Arkansas

Cincinnati Bearcats basketball tips off their 2024-25 campaign vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Published

1 year ago

November 2, 2024

Cincinnati Bearcats basketball tips off their 2024-25 campaign vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

After a Midnight Madness atmosphere in the CareSource Charity Classic vs. Ohio State over two weeks ago, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team plays a game that counts Monday night, facing Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Fifth Third Arena.

Coming off the high of defeating the Buckeyes in a charity exhibition and the low of falling to Pitt in a controlled “secret” scrimmage, Wes Miller is as excited as many fans to see what the men in red and black have to offer in 2024-25.

The Bearcats were picked No. 6 of 16 teams in the Big 12 and the five teams ahead of them are all in the first 10 of the Top 25 in both the AP and USA TODAY Preseason polls. Texas Tech, BYU and Kansas State also received votes in both polls and Arizona State received votes in the AP tally.

“I’m always grateful when I walk out of that tunnel that I coach at Cincinnati,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of people that care. Every time I run out of that tunnel I don’t ever take it for granted. I appreciate the people that are in their seats screaming and cheering for us.”

Come on feel the noise

Miller says Fifth Third Arena is one of the best environments in college basketball. At his weekly press conference, he implored fans to continue their vocal support this season but to do it even better.

New Cincinnati Bearcats forward Dillon Mitchell, who played here for Texas last January, says the crowd can definitely be a factor to an opposing team not familiar with the territory.

“I’m excited to be able to play in front of these fans,” Mitchell said. “I’m telling y’all, when they’re out there and they’re loud, it is frightening for the opposing team. They’re going to help us win games this year.”

Is Day Day Thomas day-to-day for the Cincinnati Bearcats?

The senior point guard who started all 35 games he played in last season injured his foot before he was to fly to Kansas City as part of the UC representation (Oct. 22) at Big 12 media days. He has since returned to basketball activities, but did not participate in the Pitt “secret scrimmage.”

“We’re just not going to go from zero to 100,” Miller said. “He’s shooting. I don’t know if he’s going to miss time or not. You have to have depth in college basketball. That was important to us as we were putting our roster together. We have depth. There’s a number of guys who collectively should be able to fill a void, but no doubt about it, I’ll feel a lot better if Day Day’s playing.”

3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats to beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

1. Get the kinks out early, play with controlled chaos

It would be somewhat normal for an early game to be sloppy. UC should expect sloppiness early, then adapt to the surroundings. Miller would prefer to play faster this season, so the expectation should be to frazzle the opponent, not be frazzled. What confuses the Golden Lions should appear to be another day at the office for the Bearcats. That said, last year’s UAPB team averaged over 80 points a game, so it’s not like they’ll throw it around for 30 seconds a possession.

2. Never take an opponent lightly

As CBS insider Jon Rothstein often writes early in the season, it can be the “epitome of brutality” losing a game to someone you essentially paid to defeat. Nine of Pine Bluff’s first 11 games are road pay days which include games at Tulsa, USF, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Texas. If you don’t want to be included in the “Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson” category, take care of business.

3. Leave the court unassisted

With Tyler McKinley already out for the year with a knee injury and Thomas aggravating a previous foot injury, healthy bodies are essential. Imperative to a team’s success is the ability to walk off the court on their own two feet.

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

Tip: 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: ESPN+/700WLW

Series: UC leads 5-0 (Bearcats last won 105-49 Nov. 27, 2018)

Scouting report Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB)

Record: 13-18 (8-10 SWAC) last season

Coach: Solomon Bozeman (fourth season, 30-63)

Offense: 80.1 ppg last season

Defense: 81.8 ppg last season

Projected starting lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Robert Lewis (F, 6’9″, 4.2 ppg last season)

Klemen Vuga (F, 6’9″, 2.3 ppg at Monmouth last season)

Zach Reinhart (G, 6’6″, 1.9 ppg last season)

Trejon Ware (G, 5’9″, 3.4 ppg last season)

Christian Moore (G, 5’11”, 1.3 ppg at North Texas last season)

Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report

Record: 22-15 (7-11 Big 12) last season

Coach: Wes Miller (fourth season, 63-43 at UC, 248-178 overall)

Offense: 74.7 ppg

Defense: 68.2 ppg

Projected starting lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Dillon Mitchell (F. 6’8″, 9.6 ppg at Texas last season)

Aziz Bandaogo (C, 7′, 6.6 ppg last season)

Simas Lukošius (G, 6’8″, 11.8 ppg last season)

Dan Skillings Jr. (G, 6’6″, 12.9 ppg last season)

Jizzle James (G, 6’3″, 8.8 ppg last season)

Players to watch

Monmouth transfer Klemen Vuga is a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward who two seasons ago averaged 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds at Monmouth and had a high game of 29 points vs. North Carolina A&T. He was on the 2021-22 Monmouth squad that knocked off UC 61-59 in November of that season but did not play in the game.

The Bearcats saw Dillon Mitchell go a perfect 6-for-6 from the field to finish with 12 points and seven rebounds against Ohio State. They also made 10 of their 26 3-pointerswith Simas Lukošius and Jizzle James both hitting a pair.

James seems to have improved defensively, which will help the team.

“To get to the next level, you’ve got to play both sides,” James said. “In this conference (Big 12) you’ve got to be a dog on defense. This is the best defensive conference.”

If Thomas doesn’t play, look for Bradley transfer Connor Hickman and holdover C.J Fredrick to get key minutes. Hickman averaged 14.5 points for Bradley and scored 14 against UC in the NIT. He shot over 40% from three-point range last season, while Fredrick hit nearly 43%.

Rankings

NCAA NET: Cincinnati No. 37 last season, UAPB No. 328

KenPom.com: Cincinnati is No. 17, UAPB No. 355

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Arkansas

No. 10 Texas looks to rebound against Arkansas after tough loss to Georgia

Published

12 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

No. 10 Texas looks to rebound against Arkansas after tough loss to Georgia

Arkansas (2-8) at No. 10 Texas (7-3), Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m. EST.

How to watch: ABC

Key stats

Texas Offense

Overall: 370.7 yards per game (80th in FBS)

Passing: 246.6 yards per game (50th)

Rushing: 124.1 yards per game (103rd)

Scoring: 27.6 points per game (68th)

Texas Defense

Overall: 318.3 yards per game (23rd in FBS)

Passing: 235.1 yards per game (92nd)

Rushing: 83.2 yards per game (6th)

Scoring: 18.3 points per game (15th)

Arkansas Offense

Overall: 470.0 yards per game (13th in FBS)

Passing: 264.6 yards per game (33rd)

Rushing: 205.4 yards per game (18th)

Scoring: 34.1 points per game (25th)

Arkansas Defense

Overall: 426.5 yards per game (123rd in FBS)

Passing: 245.3 yards per game (108th)

Rushing: 181.2 yards per game (115th)

Scoring: 32.3 points per game (121st)

Texas ranks 25th in FBS in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert on 33.8% of third downs.

Arkansas is 129th in the FBS with a -10 turnover margin, compared to Texas’ 12th-ranked +8 margin.

Texas ranks 119th in the FBS with 65.3 penalty yards per game.

Arkansas ranks 114th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on % of trips.

Team leaders

Texas

Passing: Arch Manning, 2,374 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs, 62.7 completion percentage

Rushing: Quintrevion Wisner, 375 yards on 97 carries, 3 TDs

Receiving: Ryan Wingo, 655 yards on 40 catches, 6 TDs

Arkansas

Passing: Taylen Green, 2,537 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs, 62.1 completion percentage

Rushing: Mike Washington, 913 yards on 140 carries, 7 TDs

Receiving: O’Mega Blake, 678 yards on 51 catches, 4 TDs

Last game

Texas fell to Georgia 35-10 on Saturday, Nov. 15. Manning led Texas with 251 yards on 27-of-43 passing (62.8%) for one touchdown and one interception. Wisner had 37 rushing yards on nine carries, adding two receptions for 10 yards. DeAndre Moore Jr. recorded 75 yards on five catches.

Arkansas lost 23-22 to LSU on Saturday, Nov. 15. Green passed for 165 yards on 11-of-19 attempts (57.9%) with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 17 times for 70 yards and one rushing touchdown. Washington had 85 rushing yards on 13 carries and one touchdown, adding one reception for six yards. Raylen Sharpe put up 65 yards on four catches.

Next game

Texas hosts No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28. Arkansas hosts Missouri on Nov. 29.

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Arkansas

#21 Arkansas Cruises Past Jackson State

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

FAYETTEVILLE – Malique Ewin scored 21 points, making 8-of-9 from the field – including his first career 3-pointer – and 4-of-4 from the line, while Karter Knox posted his second double-double of the season, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the 21st-ranked Razorbacks to a 115-61 victory over Jackson State Friday night at Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas also got outstanding performances from D.J. Wagner (16 points on 6-of-6 shooting with seven assists) and Billy Richmond III (14 points with three highlight-reel dunks in the first half. Meleek Thomas added 13 points while Darius Acuff Jr. and Isaia Sealy each scored 10 points.

Arkansas put the game out of reach with a 24-0 run that spanned the end of the first half into the start of the second. The Hogs also had a 22-6 run midway through the second half to lead 89-33 with 9:50 left.

The Razorbacks shot 63.9% from the field for the game – 74.2% in the second half – thanks to a season-high 16 dunks. (Arkansas entered the game with 24 dunks in the first five games combined.)

Ewin had five of the 16 dunks and the senior made his first career 3-pointer. (He is now 1-of-2 from deep for his career.) Richmond and Knox each added three dunks.

Tamarion Hoover led Jackson State with 19 points, making 4-of-9 from 3-point range.

Up next, Arkansas will travel to Chicago to face #5 Duke for the CBS Thanksgiving Classic on Thursday (Nov. 27). Tipoff at the United Center is set for 7 pm (CT), and the game will be televised on CBS.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 47 – JSU: 19

Arkansas went on a 14-2 run to race out to a 22-9 lead. Jackson State was 1-of-9 from the field over the stretch.
After Jackson State made a 3-pointer to cut their deficit to 12 (31-19), Arkansas closed the half on a 16-0 run to lead 47-19. The run started before the Tigers’ triple and was a 20-3 run over the final 6:43.
Arkansas shot 53% from the field while holding Jackson State to 21% shooting.
Jackson State had nine turnovers thanks to seven Arkansas steals.
Billy Richmond III led Arkansas with 10 points, including three dunks.
The last time Arkansas held an opponent to fewer than 20 points in the first half was UMES last season (11/26/24) with 15.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 68 – JSU: 42

Arkansas opened the second half on an 18-4 run, including an 8-0 spurt at the start of the frame.
From the 15-minute mark to the 9:29 mark, Arkansas out-scored the Tigers 22-6.
Arkansas had zero turnovers in the second half with 14 assists. Arkansas forced 11 second-half turnovers.
Ewin scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half. He was 7-of-8 from the field.
Arkansas scored 68 points in the second half. The last time it scored at least 60 in a half was getting 60 in the first half versus Maryland-Eastern Shore last season (11/26/24).

NOTES:

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle. It was the first time for this starting lineup and the fourth starting lineup overall.
JSU’s Dorian McMillian scored the game’s first points, a layup at 18:23. Nick Pringle scored Arkansas’s first points with two free throws at 18:05.
Arkansas’s first subs were Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond III.
Arkansas is 13-0 all-time versus Jackson State.
Arkansas improves to 142-6 all-time when scoring at least 100 points. Coach Calipari is 48-0 all-time when scoring at least 100 points.
Coach Cal is now 18 wins shy of 900 as head coach of a Division I program.
Arkansas entered the game 8th in the NCAA in fastbreak points (23.6 ppg). The Hogs had 34 fastbreak points, compared to four by the Tigers. The 34 fastbreak points is the most in a game since the stat has been tracked (2011-12) with the previous high being 32 vs Southern this year and UCA in 2021. (HogStats.com)

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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Longhorns Wire staff predictions for Texas Football vs. Arkansas

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Longhorns Wire staff predictions for Texas Football vs. Arkansas

It’s been a wild week for Texas Football. First, they were dominated by the Georgia Bulldogs. Then speculation over Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian job status became so overwhelming, Sark had to make not one, but two public statements.

Texas has a very, very slim chance at the college football playoff, but a lot has to go right for that to happen. Whatever happens around them, all the Horns can control is their own performance. Texas has to win, especially against a 2-8 Razorbacks team that has seen their coach fired this season.

If the Longhorns don’t win at home against the Hogs, Texas is staring down a 7-5 record that will turn this season from disappointing to complete disaster.

There are some interesting matchups in this game and the Hogs have some good players dotted around their lineup, including quarterback Taylen Green. But ultimately, the Longhorns have to focus on themselves.

Texas’ offense has been inconsistent all season and the running game has been the worst in decades. Many of the causes stem from an offensive line that has struggled in almost every game. The Horns defense has been good at times, but they have also been picked apart like they were last week in Georgia.

Sarkisian and his team need to look inward if they want to salvage what so far has been a very disappointing 2025.

Tommy Bresee Prediction:

Following the Georgia blowout, the confidence around the Longhorns is at a season-low. Arkansas comes into Austin this weekend, with a 3-7 record but one of the most dangerous QBs and offenses in the country. Taylen Green is capable of taking over this game if the Texas defense isn’t prepared to keep him in check. However, returning to home turf should bring the Longhorns defense back to level.

On the other side, there is little reason the Texas offense shouldn’t have a great day. Arch Manning has been incredible the last month and this is a defense that has allowed most every QB they’ve played to have a career day. I expect the same from Arch Manning here and the Texas offense is able to score in bunches. That, combined with my belief the defense will have a bounce back performance makes me think the Longhorns are able to get a rather comfortable win here.

Final score: Texas 38, Arkansas 24

Jamie Gatlin Prediction:

After a disappointing loss at Georgia last weekend, Texas is back in action on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas. This game represents the perfect bounce-back opportunity.

Through ten games, Arkansas is 2-8. The Longhorns will need a much better performance from Arch Manning and the offense. If Manning can return to form, then this is a game Texas should win easily.

Final score: Texas 28, Arkansas 14

Trey Luerssen Prediction:

Does this Texas team heart? Texas has certainly shown heart at times this season. Comebacks at Kentucky and Mississippi State have certainly shown the Longhorns are quitters. But against Georgia, there seemed to be a few white flags raised after the Bulldogs surprise onside kick in the fourth quarter.

But that’s within a game. What about when the season-long goal is dashed? When the preseason No. 1 team in the nation is all but eliminated from the CFP with two games to go? Does Texas have the heart to go beat a team they should destroy, while all the noise of coaching rumors and fan angst swirls around them?

I saw this team does have heart. I think they might play their best game of the year on Saturday. Free of the pressure of expectation, Texas can just go out and play.

Final score: Texas 42, Arkansas 24

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