Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. is playing like the one-and-done he was projected to be. Fifth-year senior forward Trevon Brazile seemingly has saved his best for last.
Acuff and Brazile have been the main drivers in the No. 14 Razorbacks’ fast start as they prepare to meet No. 8 Houston in the Never Forget Tribute Classic on Saturday in Newark, N.J.
Arkansas (9-2) has won four in a row, including victories over then-No. 6 Louisville and then-No. 16 Texas Tech. The Cougars (10-1) have won four in a row since a 76-73 loss to then-No. 17 Tennessee in Las Vegas.
“We all can score,” Acuff said after the 108-80 victory over Queens on Tuesday. “Different game, different people, and that’s how we play.”
Acuff had a career-high 23 points and tied career highs with 10 assists and four 3-pointers without a turnover against Queens. He was the first Razorback in the last 30 seasons to have at least 23 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in the same game, according to HogStats.com.
“When you have a guy that scores the ball at will and is a willing passer, can’t really ask for more out of a point guard,” said teammate Nick Pringle, who had 14 points and seven rebounds against Queens.
“His ability to hit shots and get downhill and get everybody involved is special, honestly. All that stuff is contagious. It makes us want to all play together and we’re doing that, and it’s exciting.”
Acuff has two double-doubles during the Razorbacks’ winning streak, during which he averaged 18.5 points and nine assists.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson has noticed.
“Elite talent,” Sampson said of Acuff. “Elite basketball IQ. Elite passer. Tough. He makes everything easier. He gets guys shots. He knows when to go. He knows when to change speeds. The biggest separator for him is his ability to make threes. A lot of point guards can do everything but shoot. He does it all.”
Brazile, a 6-foot-9 forward, has career-high averages at 15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds and has developed into a perimeter threat. He had a career-high five 3-pointers against Queens after making four against Texas Tech.
Arkansas has scored 100 points three times this season for the first time since 2020-21. The Razorbacks are averaging 89.9 points per game, and their 22.7 fastbreak points rank second in Division I.
Sampson’s Houston teams are built to counter that. His group has given up an average of 57.7 points per game, third-lowest in Division I, and has limited opponents to 37.1 shooting from the field.
The Cougars, who have not played since a 99-57 victory over New Orleans on Dec. 13, have not given up 100 points since a 104-83 loss to UCF on March 7, 2014 — before Sampson’s tenure.
Houston guards Emanuel Sharp (17.2 points) and Milos Uzan (11.2 points, 5.1 assists) and forward Joseph Tugler (23 blocked shots) are complemented by a pair of freshmen, guard Kingston Flemings (14.8 points, 4.9 assists) and center Chris Cenac Jr. (9.5 points, 7.5 rebounds). Cenac is likely to get the defensive assignment on Brazile.
Uzan had 10 assists without a turnover against New Orleans, when the Cougars had 23 assists on 32 baskets.
“Milos is so comfortable doing that,” Sampson said. “He doesn’t care about his stats. Other people may, but he certainly doesn’t.”
–Field Level Media
