Acuff Earns National Player of the Week; 2 National Freshman of the Week Honors & Adds 4th SEC Freshman of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – Coming off an impressive game in a win over #19 Tennessee, Razorback Darius Acuff Jr. was named the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Men’s College Basketball Player of the Week, the NCAA March Madness National Freshman of the Week, Dick Vitale’s Diaper Dandy of the Week, and, for the fourth straight time, the SEC Freshman of the Week.

Acuff is just the fifth player in SEC history to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors four consecutive times. The other four were also coached by John Calipari, including John Wall 2009-10, Nerlens Noel 2012-13, Devin Booker 2014-15, and TyTy Washington 2021-22.

For the week, Acuff averaged 23 points and five assists while shooting 57.1% from the field, including 46.2% from 3-point, in wins over James Madison and Tennessee.

Acuff started the week with a 17-point, six-assist performance versus James Madison. He led Arkansas to a 48-28 halftime cushion with 12 points (5-of-9 FG) and five assists in the period.

Versus Tennessee, Acuff scored a career-high 29 points (9-of-16 FG • 8-of-9 FT) and made two clutch 3-pointers late in the second half.

In the first half versus the Vols, he scored 10 points, but 9 of the 10 were critical points. After Tennessee opened the game on a 7-0 run, Acuff scored Arkansas’s first 7 points to make the score 9-7 in UT’s favor. He also gave Arkansas a one-point lead at the break with his pull-up jumper with two seconds left.

In the second half, Acuff scored 19 points (5-of-8 FG • 2-of-3 3PT • 7-of-7 FT). Specifically, with Arkansas down two (53-51 with 12 minutes to play), Acuff scored 16 of the Hogs’ final 35 points, including a 3-pointer with 3:49 left and Arkansas clinging to a 2-point lead as the shot clock was running out, as well as a 3-pointer with 2:09 left to cap an 8-0 run that put the Hogs up 11.

In six games versus top 25 opponents this season, Acuff is averaging 21.2 pts and 6.7 assists, as compared to his 17.9 ppg and 5.5 assists versus eight non-ranked opponents.

Also, Acuff is 1-of-3 players in the NCAA to average at least 19 points, shoot at least 50% from the field, and shoot at least 40% from 3-point. He is the only player in the NCAA to meet that criteria while also averaging over 5.5 assists.

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