Arkansas
Alabama basketball vs. Arkansas: Score prediction, scouting report for regular-season finale
Alabama basketball is aiming to score a victory over Arkansas in the final game of the regular season.
The No. 17 Crimson Tide is fresh off two consecutive losses but looks to end the regular season on a winning note. Three straight losses has only happened once this season for Alabama, and that was to Purdue, Creighton and Arizona back in December.
Arkansas could provide a solid palette cleanser. The Razorbacks aren’t as potent of a team as some years, having lost almost twice as many SEC games as they have won.
Alabama is no longer playing to win the SEC regular-season title, but the Crimson Tide can secure a double bye in the SEC Tournament with a win over Arkansas.
The Crimson Tide (20-10, 12-5 SEC) will face Arkansas (15-15, 6-11) on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN) at Coleman Coliseum. Here’s a look at how the two teams stack up.
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Projected starting lineup for Arkansas vs. Alabama basketball
Guard El Ellis (senior): 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Averages: 6.6 points, 2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.5 turnovers.
Guard Khalif Battle (senior): 6-foot-4, 185 pounds. Averages: 14 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks, 1.2 turnovers.
Forward Tramon Mark (junior): 6-foot-6, 185 pounds. Averages: 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.8 turnovers.
Forward Chandler Lawson (senior): 6-foot-8, 210 pounds. Averages: 3.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, 0.4 turnovers.
Center Trevon Brazile (sophomore): 6-foot-10, 220 pounds. Averages: 8.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks, 1.6 turnovers.
Arkansas’ rotation
The Razorbacks have 11 players who have averaged 13.4 minutes per game or more this season. Some of the main players outside of the starting five who will see significant time: Davonte Davis (27.5 minutes), Makhi Mitchell (17.8) and Jeremiah Davenport (15.1).
How Arkansas stacks up with Alabama in scoring, defense and tempo
KenPom tracks adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, which are points scored and allowed per 100 possessions. Neither the offense nor the defense for Arkansas are elite or in the top 100.
Arkansas will look to play fast but not quite as fast as Alabama. KenPom measures the adjusted tempo statistic based on the number of possessions per 40 minutes.
Adjusted offensive efficiency:
Arkansas: 110.8 (101st nationally)
Alabama: 127.2 (1st)
Adjusted defensive efficiency:
Arkansas: 104.9 (141st nationally)
Alabama: 103.1 (108th)
Tempo
Arkansas: 71 (34th nationally)
Alabama: 72.9 (11th)
Score prediction
Alabama 103, Arkansas 82: There should be plenty of scoring, but the Crimson Tide gets a big win at home to close out the regular season.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men’s basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
Arkansas
Acuff scores 29 points to lead No. 18 Arkansas to a 86-75 win over No. 19 Tennessee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including a key 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in the second half, to help No. 18 Arkansas to an 86-75 win over No. 19 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams on Saturday.
Arkansas (11-3) used a 18-5 run over a 6-minute, 37-second span midway through the second half to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead with 5:40 left. Tennessee shot just 2 for 10 from the field during Arkansas’ run, missing eight shots in a row before finally scoring.
The Volunteers (10-4) took advantage of an Arkansas cold shooting spell — the Razorbacks picked up 12 of their 18 points during the run from the free-throw line — to close within two points with under four minutes to play. Acuff made a 3-pointer from the wing with 2:09 remaining to give the Razorbacks a 79-68 lead.
Tennessee shot 49% from the field and was outscored at the line, going 12 for 23 while Arkansas shot 29 for 33.
Acuff was the only Arkansas player to shoot better than 50% from the floor, going 9 for 16. The Razorbacks shot 42% overall. Acuff was joined in double-digit scoring by Meleek Thomas, who scored 18 points. Malique Ewin added 12 points and Karter Knox 11.
Amari Evans’ 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting led three Tennessee players in double figures.
Arkansas won its opening SEC game for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The Razorbacks have reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in four of the five seasons since and made two Elite Eight appearances.
Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas (1) shoots over Tennessee defenders Ja’Kobi Gillespie, left, and Felix Okpara, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods
Up next
Arkansas: At Ole Miss on Wednesday.
Tennessee: Hosts Texas on Tuesday.
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Sheila Yount
Sheila Yount is a features editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. An Arkansas native and communications professional with 42 years of experience, she edits and writes for the Style sections with a primary focus on the Saturday home and garden section and the Monday style section, which includes content on outdoor recreation, physical fitness and health, as well as history and other topics.
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