Arkansas
Darius Acuff Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Arkansas star is expected to land
March Madness is underway and today’s college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer’s NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Arkansas’s Darius Acuff Jr. is expected to go in the first round.
Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the guard’s draft night will play out.
Darius Acuff Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 6 overall, Dallas Mavericks
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
Now led by Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks need to find players who can help Dallas stay competitive on offense and Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. can do exactly that. The SEC Player of the Year is excellently efficient at operating ball screens or in isolation. He leads freshmen for points created per 40 minutes (43.1) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He can score well from either side of the court and is among the freshmen leaders in both alley-oop assists (15) and field goals made in transition (62) this season. There is a reason rival coach Sean Miller thinks this generational guard should have his name in the mix at No. 1 overall.
See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here
Darius Acuff Jr. player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: Arkansas
- 22.9 points per game
- 3.2 rebounds per game
- 6.5 assists per game
- 48.6% field goal percentage
- 44.5% three-point field goal percentage
Dallas Mavericks 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 6, No. 30 (via OKC) and No. 50 (via PHX)
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Arkansas
Alabama Suffers 15-5 Loss to No. 22 Arkansas After Allowing 11 Runs in Final Three Innings – Tuscaloosa Today
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Alabama dropped the series to No. 22 Arkansas after a disappointing 15-6 loss in Game Two, with the bullpen surrendering 11 runs over the final three innings. The Crimson Tide’s pitching started strong, but the Razorbacks erupted for 11 runs late to pull away.
Why it matters
The loss drops Alabama to 26-10 overall and 8-6 in SEC play, putting them in a tough spot as they try to keep pace in the competitive SEC West division. The Crimson Tide’s bullpen struggles are a concerning trend that the team will need to address heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
The details
Alabama starting pitcher Zane Adams went six strong innings, allowing just three earned runs. But after he exited in the seventh, the Razorbacks scored 11 unanswered runs against the Tide’s bullpen to pull away. Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron had a standout game, reaching base and stealing two bases, but the Crimson Tide offense couldn’t keep up late.
- Alabama and Arkansas played Game Two of their series on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
- The Crimson Tide will try to avoid a series sweep in Game Three, scheduled for Sunday, April 13, 2026 at 1 p.m. CT.
The players
Zane Adams
Alabama’s starting pitcher, who went six innings and allowed three earned runs.
Justin Lebron
Alabama’s standout shortstop, who reached base and stole two bases in the game.
Arkansas
The No. 22 ranked Razorbacks, who rallied late to take the series from Alabama.
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What they’re saying
“Alabama dropped the series after a 15-5 loss to No. 22 Arkansas on Saturday, as the Razorbacks scored 11 runs in the final three innings.”
— Micah Nichols, Author
What’s next
The Crimson Tide will try to avoid a series sweep when they face Arkansas in Game Three on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
The takeaway
Alabama’s bullpen struggles in the late innings proved costly as they dropped the series to the ranked Razorbacks. The Crimson Tide will need to shore up their relief pitching if they hope to bounce back and remain in contention in the SEC West.
Arkansas
How to watch Alabama baseball vs Arkansas today: Game 2 time, TV info
The Alabama Crimson Tide will look to bounce back from a late-inning collapse and a 7-5 series-opening loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks when the two teams meet for Game 2 of their top-25 SEC baseball series Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Things were going smoothly enough for Alabama (26-9 overall, 8-5 conference) until the eighth inning on Friday night. Arkansas (22-13, 6-7) then erupted for six runs on five hits against Crimson Tide relievers Matthew Heiberger and Hagan Banks. Camden Kozeal homered to lead off the eighth, and TJ Pompey capped the Razorbacks’ scoring with a two-run blast with two out that put Arkansas ahead, 7-3.
Alabama scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to get to within two, but Parker Coil entered in relief and retired all three three batters he faced to close thing out for the Razorbacks. The Crimson Tide loss spoiled another solid night for outfielder Brady Neal, who finished 2-for-4 and clubbed his seventh home run leading off the sixth. Freshman Eric Hines also homered while making just his sixth start of the season.
Alabama will look to even the series with left-hander Zane Adams (4-2, 4.07 ERA) on the mound. The Crimson Tide are ranked as high as No. 7 in one national outlet’s top 25 rankings and No. 9 in the USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll; Arkansas is ranked No. 22 in the Coaches Poll.
Watch Alabama vs. Arkansas
What channel is Alabama vs. Arkansas baseball on today?
- TV Channel: SEC Network
- Livestream: Fubo, ESPN+
Alabama vs. Arkansas will broadcast nationally on SEC Network in Week 9 of the 2026 NCAA baseball season on Saturday. Derek Jones and Gregg Olson will call the game from the broadcast booth at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Alabama baseball vs. Arkansas start time today
- Date: Saturday, April 11
- Start time: 4 p.m. CT
Stream Alabama vs. Arkansas
The Alabama-Arkansas game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT Saturday from Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama baseball 2026 schedule
- Feb. 13-15: vs. Washington State (L, 8-4; W, 8-1; W, 11-1)
- Feb. 17: at Samford (W, 3-2)
- Feb. 18: vs. Alabama State (W, 2-1)
- Feb. 20-22: vs. Rhode Island (W, 19-4; W, 8-5; W, 11-1)
- Feb. 24: at Southern Miss (L, 14-4)
- Feb. 27: vs. Iowa at Frisco College Baseball Classic (W, 12-2)
- Feb. 28: vs. Oregon State at Frisco College Baseball Classic (W, 8-7)
- March 1: vs. Houston at Frisco College Baseball Classic (L, 8-2)
- March 3: vs. Jacksonville State (W, 6-5)
- March 4: at Alabama State (W, 13-4)
- March 6-8: vs. North Florida (W, 7-2; W, 9-3; W, 12-2)
- March 10: vs. Troy (W, 7-3)
- March 13-15: at Kentucky (L, 7-4; L, 8-7; L, 6-4)
- March 17: at South Alabama (L, 6-3)
- March 20-22: vs. Florida (W, 6-0; W, 8-4; W, 14-7)
- March 24: vs. Austin Peay (W, 6-2)
- March 27-29: vs. Auburn (W, 11-1; W, 3-2; W, 3-1)
- March 31: at Jacksonville State (W, 4-3)
- April 2-5: at Oklahoma (W, 10-7; L, 4-2; W, 3-2)
- April 7: vs. Samford (W, 16-2)
- April 10-12: vs. Arkansas (L, 7-5; 4 p.m Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday)
- April 14: at UAB, 6 p.m.
- April 17-19: at Texas (6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday)
- April 21: vs. UAB, 6 p.m.
- April 23-25: at Tennessee (6 p.m. Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday)
- April 30-May 2: vs. Vanderbilt (6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday)
- May 5: at Troy, 6 p.m.
- May 8-10: at South Carolina (4:30 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sunday)
- May 14-16: vs. Ole Miss (6 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday)
- May 19-24: SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama
Record: 26-9 overall, 8-5 SEC.
Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
Arkansas
Arkansas baseball rallies with 6-run inning, snaps Alabama’s 18-game home win streak | Whole Hog Sports
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