FAYETTEVILLE - Darius Acuff Jr. Shines with Record-Breaking Performances
Darius Acuff Jr. is on a tear, folks. Averaging 34.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds against No.
25 Alabama and Missouri, Acuff has clinched the SEC Player of the Week honors yet again. This marks the eighth time Acuff has received this recognition, setting a new SEC record for most weekly honors.
He’s been named SEC Freshman of the Week seven times and has snagged an SEC weekly honor in 8 of the last 11 rounds. Acuff now joins the likes of Razorback legends Courtney Fortson and Isaiah Joe as a freshman to win the overall SEC Player of the Week.
With these standout performances, Acuff has taken over as the SEC’s scoring leader with an average of 22.19 points per game and continues to dominate in assists, averaging 6.19. In fact, he’s the only player in the NCAA to average at least 20 points and 6 assists this season. The only player to have achieved something similar was LSU’s Pete Maravich back in the 1969-70 season, who averaged an NCAA-best 44.55 points and 6.19 assists.
Acuff also tops the SEC in assist-turnover ratio (3.21) and ranks impressively in field goal percentage (50.5%), three-pointers made (2.48 per game), and free throw percentage (80%). He’s knocking on the door of SEC history, potentially joining Maravich as the only player to lead the league in both scoring and assists for an entire season.
At Alabama: A Game to Remember
Against Alabama, Acuff delivered a jaw-dropping 49-point performance in a double-overtime thriller, despite the Razorbacks falling 117-115. His clutch three-pointer with just 12 seconds left in regulation pushed the game into overtime.
Acuff was relentless, scoring 22 points in the first half, 19 in the second, and contributing eight points and three assists in the overtimes. He played every single one of the 50 minutes, turning the ball over just once.
His shooting stats? An eye-popping 16-of-27 from the field, 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 11-of-12 from the line.
This performance set multiple records: the most points by a freshman against a top-25 opponent, the highest by a Razorback freshman, and the most by any Razorback in an SEC game. Acuff’s 49 points are also the second-most by a Razorback ever and the most by any player coached by John Calipari.
In fact, only one other player in NCAA Division I has scored more this season. Acuff’s feat even drew comparisons to Kobe Bryant, as both players achieved 45+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 1 or fewer turnovers while playing the entire game.
Versus Missouri: Consistency is Key
Against Missouri, Acuff continued his hot streak with 20 points, five assists, and zero turnovers. This marked his eighth consecutive 20-point game, tying a Razorback record set by Corliss Williamson and closing in on Todd Day’s school record. Acuff has now scored at least 15 points in 21 straight games, the second-best streak in school history.
In the Alabama game, Acuff became the Arkansas freshman leader for points in a season, surpassing Scotty Thurman’s record. After the Missouri game, Acuff has amassed 599 points, and with his next point, he’ll be the first Razorback to achieve at least 600 points and 150 assists in a single season.
Acuff’s SEC Weekly Honors
Acuff’s journey through the season has been nothing short of spectacular:
- Dec. 8: Averaged 17.5 points, nine assists, and five rebounds against #6 Louisville and Fresno State.
- Dec. 15: Scored 20 points with eight assists in a victory over #16 Texas Tech.
- Dec. 22: Averaged 25 points and 8.5 assists against Queens and #8 Houston.
- Jan. 5: Averaged 23 points and 5 assists in wins over James Madison and #19 Tennessee.
- Jan. 12: Put up 22.5 points and 5 assists in SEC road games at Ole Miss and Auburn.
- Jan. 26: Averaged 24 points and 5.5 assists in victories over #15 Vanderbilt and LSU.
- Feb. 16: Averaged 29.5 points and 6 assists in wins at LSU and against Auburn.
- Feb. 23: Delivered 34.5 points, 5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds against Alabama and Missouri.
Arkansas is set to face Texas A&M next, with tipoff at Bud Walton Arena scheduled for 8 pm (CT) on ESPN2. Keep your eyes on Acuff-this season is shaping up to be one for the history books.