Razorbacks open SEC play with marquee win over No. 19 Tennessee

Arkansas couldn’t have asked for a better way to open conference play. In their first SEC game of the season, the Razorbacks delivered an impressive 86–75 victory over No. 19 Tennessee, announcing themselves as a serious threat in what is widely considered the nation’s most brutal conference. With the win, Arkansas improves to 11–3 on the season, while the Volunteers fall to 10–4.

While the final score shows a comfortable double-digit margin, the game was far closer than it appears. The two teams traded blows for much of the contest, with neither side able to fully separate until Arkansas took control late. Down the stretch, the Razorbacks executed, got to the free-throw line, and closed the door to turn a tight battle into a statement win.

Arkansas Freshman Guards Take Center Stage

Leading the charge was who other than star freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr., who put together a true breakout performance. Acuff finished with a game-high, and season high for him, 29 points and added four assists, shouldering the offensive load when Arkansas needed it most. He was efficient all night, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and knocking down 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Time and again, Acuff created his own shot, attacked the defense, and showed why his rapid ascension to stardom has Razorback fans buzzing. There was little doubt by the final horn, this was his game.

Arkansas also received a major boost from the “other” highly touted freshman guard, Meleek Thomas. After struggling through a brief cold stretch earlier in the season, Thomas found his rhythm again in the previous game against James Madison, and that confidence carried over against Tennessee. He poured in 18 points and was lethal from deep, hitting 3-of-4 three-point attempts. His shot-making proved critical, especially on a night when Arkansas’ front-court struggled from the perimeter.

Junior forward Trevon Brazile had a quieter outing, finishing with seven points and seven rebounds, while Karter Knox chipped in 11 points and seven boards of his own. However, Brazile and Knox combined to go just 1-for-10 from three-point range, shooting only 10 percent from deep. Fortunately for Arkansas, Acuff and Thomas more than picked up the slack from the outside.

Volunteers Put Up a Fight, Fall Short

Interestingly, Tennessee actually outperformed Arkansas in several key statistical categories. The Volunteers shot 49 percent from the field compared to Arkansas’ 42 percent and also held the edge from three-point range, 38 percent to 30 percent. Tennessee narrowly lost the rebounding battle, 36–33, but forced more turnovers and recorded more steals, 11 to Arkansas’ eight.

So what made the difference? The free-throw line.

Arkansas was dominant at the stripe, converting 29 of 33 attempts, an outstanding 88 percent. Tennessee, on the other hand, struggled mightily, making just 12 of 23 free throws, a 52 percent clip. That discrepancy resulted in 17 extra pointsfor the Razorbacks, a massive swing in a game where the margins were razor thin for most of the night.

Head coach John Calipari will undoubtedly be pleased with the result, especially opening SEC play with a ranked win. At the same time, he’ll know there’s room for improvement, particularly on the defensive end and with team three-point efficiency. Still, in a conference as unforgiving as the SEC, any win deserves to be celebrated.

Player of the Game: Darius Acuff Jr. and it wasn’t close.