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5 storylines to watch during Arkansas vs Duke in Elite 8 Round of 2022 March Madness

By Jacob Ellerbee

Arkansas Basketball Elite 8 Duke; Mar 24, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Au'Diese Toney (5) and guard JD Notae (1) react after a play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half in the semifinals of the West regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Chase Center. The Arkansas Razorbacks won 74-68. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas Basketball Elite 8 Duke; Mar 24, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Au'Diese Toney (5) and guard JD Notae (1) react after a play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half in the semifinals of the West regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Chase Center. The Arkansas Razorbacks won 74-68. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arkansas Basketball Elite 8 Duke
Arkansas Basketball Elite 8; SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrates with head coach Eric Musselman after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 68-74 in the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Chase Center on March 24, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Will the Arkansas Basketball team be able to get to the Final Four for the first time since 1995?

The Razorbacks have been playing fantastic basketball almost all calendar-year long. Since Jan. 12, Arkansas has boasted a record of 18-3, losing to Tennessee, Alabama and Texas A&M.

In the March Madness tournament, the Hogs got a big win over Vermont, despite being a very popular pick to be upset in the first round, even by comedian Jimmy Fallon.

The Hogs shut down Teddy “Buckets” and New Mexico State in the second round, slugging through a low-scoring game.

And most recently, the Hogs knocked off tournament favorite Gonzaga to advance to the Elite 8. Arkansas is a 4 point underdog against Duke, so they will once again be facing an uphill battle in this game.

The odds have been stacked against the Hogs before and Head Coach Eric Musselman and the Razorbacks have found a way to win time and time again.

The Razorbacks are dialed in right now and will get to their first final four in nearly 30 years, taking a massive leap forward from last year’s Elite 8 loss vs eventual champion Baylor.

Will Jaylin Williams be able to contain freshman phenom Paolo Banchero?

Arkansas big man Jaylin Williams has seen his NBA draft stock skyrocket to the moon this season, going from virtual unknown at the beginning of the season to NBA scouts to possible first round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Williams, a Fort Smith, Ark. native, will be going up against Duke’s Paolo Banchero— a 6’10” native of Seattle that has had an impressive freshman campaign.

Banchero has averaged 17.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 3.2 apg and looks to be a lock for a top-three pick in this summer’s draft.

Williams, but most accounts, outplayed another top-three pick in the last round in Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren.

If Williams continues to be the hard-nosed, charge-taking, double-double machine he has been all season, the riches of the NBA will surely be calling Williams in the next few weeks.

Banchero is a great player, but Williams’ basketball IQ is off the charts and he’s not afraid to put his body on the line. Williams motor never stops and he’s going to make sure the Hogs get the job done.

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