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Arkansas' five keys for survival at top-ranked Tennessee

John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks face monumental task of taking down top-ranked Tennessee in SEC basketball opener at Tompson Bolding Arena

ByPatrick Geans|
Feb 28, 2023; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during Tennessee Volunteers players introductions before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Thompson-Boling Arena. The 2025 No. 23 ranked Razorbacks aim to come away with an upset win in their third-straight trip to unbeaten and top ranked Tennessee in Saturday's SEC tip off. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2023; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during Tennessee Volunteers players introductions before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Thompson-Boling Arena. The 2025 No. 23 ranked Razorbacks aim to come away with an upset win in their third-straight trip to unbeaten and top ranked Tennessee in Saturday's SEC tip off. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images | Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
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3. Signs of Jonas

Where Arkansas has fallen short of expectations the most is in the front court. After averaging career highs with 12 points and seven rebounds in his breakout season for the Volunteers, 6-11 Jonas Aidoo joined Calipari to be Arkansas' enforcer. Thanks to lingering injuries to start the season, Aidoo has only begun to resemble the player he was last year for Barnes.

In the last five games, he's put up numbers similar to what he did in Tennessee. Consequently, Arkansas has looked it's best of late.

"No question that's natural. He's done a lot of great things at Tennessee and he's going back home," Payne said. "I'm sure that there's emotions involved. I'm sure they are going to want to go at him some. I'm curious to see how he handles it, but that's why you get veterans guys on your team to handle these types of situations."

"We need him. We need him 100 percent. We need his physicality. We need his scoring around the basket. We need his defensive presence. We hope he's feeling better and better. Hopefully he can help us come out and fight for a win."

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Schedule

Schedule