NCAA Sweet 16 Preview: Arkansas vs Arizona
Who: #14/15 (#4 seed) Arkansas Razorbacks (28-8) vs #2/2 (#1 seed) Arizona Wildcats (34-2)
What: Arkansas is playing in its 16th NCAA Sweet 16 and fifth in the last six years.
When: Thursday – Mar. 26 – approximately 6:45 pm (PT) / 8:45 pm (CT)
Where: San Jose, Calif. • SAP Center (18,500)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: CBS / NCAA Stream (Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Westwood One (Ryan Radtke & P.J. Carlesimo)
– Westwood One on Sirius/XM: 208 or 201 || SXM App/Online Channel 964
– Arkansas-Arizona Game Information
– Arkansas Game Notes
– Arizona Game Notes
– SEC Men’s Basketball Release/Stats
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks will face the West Regional top-seed Arizona in the NCAA Sweet 16 on Thursday (Mar. 26) at the SAP Center. Tipoff is set for approximately 8:45 pm (PT)/6:45 pm (CT) and will be televised on CBS.
Arkansas and Arizona will be meeting for the second time in the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks downed the Wildcats, 91-82, in the Final Four to advance to the championship game. Overall, Arkansas leads 6-2 versus Arkansas, including a 3-1 advantage in neutral site games. However, the last time the two teams met was on Nov. 17, 1995, when Arizona defeated Arkansas, 83-73, in Bud Walton Arena.
The teams rank among the NCAA top 15 in scoring (Arkansas 2nd at 90.3 and Arizona 13th at 86.1) and field goal percentage (Arkansas 10th at 50.2% and Arizona 13th at 50%).
Arkansas also ranks among the NCAA top 15 in 3-point percentage (11th), assist/turnover ratio (4th), blocked shots (13th), fastbreak points (2nd) and fewest turnovers (9th). Arizona is one the nation’s best at free throw attempts, percentage and makes as well as ranking among the top 3 in overall rebounds, defensive rebounds and rebound margin.
The Arkansas-Arizona winner will face the winner of #2 seed Purdue and #11 seed Texas on Saturday in the Elite 8.
NOTES:
- Arkansas is playing in its 16th NCAA Sweet 16 and its 5th in a six-year span.
- Arkansas’s Sweet 16 Appearances (8-6 record):
‘58 • ‘78 • ‘79 • ‘81 • ‘83 • ‘90 • ‘91 • ‘93 • ‘94 • ‘95 • ‘96 • ‘21 • ‘22 • ‘23 • ‘25 • ‘26
- Coach Calipari is playing in his 17th NCAA Sweet 16 and his second straight.
- Cal’s Sweet 16 Appearances (12-4 record):
‘92 • ‘95 • ‘96 • ‘06 • ‘07 • ‘08 • ‘09 • ‘10 • ‘11 • ‘12 • ‘14 • ‘15 • ‘17 • ‘18 • ‘19 • ‘25 • ‘26
- With seven assists vs Hawai’i, Darius Acuff Jr. broke the school’s single-season assist mark, Acuff now has 229 assists, breaking the mark of 219 by Kareem Reid (who was also a freshman) in 1995-96.
- At the 4:03 mark of the first half vs High Point, Acuff hit a 3-pointer to break the school’s single-season record for points. Acuff now has 817 points, breaking the mark of 786 set by Todd Day in 1990-91.
- Arkansas has won seven straight, 12 of its last 14 and 15 of its last 18.
^ After a 6-3 January, Arkansas was 5-2 in February and is 7-0 in March.
^ In Cal’s two years at Arkansas, the Hogs are 22-8 in February and March. - Getting hot in March is nothing new for Coach Cal’s teams during his career.
^ 61 Wins in the NCAA Tourney (61-23 — 72.6%)
^ 138 Postseason Wins (138-46 — 75.0%) — Including Conf Tourneys, NIT & NCAA
^ 184 Wins (all games) in March and April (184-63 — 74.5%)
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
