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Arkansas is back at Bud Walton Arena for the final time this year Wednesday night. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the matchup...
No. 14 Arkansas (23-6, 12-4) vs. LSU (20-9, 8-8)
The Basics
Location: Bud Walton Arena (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Tip off: 8 p.m. CT
How to Watch/Listen
TV: ESPN2 (link to watch online)
On the call: Tom Hart and Jimmy Dykes
Radio: Razorback Sports Network (TuneIn / Razorback Gameday App)
Sirius/XM/internet: 137/190/961
Projections
-- Vegas spread: Arkansas, -5
-- O/U: 140.5
-- ESPN BPI: Arkansas has 57.0% chance to win, favored by 1.9
-- Bart Torvik: Arkansas has 70% chance to win, favored by 4.9 (proj. score: 71-66)
Scouting Report
~This is a rematch of a game played back in January, which Arkansas won 65-58 in Baton Rouge. JD Notae had 19 points and Jaylin Williams notched a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Click here to read HawgBeat's key takeaways and view the full box score from the game.
~Despite being just 5-8 over its last 13 games, starting with the loss to the Razorbacks, LSU is still No. 16 in the NET rankings, so it will be yet another Quadrant 1 opportunity for Arkansas. It will also be a Q1 game for the Tigers because the Razorbacks are No. 23 in the NET.
~A key different between this game and the two teams' first matchup is the presence of LSU point guard Xavier Pinson. The Tigers are 18-4 when he starts, but went just 2-5 when he was injured. He's averaging 10.3 points and 4.6 assists this season.
~LSU is still led by sixth-man Tari Eason, who has come off the bench in 24 of 28 games this season. He's averaging 16.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
~The key to beating the Tigers during Eric Musselman's tenure has seemingly been stopping Darius Days. In Arkansas' three wins over that span, he's averaged just 2.3 points on 15.8% shooting and 3 rebounds. However, in LSU's three wins, he's averaged 15.7 points on 70.4% shooting and 12.3 rebounds.
~This will be a matchup of two of the top 15 defensive teams in the country, according to KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency ratings. LSU is No. 4 in that category, while Arkansas is No. 14. The Razorbacks are a much better offensive team, though, checking in at No. 59 compared to the Tigers' No. 106.
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