Saturday’s SEC showdown between LSU and No. 20 Arkansas is still on-but it’s getting an earlier start.
Due to a winter storm bearing down on several southern states, tipoff has been moved up to 4 p.m. CT at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m., the game will still be televised on the SEC Network.
The adjustment comes as northwest Arkansas braces for a significant winter weather event, with forecasts calling for 8 to 12 inches of sleet and snow. LSU-Arkansas is one of four SEC games impacted by the storm, prompting the league to shuffle start times across Saturday’s slate.
For LSU, the timing change is just one more variable in what’s already been a challenging stretch. The Tigers are 13-5 overall but have stumbled out of the gate in SEC play, sitting at 1-5 after a tough 79-61 loss on the road to No. 16 Florida earlier this week.
That game marked the return of standout freshman point guard Dedan Thomas, who had missed the first five conference games with a lower leg injury. Thomas logged 17 minutes in his return, finishing with two points on 1-of-8 shooting, three assists, and-perhaps most notably-zero turnovers.
It wasn’t the explosive return some fans might’ve hoped for, but the poise and control were there. For a young floor general getting back into rhythm, that’s a solid foundation to build on.
On the other side, Arkansas is trending in the opposite direction. The Razorbacks are riding high at 14-5 overall and 5-1 in the SEC, coming off a dominant 93-68 win over No.
15 Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Freshman point guard Darius Acuff continues to shine, dropping 17 points in that victory and showing why he’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about young guards in the country.
Saturday’s matchup pits two teams moving in different directions, but LSU has a chance to reset the narrative. With Thomas back in the mix and the Tigers looking to find their footing in conference play, this earlier-than-expected tipoff could be the spark they need.
Weather may have shuffled the schedule, but the stakes in Fayetteville remain the same-and they’re rising.