FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas football Coach Sam Pittman confirmed quarterback Taylen Green’s injury from last Saturday as a knee sprain during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference.

Pittman added Green and tailback Ja’Quinden Jackson would be questionable at this point as to their availability for next Saturday’s 11 a.m. game against No. 5 Texas. The Razorbacks (5-4, 3-3 SEC) are currently going through their second open week and hoping to have their top two total offense leaders back on the field to face the Longhorns.

Both Green and Jackson were at the Hogs’ walkthrough practice Tuesday, but their participation in Wednesday’s practice looked iffy, Pittman said on the morning teleconference.

“I still think we’re a few days away from both those guys, determining what their ability to play against Texas would be,” Pittman said. “I can tell you this: I don’t know if either one of them would be able to play if we were playing Saturday.”

Jackson, who ranks fourth in SEC rushing with 83.8 yards per game, has missed the past two games — a 58-25 road win at Mississippi State and a 63-31 home loss to No. 19 Ole Miss — with an ankle injury he has been batting since training camp. The senior transfer from Utah has 592 rushing yards to rank fifth in the SEC.

Green suffered the knee injury when both of his legs were rolled over by 320-pound Zxavian Harris at the end of a 14-yard run in the first quarter against Ole Miss. Green returned on the next series but his day was done after halftime.

“I think we still have to wait until probably a Monday of next week to see exactly where we’re at with those two guys,” Pittman said.

“Taylen’s got a sprained knee, and certainly JJ’s got that ankle. They were out in the walkthrough yesterday (Tuesday), but I don’t know that they’ll be available really for practice today (Wednesday).”

Green has been recovering from a knee issue during both of the Hogs’ open weeks. He had a bone bruise on an illegal low hit by Tennessee’s Omarr Norman-Lott during Arkansas’ 19-14 upset of No. 4 Tennessee on Oct. 5 and was not at full speed for the Razorbacks’ 34-10 home loss to LSU on Oct. 19.

Green is fourth in SEC passing (246.0 yards per game) and total offense (291.7 ypg) and 10th in efficiency (140.41) with a rate that has been on the rise since a Week 5 loss to Texas A&M. The redshirt junior has completed 161 of 263 passes (61.2%) for 2,214 yards with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Green’s replacement, redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton, has completed 21 of 28 passes (75%) for 358 yards with 1 touchdown and no interceptions and has an efficiency rating of 194.2. The bulk of Singleton’s playing time has come in the season-opening 70-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the fourth quarter of the Hogs’ win over Tennessee and the second half last week against Ole Miss.

In Jackson’s absence, true freshman Braylen Russell powered for 175 yards in the landslide win at Mississippi State. Rashod Dubinion rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown in that same game, then added 12 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown against the Rebels with Russell limited to 4 carries for 2 yards.

Additionally, Rodney Hill returned from a three-game absence against Ole Miss to add 16 rushing yards on three carries.

FAYETTEVILLE — John Calipari wanted to coach a more physical, defensive-minded team this year with Arkansas basketball, ditching some of the fragilities that cost him over the final chapters at Kentucky.

The Razorbacks have only played one regular season game in the Calipari era, but they’re off to a strong start in providing their new head coach with what he’s seeking.

No. 16 Arkansas (1-0) knocked off Lipscomb 76-60 Wednesday night in its season-opener. The Hogs forced 19 turnovers and held the Bisons (1-1) 22.1 points shy of their season average from last year. Lipscomb shot 37.1% from the field after shooting 52.1% in its first game of the new campaign Monday night.

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“If you can guard the ball and you’re not in a bunch of rotations, you’re going to be pretty good,” Calipari said. “If you can guard the ball — are you ready for this statement — occupy your man’s eyes, we’ve got all these guys behind you that will block shots.”

Arkansas’ half-court offense struggled in moments throughout Wednesday night’s win, but nothing was working early on. Lipscomb jumped out to a 17-12 lead midway through the first half.

That’s when Arkansas ratcheted up its defensive pressure — even mixing in a full-court press — carving out an 11-0 run that was powered getting out in transition and forcing turnovers.

“Kenny Payne, he always says defense is our offense, so we once we get a few stops, we can go on our offensive run,” Arkansas guard Johnell Davis said.

Just as he did after each of the preseason exhibitions, Calipari dished out some postgame praise for Davis’ work on the defensive end. The FAU transfer finished with 15 points and forced two turnovers. Only freshman Boogie Fland had more points with 17.

But forcing turnovers is only the first part of the equation. Arkansas was able to successfully turn those extra possessions into made baskets, scoring 25 points off turnovers and 23 fast-break points.

“What we didn’t do down at TCU, they refused to throw it ahead because the guy wants, ‘I’m going to start this’,” Calipari said. “No. Boom, bang and let’s see what happens. Get the ball to the other side and we’ll play.”

And Arkansas’ defense has another gear it can reach. Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo only played seven minutes against Lipscomb in his return from injury. Aidoo was a member of the SEC’s All-Defensive Team last year and will be the paint protector for the Hogs this winter.

The hope is that the Hogs’ offense catches up in the coming weeks. Arkansas went 4 of 19 on 3-pointers and coughed up 12 turnovers.

But when the going got tough as Lipscomb cut the deficit to 60-56 with 7:47 remaining, Arkansas fed Zvonimir Ivišić the basketball, and the 7-foot-2 center responded with a personal 8-1 run to stretch the lead back to double figures. It stated with a 3-pointer before Ivišić scored on a pair of post-ups.

That’s a building block for the Arkansas offense moving forward, but in the very early stages of this new era, defense seems to be the foundation.

The 2024-25 season for Arkansas men’s basketball will officially begin on Wednesday (Nov. 6) when the #16 Razorbacks host Lipscomb. Tipoff is set for 7 pm and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.

This will mark Arkansas’s season and home opener. Lipscomb began its season on Monday with a win at Duquesne.

Arkansas is opening its 102nd year of basketball. Arkansas is 82-19 in season openers all-time and 91-10 in home openers. Arkansas has won 48 of the last 50 season openers dating back to 1974-75 with both losses coming on neutral courts. The Razorbacks have won 50 straight home openers, including a 31-0 record in openers inside Bud Walton Arena.

John Calipari is 25-7 as a collegiate head coach in season openers and 29-3 in home openers.

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