Although No. 9 Virginia basketball (2-0, 0-0 ACC) returns a far more experienced team than its opponent, the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0, 0-0 SEC), John Calipari’s team has already shown it is a serious national championship contender. Many may consider it premature to call a team a serious national championship contender after only one official game against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, a team the Hogs steamrolled 106-61 in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
However, even though exhibition games do not officially count, coaches and players believe they count, and so do many fans. Given this, one cannot overlook how well the Razorbacks performed in the offseason, including exhibition wins against the No. 15 Gonzaga Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) and the Memphis Tigers (2-0, 0-0 AAC), a Tigers team that upset No. 18 Iowa State 80-76 in its first game of the season. Few teams can boast wins over teams of that caliber coming into the regular season.
Although the sample size is small, the Hogs have proven themselves an early favorite to win a second national championship in college basketball. Yes, this season is just beginning, and Arkansas has many challenges ahead. No one is crowning the Hogs as national champions already. People look for early national championship contenders, and the Hogs deserve to be considered genuine early contenders.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Razorbacks are 3.5-point underdogs against the Cavaliers. ESPN Analytics, however, gives Calipari’s team a 58.2% chance to win. Although Arkansas has several factors that will contribute to an upset victory over Virginia, this article focuses on three.
3 keys to Arkansas Upsetting Virginia
John Calipari
Whenever Calipari is on the sidelines as head coach, his team has a strategic advantage because he always prepares them for whatever the opposing team tries. This preparation begins in the offseason, including during recruiting, as evidenced by his bringing in the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. Ryan Odom’s experience in major contests like this pales significantly in comparison to Calipari’s.
Even though his team has not received the credit it deserves, mainly because it is composed of many freshmen, Calipari will not let his team flinch, because nothing can surprise him. He will pass that knowledge and experience to his players, as he always has.
Jeremiah Wilkinson
Although Wilkinson has not received the attention his play and potential deserve, he will inevitably be the star among stars on this Razorbacks team. In his first official game as a Razorback against the Golden Lions, Wilkinson scored a quiet 23 points, leading all in scoring. What is scary is that he can perform significantly better than he did. Even though the Cavaliers have a good backcourt, Wilkinson helps the Hogs have the edge.
Physicality
When one combines the reality that the Razorbacks are far more athletic than the Cavaliers with them being equally more physical than Virginia, especially in the frontcourt, this significant edge may prove to be the most important factor in Arkansas pulling off the upset.
Add us as a preferred source on Google