In Other News...
Arkansas Fans Are Running Out Of Patience With This Offensive Struggle
Arkansas offense left plenty to sort through after a frustrating showing against Auburn, even with the defense doing enough to keep the game within reach. KJ Jackson finished 14 of 30 for 188 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and while the Razorbacks found some success on the ground, the attack never found a steady rhythm when it mattered most.
Ryan Silverfield has already made it clear he is open to staff changes if the issues continue, which only adds to the pressure around an offense that has been too uneven for comfort. Nothing has been announced yet, but with fan patience thinning and the results not matching the effort on the other side of the ball, the next move on that side of the program is going to draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Is Showing Real Progress But Auburn Is Still Hanging Around
For a half at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Arkansas has looked like a team making real strides on the road. The Razorbacks have controlled the line of scrimmage on defense, holding Auburn to 109 total yards and keeping quarterback Byrum Brown and running back Jeremiah Cobb from getting much going, while the offense finally flashed some life on the ground with Sutton Smith ripping off a 65-yard run that set up a touchdown.
Still, the 10-3 halftime edge feels a little fragile because Arkansas has left chances on the field. The offense has mixed in improvement with the same kinds of mistakes that have haunted it at times this season, including an interception and a few missed opportunities, which is why Auburn is still very much within reach despite the Razorbacks better overall first half. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Let A Promising SEC Start Slip Away At Auburn
Arkansas had the kind of start on the road in Auburn that can make a team believe it has found something in SEC play. The Razorbacks scored first and controlled the flow early by limiting Auburns offensive possessions in the first half, a formula that kept the game on their terms for long stretches before the momentum began to tilt.
Byrum Brown and Auburn changed the feel of the afternoon after halftime, stringing together multiple touchdown drives to fuel the comeback and leave Arkansas on the wrong end of a 26-23 decision. Both coaches pointed to the games adjustments and shifting dynamics afterward, which is what makes this one sting for the Razorbacks: a promising start, a winnable road spot, and a finish that slipped away just when it seemed within reach. [Read more 🡒]