No. 12 Arkansas absolutely demolished Arkansas-Pine Bluff 106-61 on Tuesday night, kicking off their season with a dominant performance that saw freshmen account for a staggering 65 of those points. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement, especially from the new faces on the court.
The Razorbacks Came Out Firing, Then Some
From the jump, Arkansas made it clear they weren’t messing around. After UAPB snagged the game’s first basket, the Razorbacks unleashed a brutal 25-0 run that completely suffocated the Golden Lions. Jeremiah Wilkinson, a Georgia transfer, was lights out during that stretch, draining nine points all from beyond the arc. UAPB looked lost, tallying eight turnovers and only seven shot attempts before they finally broke their scoring drought at the 11:28 mark. Arkansas went into halftime with a 19-point lead, a margin that honestly could have been even bigger if they hadn’t gone nearly six minutes without a field goal to close the half. But they came out strong again, hitting 55% from the floor for the game and putting the nail in the coffin with another 19-2 run late in the second half.
Freshman Class Steals the Show, Calipari’s Future Is Bright
What really stood out wasn’t just the final score, but the incredible impact of coach John Calipari’s new signing class. Freshmen Jordan Smith Jr. and Miikka Muurinen, both top recruits, weren’t just on the roster; they were in the starting lineup and making huge plays. Smith Jr. poured in 20 points, adding four rebounds and three steals, showing he’s ready for the big stage. Fellow freshman Abdou Toure dropped 12 points, and Muurinen added 10 points in their collegiate debuts. It’s wild to think that out of the 13 players who saw time for Arkansas, 12 scored, and the freshmen alone were responsible for almost two-thirds of the team’s total points. Jalen Tatum led UAPB with 16 points, but it was nowhere near enough to counter the Razorbacks’ offensive explosion.
This is exactly the kind of start that screams “contender.” No. 12 Arkansas heads into their next game with massive momentum. UAPB will try to regroup on Friday when they visit Baylor. Meanwhile, Arkansas has a much tougher test ahead, facing Virginia in Washington D.C. on Sunday. You gotta wonder if those freshmen are going to keep this insane pace up, because if they do, the rest of the league is in for a long season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply