Arkansas
Sports Illustrated’s Men’s College Basketball Preseason Top 25: No. 14 Arkansas
Through Oct. 31, Sports Illustrated will count down its preseason college basketball Top 25 with overviews of each team. Here are the full rankings so far.
John Calipari’s first year at Arkansas started slow but ended with a bang, beating Bill Self and Rick Pitino in the span of three days to make a run to the second weekend before losing a heartbreaker to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16. For a transition year, it’s hard to argue with the results, even if the route to get there was bumpier than expected.
This year’s Arkansas roster, Calipari’s first with a full offseason to recruit, looks a lot more complete. There’s potential one-and-done talent here, but this isn’t like his Kentucky teams with a new roster every year. In fact, Arkansas returns a higher percentage of its minutes played than anyone in the SEC, with three starters and a fourth key rotation cog back.
D.J. Wagner hasn’t had the college career many expected given his recruiting pedigree, but he’s a proven starting-caliber option in the backcourt who took steps forward as a sophomore. Trevon Brazile had an uneven start to his season but was at his best when Arkansas was making its run in March. He scored in double figures in seven out of his final nine games, shot 39% from three in that stretch and brought some serious edge on the boards. Karter Knox also finished strong, with 15 points in the win over St. John’s and 20 against Texas Tech. The former five-star looks like a prototypical sophomore breakout guy.
The talent injection around that trio is real. Is it enough to get Calipari back competing for national championships?
PG: Darius Acuff
SG: D.J. Wagner
SF: Karter Knox
PF: Trevon Brazile
C: Malique Ewin
Key Reserves: G Meleek Thomas, W Billy Richmond, C Nick Pringle
Calipari has long coveted Darius Acuff, a Michigan native who Calipari started recruiting when he was at Kentucky. Acuff is an absolute bucket-getter, and while he’s less shifty than Rob Dillingham was, it’s easy to envision a similar role for him in college. Expect to see the ball in his hands more this season, sliding Wagner off the ball.
Wagner’s minutes could also get pushed by Meleek Thomas, another five-star who has earned a reputation for being one of the most competitive players in the class. He’s a dynamic off-the-dribble scorer and shotmaker, though that style can sometimes lend itself to inefficiency. Finding shots for all of Acuff, Wagner, Thomas, Knox and Billy Richmond will be a challenge.
Up front, Calipari added a pair of experienced centers from the portal. Malique Ewin didn’t get a lot of attention playing for a bad Florida State team, but he was quietly one of the most productive bigs in the ACC. He’s a highly effective passer, which should add an interesting element to this Razorback offense. Nick Pringle is a proven SEC big from his time at Alabama and South Carolina. He’s not a huge threat offensively, but he’s a big body who’s effective on the boards and can finish around the rim. That platoon should be a huge upgrade from a physicality standpoint from Jonas Aidoo and Zvonimir Ivisic a year ago.
For as much firepower as this Arkansas backcourt has, it features almost exclusively guys who need the ball in their hands to have success. Can players like Acuff and Thomas who’ve spent their entire careers being the best player on their teams all the sudden adapt and defer at times? Even their projected starting center, Ewin, is a guy who commands touches. There’s a real fear here that perhaps the whole might not be as good as the sum of the parts.
This is the most continuity a Calipari team has had since the 2015 Kentucky squad that went 38–1. No one should be expecting that from Arkansas this year, but it’s not unrealistic to expect the Razorbacks to seriously contend at the top of the SEC. At his best, perhaps Calipari’s top attribute was his ability to get players who all believed they were the best player to buy into a team concept. If he can do that with this ball-dominant backcourt, the Hogs should be back in the second weekend … and could maybe go even further than that this March.
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TULSA, Okla –The Tulsa Drillers defeat the Arkansas Travelers, 11-3, on April 19, 2026 at ONEOK Field and The Sporting Tribune’s Robert Sloter was there to capture the following TST Images.
Luke Fox #15 of the Tulsa Drillers throws a pitch during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
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Luke Fox #15 of the Tulsa Drillers throws a pitch during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers enter the dugout during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers enter the dugout during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Josue De Paula #55 of the Tulsa Drillers on the field during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Josue De Paula #55 of the Tulsa Drillers on the field during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on first base during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on first base during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers walks through the dugout with his bat during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
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Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers walks through the dugout with his bat during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Kyle Nevin #23 of the Tulsa Drillers scores a run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Kyle Nevin #23 of the Tulsa Drillers scores a run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Kendall George #1 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on deck during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
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Kendall George #1 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on deck during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers watches his home run in flight during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers watches his home run in flight during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers rounds the bases on his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers rounds the bases on his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
It’s been a bone-dry year in Arkansas. It’s now the 7th driest year on record in Little Rock since record-keeping began in 1875, as of April 20.
24 days so far this year in Little Rock have received measurable rainfall. 12 days received a trace amount of rain, meaning there were no rainfall measurements to report (it was too little to record), as it was just a sprinkle or a few spits.
Only 4 days have received an inch or more of rain so far this year. Those occurred on April 4, March 7, February 14, and January 24. January’s “rain” was really winter precipitation.
April is usually the rainiest month of the year in Arkansas. In Little Rock, April on average receives 5.59 inches of rainfall. So far this April, as of April 20, Little Rock has only recorded 1.17″ of rain for the month.
The rainfall deficit over the last 6 months is well over a foot for much of Arkansas, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and Harrison.
Spring is the rainy season, and summer is the dry season. If rain isn’t recorded soon, the drought will persist into the summer. In fact, the latest seasonal drought outlook shows that while some areas of Arkansas could see improvements, the drought continues into July.
To fully end the drought, parts of central and northeast Arkansas need more than 25 inches of rain over the next 3 months. Parts of northwest Arkansas need between 15 and 20 inches of rain over the next 3 months. The rest of the state needs between 20 and 25 inches of rain over the next 3 months. All of this rain would need to be received slowly, not all at one time.
The odds of receiving this much rain slowly over the next 3 months are very low.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 5-3-2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 7-5-4-8
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from April 19 drawing
02-07-17-20-23
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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