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Arkansas basketball vs. Vanderbilt: Scouting report for SEC Tournament first round matchup

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Arkansas basketball vs. Vanderbilt: Scouting report for SEC Tournament first round matchup


Arkansas basketball needs to win five games in five days to play in the NCAA Tournament, and any dream run will begin with a victory over Vanderbilt.

The No. 12 Razorbacks (15-16) will face the No. 13 Commodores (9-22) on Wednesday evening in the first round of the SEC Basketball Tournament. The winner will face No. 5 South Carolina in Thursday’s second round.

More: Arkansas basketball SEC Tournament prediction: How far will the Razorbacks go?

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More: Arkansas basketball senior Khalif Battle hints he could return to Razorbacks next season

Vanderbilt beat Arkansas in the teams’ matchup earlier this year. The Commodores erased an early 10-point deficit and then hung on at the end to stun the Razorbacks in Fayetteville.

Here are two things to watch and a prediction for the Arkansas-Vanderbilt rematch in the SEC Basketball Tournament.

Arkansas basketball’s make-or-miss simplicity

Can the Razorbacks convert open shots? It sounds elementary, but the answer will be a huge factor in whether Arkansas advances to Thursday’s second round or watches its season come to a close in the first round.

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Vanderbilt gifted Arkansas good looks at three in the teams’ previous meeting. The Hogs began the game 4-of-20 from three, which led to a double-digit Vanderbilt lead. Arkansas finished the game by making six of its final 10 attempts, leading to a furious comeback that fell just short.

Khalif Battle, Jeremiah Davenport and Tramon Mark must capitalize if Vanderbilt employs a similar scheme in the SEC Tournament. The Hogs have scored at least 80 points in five straight games, but they’ve only shot 33.3% from three in that span.

Hogs must fare better again Ven-Allen Lubin

Vanderbilt’s center scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds during the Commodores victory inside Bud Walton Arena. He shot 9-for-10 from the field and made a real difference with five offensive rebounds.

The Commodores consistently have good guard play from the likes of Ezra Manjon and Tywin Lawrence, who both scored more than 20 points in the earlier meeting. Arkansas can’t let Lubin make it a big three.

Prediction: Arkansas 83, Vanderbilt 77

The Razorbacks will play just enough defense to knock off the Commodores and face South Carolina on Thursday. Look for Trevon Brazile to be an X-factor. The stretch-four is coming off arguably his best SEC game of the season in the loss to Alabama over the weekend.

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Law enforcement searching for missing Arkansas man in Franklin County

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Law enforcement searching for missing Arkansas man in Franklin County


FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) – Law enforcement officials are searching for a missing Arkansas man on the east side of Franklin County, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Daniel Harold Wenger, 26, was with his friends in Bay County, and they reported him missing on Sunday to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. He was added to the missing persons database on Monday, according to FCSO.

Wenger’s truck was found abandoned on Tuesday in Franklin County at Leonard’s Landing, and authorities also located his discarded jacket.

Law enforcement is searching the wooded areas near his car across from Leonard’s Landing and Bay North.

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Those with information about Wnger’s whereabouts are encouraged to call FCSO at 850-670-8500.

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Arkansas football gets commitment of Tulane transfer Jahiem “Joker” Johnson | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas football gets commitment of Tulane transfer Jahiem “Joker” Johnson | Whole Hog Sports





Arkansas football gets commitment of Tulane transfer Jahiem “Joker” Johnson | Whole Hog Sports







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Arkansas football: More Razorbacks, including Starzyk, hit transfer portal | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Arkansas football: More Razorbacks, including Starzyk, hit transfer portal | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


FAYETTEVILLE — The signing of two kickers out of the NCAA transfer portal by the University of Arkansas on Sunday came into clearer focus late that night when highly touted freshman Scott Starzyk announced via social media he was entering the portal.

Starzyk was joined on Monday by defensive tackle Kevin Oatis as the considerable exodus continued for first-year Coach Ryan Silverfield.

The Razorbacks have as many as 30 scholarship players in the portal, and a small handful have already announced their destinations.

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The portal period opened on Friday and it will stay open through Jan. 16. The most recent announcements came from receivers Kam Shanks and Krosse Johnson and defensive back Quentavius Scandrett on Saturday, then long snapper Ashton Ngo, defensive back Ahkhari Johnson and Starzyk on Sunday.

“I’m officially in the NCAA transfer portal,” Starzyk posted to X late Sunday. “Thank you to all the fans at Arkansas for a great year. And thank you to the staff who have supported me during my time at the university.”

Arkansas landed Tennessee transfer Max Gilbert out of the portal on Sunday as well as Braeden McAlister, a kickoff specialist, from Georgia State.

Gilbert, a rising junior from Memphis, made 14 of 19 field goals (73.7%) this season, with a long of 53 yards. He has made 34 of 45 (75.6%) through two years as a starter.

Starzyk, the No. 1 kicker of the 2025 class by Kohl’s Kicking, had a strong freshman season while leading Arkansas with 89 points. The 5-10, 172-pounder from The Woodlands, Texas, made 14 of 18 field goals (77.8%) and converted all 47 of his extra-point tries. He was 2 of 3 from 50-plus yards, including a make from 53 yards on his first career field goal in the opener against Alabama A&M.

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With senior punter Devin Bale out of eligibility, the Razorbacks will lose a large chunk of their key special teams performers. Bale and Blake Ford, who is also in the portal, shared kickoff duties. Starzyk did all the place kicking and Ngo all the snapping, while Shanks was the Hogs’ top punt returner and running back Rodney Hill the lead kickoff returner.

Razorback transfers with known commitments are offensive line starter E’Marion Harris, a former standout at Joe T. Robinson who is expected to sign with Oklahoma, defensive end Justus Boone (Wisconsin), defensive tackle Ian Geffrard (Texas) and linebacker Tavion Wallace (Kentucky).



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