Arkansas Looks to Flip the Script on the Road Against Struggling Oklahoma
No. 20 Arkansas heads into Norman on Tuesday night looking to solve a problem that’s been nagging them all season: winning away from home. The Razorbacks are just 1-3 in true road games, and after dropping their last two away from Fayetteville, they know something’s got to change if they want to stay in the SEC hunt.
They’ll get their next shot against an Oklahoma team that’s reeling, having dropped six straight, but Arkansas isn’t overlooking the Sooners - not with how unpredictable road games can be, especially in conference play.
“Really hard game,” head coach John Calipari said, making it clear his team isn’t taking Oklahoma’s record at face value.
Acuff Jr. Carries the Torch
Arkansas is coming off an 85-81 win over LSU at home, a game that featured a mix of promise and frustration. The Razorbacks shot just 38.9% from the free-throw line - a far cry from their season average of over 75%. That kind of drop-off usually spells trouble, but freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. had other plans.
Acuff exploded for a season-high 31 points, putting the team on his back when they needed it most. The Detroit native has been Arkansas’ go-to scorer all season, averaging 20.2 points per game, and Saturday was a reminder of just how dynamic he can be.
“He’s a beast,” Calipari said. “Really skilled and is wired and driven to get better.
It means something to him. Those are things I can’t coach.”
Still, Calipari isn’t handing out free passes. He’s pushing Acuff to grow into more than just a scorer. That means better body language, leadership on the floor, and a stronger presence on the defensive end.
“He gets mad at himself and kind of... well, you’re affecting other guys,” Calipari said. “They’re looking to you. You’ve got to be the one talking and you’re fine.”
And on defense?
“How about this,” Calipari added, “defensively, do what you do on offense. How about going and getting a couple rebounds.”
It’s clear Calipari sees the potential for Acuff to be a complete player - not just a highlight reel on offense, but a tone-setter on both ends of the floor.
Sooners Searching for Answers
While Arkansas comes in with some momentum - winners of back-to-back games and sitting at 15-5 overall, 5-2 in the SEC - Oklahoma is fighting to stop the bleeding. The Sooners are 11-9 and just 1-6 in conference play, and their latest loss might’ve been the toughest yet.
Oklahoma fell 88-87 in overtime at Missouri on Saturday, a game that saw the Tigers hit a buzzer-beater to force OT and then another to win it. That kind of gut punch can linger, and head coach Porter Moser admitted as much.
“I feel for my guys,” Moser said.
The Sooners’ six-game losing streak is their longest under Moser and the program’s worst since the 2017-18 season. And while the team has struggled to close games, junior guard Xzayvier Brown has been a bright spot.
The Saint Joseph’s transfer has been on a tear lately, averaging 21.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals over the last four games. He leads Oklahoma in both scoring (16.5 ppg) and assists (3.4 apg), and if the Sooners are going to snap the skid, Brown will likely be at the center of it.
Turnovers Could Tell the Story
One stat to keep an eye on Tuesday night? Turnovers.
Both teams have been among the best in the SEC - and the nation - at taking care of the ball. Arkansas is averaging just 9.9 turnovers per game, while Oklahoma sits at 10.0.
Since coughing up 17 turnovers in a loss at Texas A&M on Jan. 10, the Sooners have cleaned things up, staying under 12 in every game since. Arkansas has been even sharper during its recent three-game win streak, averaging just 6.3 turnovers per contest.
In a game where momentum could swing quickly - and where both teams are looking to make a statement - taking care of the basketball might be the difference between a road breakthrough for the Razorbacks or a much-needed bounce-back for the Sooners.
One team trying to stay hot. The other desperate to stop the slide. Tuesday night in Norman has all the makings of a pivotal midseason clash.