MBB Preview: Arkansas at Florida

January 12, 2024

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (9-6, 0-2 SEC) at Florida Gators (10-5, 0-2 SEC)
What: Arkansas wraps up the back end of a two-game road trip.
When: Saturday – Jan. 13 – 4:00 pm (ET) / 3:00 pm (CT)
Where: Gainesville, Fla. • Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center – Billy Donovan Court (10,5003)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: ESPN/Watch ESPN (Tom Hart and Jimmy Dykes)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Sirius/XM: 388 Sirius / 388 XM / 978 SXM App
– Florida Live Stats
– Razorback Gameday App

– Arkansas Game Notes
– Florida Game Notes
– SEC Notes/Stats

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas completes its two-game road swing on Saturday (Jan. 13) at Florida. Tipoff is set for 4 pm (ET)/3 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN.

The Razorbacks return home to host Texas A&M on Tuesday (Jan. 16) with tipoff set for 8 pm (CT) on SEC Network.

NOTES:

Arkansas and Florida have met on 41 previous occasions, all coming since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season.
Florida leads the all-time series 26-15 including a 14-3 advantage in games played in Gainesville.
However, Arkansas has won three straight in the series including an 82-74 victory over the Gators the last time Arkansas came to Gainesville. That win snapped a 14-game losing streak at the O’Connell Center dating back to 1995. In the win two years ago, Davonte Davis scored 19 points off the bench (7-of-10 FG • 2-of-3 3PT) with six rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers. Arkansas only committed six turnovers for the game.
LAST YEAR: ARK 84 • FLA 65 // IN FAYETTEVILLE: Arkansas had five players score in double figures, including a career-high 26 points from Jalen Graham and a double-double by Makhi Mitchell (10 points and 10 rebounds), to defeat Florida, 84-65.
Arkansas has a history of tough starts in SEC play, only to turn the season around to reach three straight Sweet 16’s, including two Elite 8’s. In 2020-21: Arkansas won its SEC opener, but started SEC play 2-4, including a 31-point loss at Alabama (90-59) for its fourth loss. After that, Arkansas won its next 12 SEC games including a victory over Missouri in the SEC Tournament. (NOTE: Arkansas lost at Oklahoma State during the 12-game SEC win streak as part of the SEC-Big 12 Challenge). Arkansas reached the Elite 8 before falling to eventual champion Baylor. In 2021-22: Arkansas started 0-3 in SEC play before winning its next 8 SEC games (nine overall with a victory over West Virginia in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge). and won 14 of its final 15 SEC games overall (including a win over #1 Auburn). The only loss was a 68-67 setback at Alabama. Arkansas reached the Elite 8 after beating #1 overall seed Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. In 2022-23: Arkansas lost its SEC opener but started 1-5 in SEC play. Then, Arkansas won five straight SEC games (with a loss at Baylor in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge) and seven of nine to get to 8-7 in league play, Arkansas lost its final three SEC games (at #2 Alabama, at #12 Tennessee and vs #23 Kentucky). Arkansas beat Auburn in the SEC Tournament to help secure an NCAA berth and reached the Sweet 16 — upsetting #1 seed Kansas in the second round — before falling to eventual champion UConn.
Did you know, the SEC has had at least one team make the NCAA Tournament field during four of the last five seasons and six of the last eight after an 0-2 conference start when the Big Dance has been held? Mississippi State (2022-23); Arkansas (2021-22); Mississippi State (2018-19); Tennessee and Texas A&M (2017-18); Vanderbilt( 2015-16) and Georgia (2014-15).

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.