Arkansas

Why Arkansas basketball has high hopes for Davonte Davis, Trevon Brazile in SEC play

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2024

Why Arkansas basketball has high hopes for Davonte Davis, Trevon Brazile in SEC play

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Davonte Davis and Trevon Brazile entered the season as the headliners of an Arkansas basketball team carrying lofty expectations. In a program filled with new faces, Davis and Brazile were returnees and consensus preseason All-SEC selections.

But just like the entire Razorbacks’ roster, Davis and Brazile had their fair share of ups and downs through the non-conference slate. Neither player found consistent offensive production. Davis struggled to lock down his exact role, while Brazile worked his way back from last year’s ACL tear before sustaining a sprained ankle in early December.

With the calendar turning and the Hogs hosting Auburn this Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN2) in their SEC opener, Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman believes both players are about to find their groove.

“We have some guys as well that hopefully can shed some light to our new guys about the importance. How every (SEC) game is tight. How every game is a hard-fought contest,” Musselman said about his returnees.

Both Davis and Brazile had their best games in a long time during Saturday’s 106-90 victory over UNC Wilmington. Davis scored 14 points and knocked down a trio of 3-pointers to go along with six assists and six rebounds.

Davis shot 43% from three in the SEC last season, but he’s at 28.6% this year. Musselman thinks his senior guard is about to turn the tide thanks to the arrival of point guard Keyon Menifield Jr.

More: Arkansas basketball rediscovers its fast pace with SEC play on the horizon

More: Arkansas basketball routs UNC Wilmington behind Keyon Menifield Jr.

The Washington transfer scored 32 points against the Seahawks and has taken over as the Razorbacks’ starting point guard. That ascension has given Davis a little less stress on offense, allowing the Jacksonville native to spend more time as a spot-up shooter.

“Last year, look at Devo’s 3-point shooting. He shot the ball as well as any guard, really as well as any player, in our league,” Musselman said. “I certainly feel like he worked on that in the offseason, and he’s now getting a little bit different look maybe than he was during those first few segments when he was playing some point.”

Brazile has also benefitted from Menifield, and the explosive big-man caught two alley-oop passes for thunderous dunks in the most recent victory. Brazile scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds against UNCW, which marked his first double-figure scoring game since the ankle injury against Furman on Dec. 4.

Brazile, who is averaging 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, can be lethal as a 3-point shooter and crashing the offensive glass. Still, Musselman wants more from the Hogs’ top NBA prospect.

“He needs to be a guy that beats people off the dribble because he’s got a good, quick first step. He’s got a long first step. People underestimate how long that first step of TB’s can be,” Musselman said.

Musselman doesn’t want Brazile to lose his thirst for 3-pointers, but he is demanding a more aggressive version of the 6-foot-10 forward. When strong closeouts come, Brazile must be able to attack his defenders off-the-bounce and finish in the paint.

The Hogs have confidence both Davis and Brazile are slowly turning the corner, and that could be the perfect recipe for sustained success during the upcoming SEC schedule.

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Arkansas

Arkansas basketball win vs Winthrop marred by scuffle between players

Published

4 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Arkansas basketball win vs Winthrop marred by scuffle between players

Arkansas men’s basketball mounted a large surge to erase a five-point deficit in the final 1:15 and avoid what would have been a massive upset against Winthrop in an 84-83 victory at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The comeback might not have even been the most notable event from the game’s waning moments.

Trailing by one with 15 seconds remaining, Arkansas’s Meleek Thomas got a steal and initiated a fast break, which ended with a Nick Pringle layup with 11.9 seconds left to give the Razorbacks what would ultimately prove to be the game-winning basket.

After the bucket, Pringle turned around to head back to get on defense, but had his head caught between the arms of Winthrop center Logan Duncomb, who caught the ball after it went through the basket. The two tangled players fell to the court, after which Pringle lifted Duncomb up by the front of his jersey before pushing him back down on the ground.

Coaches and players from both teams sprinted on the court to break the players up before the situation could escalate into a fight.

Both Pringle and Duncomb were issued Class A technical fouls. Duncomb’s foul was his fifth of the game, removing him from the contest. Two players from each team were ejected from the game for running onto the court from the bench.

After the game, Pringle said he apologized to his teammates in the huddle for the altercation.

“I can’t have my team in those type of scenarios, no matter what happens,” Pringle said. “So, you know, just gotta be smarter. I shouldn’t react. I should have just, you know, took it as it was, and let it slide. Big games, that can cost us.”

Winthrop’s Daylen Berry missed a contested 3-pointer on the other end, allowing the No. 22 Razorbacks to hold on for a win in a game in which they were favored by 23.

Pringle, a 6-foot-10 senior, is in his first season at Arkansas after transferring over from South Carolina after the 2024-25 season. He entered the game against Winthrop averaging 5.8 points and six rebounds per game this season.

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Arkansas

Acuff leads No. 21 Arkansas against Winthrop after 20-point game

Published

22 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Acuff leads No. 21 Arkansas against Winthrop after 20-point game

Winthrop Eagles (2-2) at Arkansas Razorbacks (3-1)

Fayetteville, Arkansas; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Razorbacks -20.5; over/under is 167.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 21 Arkansas hosts Winthrop after Darius Acuff Jr. scored 20 points in Arkansas’ 79-75 victory over the Samford Bulldogs.

Arkansas went 22-14 overall last season while going 13-4 at home. The Razorbacks averaged 76.8 points per game last season, 35.7 in the paint, 14.1 off of turnovers and 12.2 on fast breaks.

Winthrop went 23-11 overall a season ago while going 5-8 on the road. The Eagles averaged 84.7 points per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 34.2% from 3-point distance last season.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Arkansas

Vrba Heads to Orlando for ITA Singles Championships

Published

2 days ago

November 17, 2025

Press Room

Vrba Heads to Orlando for ITA Singles Championships

Lucas Clifton
November 17, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas men’s tennis team will have a representative at the ITA Singles Championships for the first time since 2022, as Jakub Vrba takes part in the tournament after qualifying through the ITA Central Sectional Championships. The last Razorback to reach this feat was Alex Reco.

Vrba has posted a 9-3 record in ITA singles events, including five wins against ranked opponents. He collected his highest ranked victory of the fall after a win against No. 30 Alexander Bernard (Ohio State). Vrba started the preseason ITA rankings at No. 123 and navigated his way through multiple qualifying tournaments to earn his bid to the NCAA Singles Championships.

No. 123 Vrba will take on No. 49 Peter Benjamin Privara (Harvard) on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8 a.m. CT in the Round of 64.

The tournament will take place at the UTSA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., with a total of 64 singles player qualifying for the competition. Singles matches begin on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with one round of play taking place each day of the tournament with the championship match being scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 23.

The NCAA Singles Championships bracket is here and will be updated after results are final each day. Live streaming will be available on ESPN+.

For the latest information on all things Arkansas Men’s Tennis, follow the Hogs on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Men’s Tennis) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackMTennis).

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