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Dave Van Horn reveals where Arkansas starting rotation stands entering season

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Dave Van Horn reveals where Arkansas starting rotation stands entering season


Going into the 2025 baseball season, there are several questions about the Arkansas Razorbacks‘ starting rotation. Those are important questions to answer, but head coach Dave Van Horn knows that he has several options to choose from.

While Van Horn didn’t want to commit to anyone ahead of the season, he did share some options that Arkansas has and broadly explained where the rotation stands.

“We’re going to let them prove it to us a little more,” Dave Van Horn said. “We saw a lot of good things in the fall and then off-season. I think just because we’ve been around Gabe Gaeckle so much, had him here, we feel like that he will definitely be a starter. [Zach] Root looks like a starter. Gage Wood. [Landon] Beidelschies. Those are all possibilities, and there are some other guys in there now.”

Gaeckle, who Van Horn shared will be a starter, is a right-handed sophomore who appeared in 22 games out of the bullpen last season. He had a 2.32 ERA in 42.2 innings pitched, striking out 57 while only walking 19 batters. Then, Root, another pitcher in a good position to start, is a left-handed junior who transferred in from ECU. Last season, he made 13 appearances and 12 starts, pitching 68.1 innings with a 3.56 ERA. He did that while striking out 76 batters and walking another 21.

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As for Gage Wood and Landon Beidelschies, they both started games last season. In Wood’s case, it was three starts in 22 appearances with a 4.46 ERA. Then, Beidelschies comes as a transfer from Ohio State where he started 15 games with a 4.15 ERA.

“But the first weekend, we play four games, which I think is a good thing for this team, and then head down to Texas. If you look at our schedule, there aren’t a lot of games where you can go, ‘Okay, we’re going to experiment with that freshman out there.’ Although, in some cases with freshmen, it’s not an experiment. They’re pretty darn good. I mean, yeah, kind of tip-toeing around the question, but I mentioned four guys at the top and they’ll battle for those jobs to start out.”

Beyond those four pitchers, Arkansas has other options. Ben Bybee, Will McEntire, Cole Gibler, Tag Andrews, and Aidan Jimenez could all potentially start games for the Razorbacks. Regardless, it gives Dave Van Horn options in the rotation and the bullpen.

Typically, teams rely on three starters for the three-game weekend series that they play during each of those games. Another starter can be turned to for a weekday game. So, Dave Van Horn will want to be confident in that rotation by Friday, February 14th when they open the season at home against Washington State.



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Arkansas

Lamont Butler is OUT vs. Arkansas, Andrew Carr listed as probable

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Lamont Butler is OUT vs. Arkansas, Andrew Carr listed as probable


Kentucky will once again be without its starting point guard.

According to the SEC’s Availability Report, Lamont Butler (shoulder) has been ruled OUT for tomorrow night’s highly anticipated showdown between No. 12 Kentucky and Arkansas in what is John Calipari‘s return to Rupp Arena. Butler also missed the Wildcats’ win over No. 8 Tennessee earlier this week.

Kentucky starting power forward Andrew Carr, who saw just 89 seconds of action against the Volunteers due to a nagging back injury, is listed as probable. As expected, backup point guard Kerr Kriisa remains out.

Head coach Mark Pope has found success in previous games this season without a true point guard in the lineup. Kentucky took down both Gonzaga and Tennessee without Butler and Kriisa for most of those games. Will we see another big performance from Jaxson Robinson and/or Amari Williams as the fill-in point guard? UK will need someone to step up in Butler’s place. Don’t be surprised to see some extra Travis Perry minutes.

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Carr being listed as probable should be considered good news. His back has been bothering him for several games now. He was unable to go against Vanderbilt on Jan. 25 and was pulled early against Tennessee a few days later. Whatever he can provide the Wildcats against Arkansas (if able to go) will be huge. But even if he’s limited, Ansley Almonor has filled that role about as perfectly as possible as of late.

Kentucky-Arkansas is set for Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. EST on ESPN. A final Availability Report will be released roughly 90 minutes prior to tipoff.



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Scouting Report: Arkansas at Kentucky

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Scouting Report: Arkansas at Kentucky


The Arkansas Razorbacks (12-8, 1-6 SEC) are preparing for a long-awaited matchup against the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats (15-5, 4-3 SEC) on Saturday at Rupp Arena.

Led by first-year head coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats are off to an interesting start in SEC play in the 2024-25 season. Kentucky owns wins over teams such as Florida, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and most recently Tennessee, but has also lost to Georgia, Alabama and Vanderbilt.

“They’re good,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said Thursday. “(Pope has) got them playing in a way they gotta play to win. They play hard. They shoot 3s. They spread the court. He’s got them playing good. They’re playing in a confident way, so he’s done a good job with them.”

Calipari’s return to Lexington is the obvious storyline for this rivalry game, as the Hall of Famer led Kentucky to four Final Fours and one National Championship in a 15 year span. Though Calipari said he expects boos from fans, it won’t change the history of what he accomplished with the Wildcats.

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“(The fans) all remember what went on and where it started and how we got it going in that span of time,” Calipari said. “It could be matched, but you’re going to have to really do some stuff. And I’m not just talking to Kentucky, I’m talking anywhere. And so, yeah, however that is, believe me, my focus is going to be on my team to give us the best chance to be able to play that game, compete at a high level, and be there at the end where you have a chance.”

Here’s a closer comparison of Arkansas’ and Kentucky’s stats, efficiency ratings, projected lineup for the Wildcats and more ahead of Saturday’s game, which is set to tip off at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN:



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Razorbacks NIL Raffle Bill Hits Minor Snag, Still On Track For Baseball Season

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Razorbacks NIL Raffle Bill Hits Minor Snag, Still On Track For Baseball Season


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The 95th General Assembly is now in session in Little Rock. Arkansas fans will be watching closely the movement of House Bill 1044, which would allow the University of Arkansas and other state schools to set up a 50/50 raffle to support NIL. Read the full bill here.

Schools are scrambling to stash away as much money as possible both in terms of the foundation fundraising, as evidenced by athletic director Hunter Yurachek’s recent Bud Walton “reseating” announcement. The Hogs are also looking to beef up NIL.

Schools across the state would be able to run a hybrid 50/50 raffle at athletic events that would allow fans at the game and people online with an Arkansas IP address to participate in a raffle pool in which half of the funds will go to a lucky winner and the other half to NIL efforts. The structure is similar to a promotion run by Florida Victorious during football season, the NIL arm of the Florida Gators.

The bill, filed initially in November, is still in the House Rules Committee and is sitting on the deferred bills list. There are minor changes to the language bill, due to potential legal concerns.

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“There’s no substantial changes,” lead sponsor RJ Hawk (R-Bryant) said. “It’s just making sure that this thing, if it were ever to get challenged in a court that it would hold up. We’re just making sure all our I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.”

Despite the minor hold-up, Hawk remains optimistic that not only will the pass the rules committee and the legislature, Fans will be able to still see the benefits of the bill this baseball season.

“As long as we can get it out [of the rules committee] in the month of February,” Hawk said. “We’ll be good to go.”

There is confidence that not only will the bill will pass, but also that schools will be ready to hit the ground running once they get the final green light because of the emergency clause attached to the bill. The clause allows the bill to go into effect immediately after the governor’s signature instead of the traditional 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

“From my understanding not just the UA [will be ready to go],” Hawk said. “All parties involved [will be ready] that the minute this becomes law they’re they’re ready to roll. I can’t speak for them as far as where they are in the process, but based on my conversations it seems like that once this becomes law, they’ll be ready to rock and roll.”

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If the bill passes the House Rules Committee, it will go to full floor vote in the House before heading off to the senate. Hawk expects no changes between the bill passed in the House and the Senate. The Senate bill’s sponsor is Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy).

The House Rules Committee meets every Wednesday in Little Rock. The Razorbacks start its baseball season 3 p.m. Feb. 14 against Washington State.

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• Job most likely to come open in SEC will surprise most

• Pitino gives Kentucky fans direction on dealing with Calipari

• Former Arkansas star receives exciting news from Chicago

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