For much of the season, Arkansas basketball felt like a team searching for something.
The Razorbacks had the guard play. They had the perimeter scoring. They had the playmaking. But they were missing a consistent force inside, someone who could control the paint, clean the glass, and protect the rim when it mattered most.
Now, in the middle of back-to-back 20+ point blowouts, it looks like they’ve found it.
Enter Trevon Brazile.
Trevon Brazile’s Increased Minutes Is Transforming Arkansas
Over the last two games, Brazile hasn’t just played well, he’s changed everything.
He followed up a dominant 19-point, 8-rebound, 4-block performance with an even louder statement: 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the latest win. Those aren’t just solid numbers. That’s control. That’s presence. That’s the kind of interior impact Arkansas has desperately needed.
This Razorback team was already dangerous on the perimeter.
Darius Acuff continues to be the engine: facilitating, scoring, and dictating tempo from the point. Meleek Thomas has been the do-it-all shooting specialist, stretching defenses and delivering timely buckets.
But for all the guard production, Arkansas often struggled where games are won physically: in the paint. Too many nights featured getting outrebounded. Too many stretches included second-chance points going the other way. The down-low consistency just wasn’t there.
That’s what makes Brazile’s surge so important.
His rebounding is eliminating extra possessions for opponents. His shot blocking is deterring drives before they even happen. His offensive efficiency inside is forcing defenses to collapse, opening even more space for Acuff and Thomas on the perimeter.
It’s no coincidence the Razorbacks look like they’ve hit another gear.
So what changed?
Brazile’s Increased Workload Is Elevating the Razorbacks
After a mini mid-week break, Brazile has played 77 out of a possible 80 minutes over the last two games. That’s essentially the entire game both nights.
For some players, that kind of workload would lead to fatigue and diminishing returns. For Brazile, it appears to be the opposite.
He’s getting into rhythm. He’s staying engaged. He’s not cooling off on the bench.
And he doesn’t want to come out anyway.
"“We played with five, six people last year," Brazile said. "Some of the guys are used to it. I know I'm used to it. Everybody likes to be out there as long as they can. When we get to play 40 minutes, 35 minutes, we just take advantage of it.”"Trevon Brazile
Head coach John Calipari confirmed the mindset.
"“He doesn't want to come out," Calipari said. "He would've stayed in the last three minutes. He said, 'Are you taking me out?' 'Yeah, how about you come out for a minute?' ”"John Calipari
There’s no hesitation. No looking for a breather. No dip in energy. If anything, the extended minutes are enhancing his impact.
Sometimes players need rest to stay effective. Sometimes they need shorter bursts. But sometimes, you let a player ride the wave. Right now, Brazile looks comfortable. Confident. Aggressive. Locked in.
He’s protecting the rim. He’s dominating the glass. He’s finishing inside. Most importantly, he’s giving Arkansas the physical edge they lacked earlier in the season.
If playing nearly 40 minutes a night is what unlocks this version of Brazile, then let him go.
Arkansas is humming at the right time. The guards are thriving. The defense is tightening. The paint is finally controlled. And Trevon Brazile might be the biggest reason why.
If this is the formula, the Razorbacks may have found exactly what they were looking for, just in time for the stretch run.