MBB Preview: Arkansas vs UNCW

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (8-4, 0-0 SEC) vs UNC Wilmington Seahawks (9-2, 0-0 CAA)
What: This is the first meeting between Arkansas and UNCW.
When: Saturday – Dec. 30 – 4:00 pm (CT)
Where: Fayetteville, Ark. • Bud Walton Arena/Nolan Richardson Court (19,200)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: SEC Network/Watch ESPN (James Westling and Joe Kleine)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Sirius/XM: 389 Sirius / 389 XM / 979 SXM App
– Arkansas Live Stats
– Razorback Gameday App
– Muss Tix Transfer Program

– Arkansas Game Notes
– UNCW Game Notes

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas will close the 2023 calendar year on Saturday (Dec. 30) with a home contest versus the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. The game will be televised on SEC Network and tip time is scheduled for 4:00 pm (CT).

As a reminder, if you have tickets and cannot attend a Razorback home game, you are encouraged to use the Muss Tix Transfer Program.

After UNCW, the Razorbacks will not play again until next Saturday (Jan. 6) to open SEC play by hosting Auburn.

NOTES:

• This will be the first meeting between Arkansas and UNCW.
• The Seahawks, which won 80-73 at Kentucky in December, rank among the NCAA top 50 in 10 categories including fewest turnovers per game (2nd), turnover margin (13th), scoring offense (19th), 3-point percentage (21st), scoring margin (34th), assist-to-turnover ratio (38th), free throws made per game (47th), 3-point percentage (47th) and field goal percentage (47th).
• Did you know, on Dec. 30, 1998, Pat Bradley attempted an SEC-record 24 3-pointers and Arkansas attempted a school-record 54 3’s vs North Texas. Note: Bradley made 10 and the Hogs made 19.
• Arkansas is 31-13 on Dec. 30 all time, including a 1-0 mark under Eric Musselman — a 97-85 win at Auburn in the 2020-21 season.
• Arkansas ranks 4th in the NCAA in blocked shots (6.8 avg.). Arkansas has had at least six blocked shots in seven games this season including three times with double-digit rejections.
• Arkansas ranks 7th in the NCAA in bench scoring (37.75 ppg). That number was bolstered last time out as Arkansas scored 62 of its 83 points from the bench versus Abilene Christian. Khalif Battle — at 15.3 ppg — accounts for nearly half of the Razorbacks’ bench points this year as Arkansas. The 62 points off the bench vs Abilene Christian ties for the most by the Razorbacks in the Musselman era. Arkansas also score 62 bench points in a 142-62 win over Mississippi Valley State in the 2020-21 opener. In the Musselman era, five of the top six bench scoring games by Arkansas have come this year.
• Arkansas has attempted at least 20 free throws and made at least 15 in 11 of 12 games this season. Arkansas ranks 8th in the NCAA (FIRST in the SEC) in free throw attempts (26.7 avg.). Arkansas ranks 13th in the NCAA (2nd in the SEC) in free throws made (19.1 avg.).

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