Arkansas heads to Nashville, Tenn., for a Tuesday matchup against Vanderbilt with postseason implications for both Southeastern Conference teams.
The streaking Commodores (20-9, 8-8 SEC) have won three straight, all against ranked teams. The latest was Saturday’s 97-93 overtime win over then-No. 14 Missouri, when Chris Manon (23 points, 11 rebounds) and AJ Hoggard (21 points, six assists) led a come-from-behind effort during which the hosts trailed for 32:05.
The Commodores are 37th in the NCAA’s NET rankings, with 26 “wins above bubble” no losses in Quads 3 and 4 and a 9-9 mark in the first two quads. But Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington leaned on a more important authority for assurance.
“My mom told me if we win today, we’re in the NCAA Tournament, so she’s my bracketologist,” Byington said on Saturday.
The Razorbacks (17-12, 6-10) had won six of 10 conference games coming into Saturday. Then came a disastrous 72-53 loss at South Carolina, during which Arkansas missed its first 17 3-pointers and trailed by 35 with 6:03 remaining.
That leaves the Razorbacks on the NCAA Tournament bubble heading into the week.
“I said, ‘Burn the tape and let’s get ready for Vandy,'” Arkansas coach John Calipari said.
Arkansas felt the absence of Adou Theiro (knee), who leads the team in scoring (15.6), rebounding (6.0) and steals (1.7). It’s unknown whether he will play Tuesday.
Johnell Davis (10.6 ppg) and Zvonimir Ivisic (9.8) have been keys lately and are capable of big scoring games.
Freshman forward Karter Knox (7.8) has also stepped up, scoring in double figures the past five games.
Arkansas ranks 16th in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted defensive efficiency and holds teams to 31.2 percent from 3-point range.
That’ll be a challenge against Vanderbilt’s Jason Edwards (team-high 17.2 ppg) and Tyler Nickel (10.3). Nickel is 13 of 22 (59.1 percent) from 3-point range during the winning streak.
An Arkansas loss would potentially make Saturday’s home game with Mississippi State a must-win situation.
Vanderbilt has an outside shot to get a seven-seed or better in the NCAA Tournament, but that scenario would likely have to include a win on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
