Arkansas
Calipari Keeps Perspective on Hogs’ Win Over Kentucky
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach John Calipari was asked about the media circus and emotion that came with playing at his former home and wandered back in time a little.
He talked about looking up at the scoreboard and thinking he was behind instead of ahead because it was ingrained in him to look at the Kentucky side of the scoreboard. He did it for 15 years.
However, it seemed like every few minutes, reality struck again. The euphoria of the win wore of for just a moment. Arkansas is still just 2-6 in SEC play and on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. With the win over the Wildcats, Arkansas jumped 12 spots in the NET from 59th to 47th, but are still a Quad 2 loss on Kentucky’s resume. The Razorbacks are now 2-7 in Quad 1 games, adding to its win in December over Michigan.
Calipari seemed to remind everyone else that the goal wasn’t to win a singular game with extra backstory for his own personal pride, rather to complete a job he’s paid $7 million to do, have success in the NCAA Tournament. To do that, you have to make March Madness first.
“We just are trying to win,” Calipari said. “Now we’re going on to the next game.”
The next game is another Quad 1 opportunity against Texas, who’s won three out of its last four SEC games, including a win over No. 13 Texas A&M and a 31-point win over LSU, a team that Arkansas lost to earlier in the year.
“This is one game,” Calipari said. “If anybody takes it more than that, you’re crazy. It’s one game. If I take it any different with my team then I’m crazy. We just needed to win folks. Whether it was Kentucky or, we just needed to win, so I can keep coaching.”
As quickly as Arkansas fell off the tournament bubble with an unspectacular non-conference and a dreadful start to conference play, the long road back to national relevance doesn’t happen by winning the biggest game of the year in terms of storyline, it comes with winning the mundane midweeks that the Razorbacks couldn’t win to start SEC play.
“We can still write our own story,” Calipari said. “People saw the coffin but they didn’t have all the nails down.”
Tipoff between Arkansas and Texas is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday from Austin, Texas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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Bill Bowden
Bill Bowden covers a variety of news for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, primarily in Northwest Arkansas. He has worked at the newspaper for 16 years and previously worked for both the Arkansas Democrat and Arkansas Gazette.
The No. 17 Arkansas Razorbacks (7-2) and No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-2) meet Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Tip-off is set for noon ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Arkansas vs. Texas Tech odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Arkansas earned its second straight win last Saturday, rolling past the Fresno State Bulldogs 82-58. It covered as a 20-point home favorite, and the Under (160.5) hit. Arkansas controlled the game defensively, forcing 17 turnovers and holding the Bulldogs to 15% (4-for-26) shooting from 3-point range. G Darius Acuff Jr. led the way with 18 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and a steal.
Texas Tech extended its winning streak to 3 games Sunday with an 82-58 win over the LSU Tigers. The Red Raiders covered as 5.5-point home favorites, and the Under (153.5) cashed. Texas Tech locked in defensively, holding LSU to 17% (4-for-24) shooting from 3-point range. G Christian Anderson led all players with 27 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. F LeJuan Watts provided a double-double (15 points and 10 rebounds) off the bench.
Texas Tech and Arkansas last met March 27 in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Red Raiders survived an 85-83 OT win, while Arkansas covered as a 5.5-point underdog. The total pushed past the number, cashing the Over.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!
Arkansas vs. Texas Tech odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:49 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Arkansas -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Texas Tech -118 (bet $118 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Arkansas +1.5 (-115) | Texas Tech -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 157.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Arkansas vs. Texas Tech picks and predictions
Prediction
Arkansas 76, Texas Tech 73
BET ARKANSAS (-102).
This is a rematch the Razorbacks haven’t forgotten. They had Texas Tech on the ropes in the Sweet 16 last March before watching it slip away late, and this feels like a clear revenge spot on a neutral floor in Dallas.
What I like most is Arkansas’ backcourt. The Razorbacks are quicker, more dynamic and better equipped to control tempo, especially with Acuff starting to look more comfortable running the offense. When Arkansas is at its best, the ball is in its guards’ hands, pushing pace and creating pressure, and that’s an area where Texas Tech can struggle.
The Razorbacks’ losses this season have come against strong competition, and they were competitive in each one. Texas Tech, meanwhile, has been more uneven. The Red Raiders handled LSU, but they’ve also been blown out and pushed around by other quality opponents.
In a tight, high-energy matchup, I’ll trust the deeper roster, the fresher legs in the backcourt and the team with something to prove. Arkansas is the side for me.
PASS.
No need to play around with the spread when you can get the Razorback at plus odds on the moneyline.
BET UNDER 157.5 (-115).
Texas Tech leans on physical half-court defense, while Arkansas defends cleanly without sending teams to the line and ranks 28th nationally in 3-point defense. The Under has hit in 6 of Texas Tech’s last 7 games and 6 of Arkansas’ last 8, making this a strong trend-based spot.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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Arkansas
Arkansas’ U.S. senators talk with farmers, map out timeline for assistance | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Cristina LaRue
Cristina LaRue covers agriculture for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She started her career as a journalist in 2017, covering business and education for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, later covering the crime and courts beats near the U.S.-Mexico border for the USA Today network, and education for the El Paso Times. She is a graduate of Texas State University.
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